Some tips to keep the children healthy and safe.

With the beginning of the New Year, cold wet weather is settling in for winter.  It has been especially cold here in recent weeks and the cold and flu season is well upon us.  The Ste. Genevieve County Health Department and its Environmental Department have some helpful tips to keep children healthy and safe in Day Care environments.

*Storage of coats, jackets, and backpacks (personal child items) should be stored in a manner that they do not touch other children’s personal items.  Space is sometimes a problem in day care settings and coats get stacked on top of each other on hooks, in closets, etc.   In the cold and flu season a lot of cross contamination involving clothing can spread bacteria and viruses from one child to the next very easily.

*Cold and cough medications are also very common at this time of year and they can pose their own problem if not stored correctly.  They should be stored out of reach of the children. If refrigeration is needed, they should be placed in a sealed locking container on the bottom shelving of the refrigerator to prevent accidental spilling or contamination of food in the refrigerator.

*Day Care Providers should not prepare food for the children if they are sick. Allow other workers in facility to prepare foods or close facility if illness necessitates it. Contact the Health Department for more information regarding illness policy guidelines.

*Plants on display are more common during the holiday season.  Certain decorative plants are poisonous to children and should be kept out of the children’s reach.

(Poinsettia’s etc.)  Contact the Health Department for more information about plants that are dangerous.

*Outside pets are sometimes allowed inside during the winter cold.  Try to assure that the pets are disease free and their living areas are kept clean and sanitary.

*Snow “ice cream” tastes good but it can have all kinds of bacteria on it and that is not good for anyone, especially children.

*Ice storms and blizzards can also pose some special problems for day cares.  If the power is out for instance, does your water or septic system run on electric?  Can you provide hot water and foods for the children?  If the power is out for an extended time, it would be easier to close the facility until power is restored.

These are just some of the obstacles that the winter weather and illness season can throw your way in the Child Care profession.  Other issues can come to your attention like trash disposal, play area issues, etc.  Licensed Day Cares in the county will be receiving a mailing of the “Sanitation Guidelines for Child Care Providers in Power Outages or Natural Disasters” in the coming weeks and this can also be made available to the general public by contacting Bob W. Kluender, EPHS II at the Ste. Genevieve County Health Department. 573-883-7411.