Health and Safety

Riyla Wilson Act:

The Rilya Wilson Act is explained in detail on the flyer located on the Parent Information Board. If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to discuss them with the center’s director.

Safety and Security

The physical environment is maintained, clean, sanitized, and secure. The premises have a fire alarm and a burglar alarm. The local police are nearby and are familiar with the hours and activities of the program. Monthly fire drills are conducted to train the staff and the children on how to have an orderly and quick exit from the buildings, should the situation arise.

Procedures for Environmental Emergencies

The center has specific procedures in place for the following environmental emergencies:

  • Building Emergencies/Fire/Evacuation/Relocation
  • Severe Weather Conditions
  • Shelter in place
  • Located Down
  • Inclement weather

Building Emergencies

In the event of a fire, after evacuating the building staff members are instructed to line the children up and take attendance. They are to take the children to Oak Ridge Elementary school (4530 Shelter Road located behind the center) and immediately take attendance again to make sure all the children are accounted for.

Parents will then be called to pick up their child. The local fire department inspects the center annually by checking the expiration dates of all fire extinguishers, checking the fire alarm, checking the exit lights, and checking to see if the teachers follow the correct evacuation procedure using unannounced fire drills.

If problems arise with the electric, heating and cooling, or plumbing systems, parents will be called, requesting that they pick up their child(ren).  Parents will be notified if the center will need to be canceled for the following days.

Inclement Severe Weather Conditions

In the event of severe weather conditions such as tornadoes, lightning or thunderstorms, or severe winds that occur before school begins parents should use their judgment. If severe weather occurs while the children are attending school, the teachers will take the children out of the classroom and walk them into the main hallway. This area has been approved by the fire department as a safe place for the children to be during severe weather conditions. Once the threat has passed, the children will then be returned to their classroom.

IN THE EVENT OF THREAT OF HURRICANE, TROPICAL STORM, or TORNADOS, the center will be closed if Leon County schools are canceled. Please listen to one of the local radio or television stations for the announcement. An announcement regarding the program will not be made separately.

Illness Policy

We are partners in your child’s education, health, and wellbeing. Therefore, we have made it a primary concern for staff and administration to ensure we maintain a safe and healthy environment for all. Therefore, we have a strict policy for illness in the Center. So please adhere to the policy so that we will be able to control the spread of typical childhood illnesses. Maintaining the health and physical wellbeing of the parents and children is a primary concern for the staff and administration.

 

To avoid sharing contagious illnesses, we ask that each family comply with the following:
If your child has a fever of 100.5 or higher, yellow/green mucus or persistent cough, please keep your child home for 24 HOURS AFTER the fever and symptoms have subsided.

When a child has any indication of a body rash, see your doctor, and do not bring the child to school until the cause and remedy are determined. Many highly contagious illnesses are accompanied by a rash.

If your child has lice, diarrhea, a fungal infection (including ringworm), worms, or any other parasite, do not bring your child to school until the treatment is complete.

Any vomiting or diarrhea is an indication of a stomach or intestinal virus, and the child must remain at home, as this type of illness can be extremely contagious, please keep your child home.

 

If your child is present at school and has any symptoms such as diarrhea or vomiting you will be contacted immediately to pick up your child. Young children may exhibit indications of illnesses that are associated with erupting teeth and the staff will help you determine this, since this is clearly not contagious. 

 

We have an isolation area for your child in the event he or she becomes ill while at school until you arrive. Your cooperation is deeply appreciated. We understand that your child may have lower attendance during cold and flu season. If all parents or guardians adhere to the policy, we will be able to control the spread of typical childhood illnesses. Children practice washing their hands thoroughly and all toys are sanitized daily by the staff.

 

Should the center experience any unusual level or type of communicable disease, after notifying the proper authorities, we will inform you verbally or in writing if your child may have been exposed with information including signs and symptoms of the disease, mode of transmission, period of communicability, and control measures that have been implemented at the center and/or measures that should be implemented home. 

 

Please note that absences, regardless of the cause, will not entitle the parent to a refund or discount on the regular rate. If you have any future questions after reading the policy, please contact the director.

Please click here to view our Sick Policy Document

Medicine Policy

No medication shall be given by childcare personnel without the signed permission of the parent or legal guardian. All medication must be in the original container with the child’s name, name of the physician, medication name, and medication directions written on the label. 

 

In order to administer over-the-counter medications, we must have a written form from your physician authorizing use and dosage for your child. A completed medication authorization form must be filled out completely, and we require daily parent acknowledgment for the length of time that the medication is administered.

Immunizations

We require all children to provide a physician’s statement of the required immunizations per licensing requirements. As your child receives additional shots, please notify the Center. Failure to provide this information can be cause for removal from the program since current immunization records are required for centers to maintain a valid license. We perform audits of our immunizations on a regular basis in cooperation with the Department of Children and Families.

Injuries and Accidents

All staff is trained in First Aid/CPR. If a child becomes ill or injured anywhere in the facility, the supervising staff member will make an immediate decision as to whether the incident is a non-emergency or an emergency.

In the case of a non-emergency:

  1. Child is coherent and composed immediately after injury or illness.
  2. Child has a small cut or scrapes with little bleeding.
  3. Child has little swelling
  4. Child can move injured area or does not experience pain when touched. The teacher will apply first aid measures such as stopping the bleeding, applying band-aid, and washing injury with soap and water. The teacher will fill out an accident/injury report, for the parent/guardian to read and sign. A copy will be provided for the parent and the original will be placed in the child’s file. If the injury starts to swell, the teacher will call the parents, notifying them of the situation. If the injury continues to get worse, the parents will be asked to pick up the child and take him/her to the doctor/hospital.

Injuries and Accidents

The following policies and procedures regarding allergies have been developed to further protect the children in our care. These policies require the full understanding and cooperation of staff and parents.

  1. Children with a history of allergies will have these problems specified by the child’s health care provider on their medical information form.
  2. The director will review medical forms upon enrollment with parents and if a child has a special medical need, a health plan will be developed. This plan will include written instructions from the child’s physician regarding the management of his/her allergies. This written care plan must be in place within 30 days of enrollment. For children with life-threatening allergies, a care plan must be in place before the child begins attending the program.
  3. All staff who works with the child will be familiar with the care plan. The plan will be posted in the classroom along with a photo of the child. The plan will be clearly mar