Sanitization Policy

Sanitary Practices Policy

The cleanliness of the programs is vital to providing quality child care.  It is up to all staff members to do their part in maintaining sanitary conditions.

Policies and procedures regarding sanitation shall be reviewed at the commencement of employment. At this time the employee shall be made aware that he/she shall abide by the regulations set out by following: The Health Unit, Child Care and Early years Act 2014 (CCEYA) and Municipal By-Laws.

RESPONSIBILITY

It is the responsibility of ALL staff to maintain sanitary practices.

The sanitation schedule attached should be used as a tool to monitor when the disinfecting of the classroom is to be completed.

Each classroom will have a sanitization checklist that must be followed and monitored by Supervisors. Staff assigned to particular tasks must initial schedule upon completion of task at each rotation. 

Sanitary Practices in the Classroom:

The Supervisor/designate is responsible for making sure their classroom(s) is clean and all material is sanitized.

Table tops, counters, change tables will be cleaned with soap and water before disinfecting. Toilets sanitized after every use.

Toys will be cleaned daily or more frequently depending on use.

Toys are to be washed with soap and water and then soaked in Virox 5 for 5 minutes and allowed to air dry and placed back in their containers

All blankets must go home to be washed at the end of each day. Stuffed toys will not be permitted in program.  All sheets are washed daily.  Cots will not be shared and will be disinfected daily or more often as required. 

Avoid use of disinfectants within close proximity to children. Children are not to use these products

All disinfectants and cleaning products will be clearly labelled and PPE required for use of these items will be readily available in all programs.

Products will be stored out of reach of children.

General Practices:

1. Use a clean tissue when assisting a child to wipe their nose. Encourage the children to wipe their own noses whenever possible. Encourage the children to cover their mouths when coughing or sneezing.
2. Wash your hands for a minimum or thirty seconds after assisting children with self-help skills, such as toileting or wiping their nose and before handling dishes of food.
3. Food will be served by individual portion size for each child.
4. Discontinue the use of hats as a dress up prop during times of lice outbreaks. Discourage the children from trading hats, scarves and barrettes. during these times.
5. Disposable gloves will be discarded after each use (each diaper change, first aid treatment).
6. Staff will disinfect toilet seat after each use.

Diapering Procedures:

1. Assemble supplies that will be required for diaper changing process, disinfectant, change pads, diaper, plastic bags and disposable gloves.
2. The staff member must make sure that the child’s personal changing pad is being used during diapering.  Change pads will not be shared between children.
3. The child’s personal change pad will be cleaned after every use.
4. Whenever possible, children should be in standing position. The lifting of children should be limited.
5. After putting on disposable gloves, the staff member should place the child on a clean changing surface. Remove soiled diaper and fold soiled surface inward.
6. Never leave the child unattended on the changing surface.
7. Cleanse skin with a wet disposable cloth, moving front to back. Cleanse all of the front area before moving to the back area. Remove all soil and don't overlook skin creases. Each swipe of the cloth, front to back, should be made with a fresh area of the cloth.
8. Fasten the fresh diaper in place. Have the child wash their hands thoroughly with soap and running water for at least thirty seconds.
9. Remove solid matter from the soiled diaper into the toilet. Place soiled diaper and cleansing cloth in a plastic bag and tie shut. If the diaper is disposable, dispose of plastic bag. If the diaper is cloth, place in a labeled second plastic bag and return to parent at the end of the day.
10. Cleanse the changing surface and soiled supplies with the approved sanitizing product after each diaper change.
11. Adult must wash own hands with soap and running water for a minimum of 30 seconds.
12. Soiled disposable diapers are to be removed to outdoor disposal bin at the end of the day.

Procedure for Children with Wet/Soiled Underwear (Standing Children):

1. Assemble supplies; disposable cloth, clean underwear, change of clothing as required, plastic bag, disposable gloves.
2. Change child in the assigned area close to running water.
3. After putting on disposable gloves, the staff member should remove wet/soiled clothing and fold soiled surface inward.
4. Cleanse skin with a wet disposable cloth moving front to back. Each swipe of the cloth, front to back, should be made with a fresh area of the cloth.
5. Have the child change into fresh clothing and then wash their hands thoroughly with soap and running water for a minimum of thirty seconds.
6. Remove any solid matter from the clothing into the toilet. Flush.
7. Use a disinfectant to cleanse any surface areas that may have come into contact with the wet/soiled clothing.
8. If the child has urinated on the floor, soak up the urine with disposable paper toweling. Place towel in a plastic bag, secure and dispose. Rinse the area with clear water and disinfect using sanitation method as per Universal Precaution Procedure.
9. Dispose of gloves in a plastic bag and secure.
10. Staff member must wash own hands with soap and running water for a minimum of 30 seconds.

Children Who Drool:

1. If necessary, parents will be asked to provide a sufficient supply of bibs to be used by the child throughout the day.
2. Bibs should be replaced often enough to prevent the child from soaking their clothing.
3. Wet bibs will be removed and laundered on a daily basis.
4. The staff member must handle a soaked bib with disposable gloves and wash their hands with soap and running water for thirty seconds after handling the soaked bibs.

Children with Skin Abrasions and Cuts:

1. The staff member who attends to children's skin abrasions and cuts must wear disposable gloves while dressing the wound.
2. Gloves and bloodstained material must be secured in a plastic bag and discarded.
3. Children and adult must wash their hands with soap and running water for thirty seconds after the wound has been attended

Children Who Vomit/Diarrhea:

1. Program Staff will immediately call for the Supervisor’s/Designate assistance.
2. The child will be isolated for cleanup.
3. The protocol for Pandemic Policy for Suspected Illness/Outbreak of a Client/Staff.
   - Supervisor/designate will remove proceed to assigned isolation area.
   - Supervisor/designate will call the child’s contacts to come pick up child.
   - Classroom area will be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected by following our disinfecting policy.
   - Supervisor/designate will wear the appropriate PPE, isolation gown, mask or face shield and gloves.
   - Isolation area is equipped with a cot/mat, chair, sheet and blanket if needed
   - Upon parent arrival, Supervisor/designate will take child to parent and ensure isolation room is disinfected properly following our disinfecting policy
   - Child must be self-isolated for 24 hours before returning with a note from a doctor.
4. Any solid matter on the child's clothing should be flushed into the toilet (similar to the procedure for wet/soiled Underwear/Diaper Change as it relates).
5. The child's clothing should be placed in a plastic bag and secured and returned to the parent upon pickup.
6. Assemble proper supplies, (cleaning tools, disinfectant, disposable gloves, mask/face shield), the area soiled by the vomit should be cleaned up and disinfected and the solid mass removed and put into a plastic bag, which is then secured and discarded.
7. When cleanup is complete, remove all personal protective equipment and disposable cleaning towels, place in plastic bag, secure and dispose. If using a face shield, it should be disinfected after each incident.
8. Gloves and any other disposable soiled product should be secured in a plastic bag and discarded.
9. The child and staff member must wash their hands with soap and running water for a minimum of thirty seconds.
10. Child will be made comfortable while awaiting parent pickup in isolation area.

** It is the responsibility of ALL staff to follow the guidelines in this policy. All Procedures must be followed to ensure the health and safety of ALL staff, children and families. Failure to follow procedures may result in disciplinary action**.