Summertime Safety Tips

Summertime brings changes to many child care programs. With the nicer weather, more time is spent outside enjoying the fresh air and sunshine. There is time for picnics on the lawn, park visits, and water play. For school-age children, before and after care changes to full day child care, sometimes in a “camp” format. Some child care and school-age programs take opportunities to go on field trips, while others bring special enrichment programs into their child care. Keeping children healthy and safe is a year-round job for child care providers. Summer brings many new experiences and opportunities. It also brings different health and safety risks that must be properly managed to ensure that the fun can continue all summer long. Here are a few safety tips to consider:

• Don’t use wading pools in child care settings. They cannot be safely chlorinated and don’t have water circulation. As a result, germs can spread very easily. Instead, use sprinklers, water tables, new spray bottles, or other water toys.
• Make sure that perishable foods are kept cold if you eat outdoors or go on a picnic. Bacteria can multiply fast in certain foods if they get too warm for too long. Pack ice packs or choose foods that do not need to be kept cold for your outings. Remind parents to do the same.
• Remember the importance of handwashing if there are animals at any of your field trip destinations or if animal visitors come to your child care. Consider taking our child care animal safety class.
• If you are taking children on field trips, make sure that you have properly installed car seats, a first aid kit, plenty of staff (you may need extra helpers), and that you take head counts frequently.
• Bats in Washington state may carry rabies. Remind children that if they see a bat, alive or dead, they need to stay away from it and tell an adult.
• Remember to apply sunscreen 20 minutes before going outside. See our May article for more specifics about sunscreens. 
• Protect children from high heat. Make sure there is shade for the children to play in if they get too hot in the sun. Watch children for signs of heat stress. Make sure they drink plenty of water throughout the day to stay hydrated.
• Always wash hands when coming in from outside play.

Pinkeye - What to know 

Conjunctivitis or “pinkeye” is one of those illnesses that can be spread all year long and strike anyone at any age. Conjunctivitis is a big word. It simply means that the white portion of the eye or "conjunctiva," which turns pink during this illness, is infected (which is the "-itis" part). It is the most common and treatable eye condition. Pink eye can be caused by viruses, bacteria, or allergies and is usually spread through direct contact. Bacterial and viral conjunctivitis is very contagious and spreads easily, especially in group care settings.

Symptoms typically include: (in one or both eyes)

• pink or red color in the white portion of the eye
• Swelling of the eyelid or lining of the eye
• Increased tear production (watery eyes)
• Itchiness or burning of the eye
• Discharge (pus or mucus)
• Other symptoms may occur - this is not an exhaustive list.

To reduce the spread of conjunctivitis, encourage good hygiene practices. These include:

• Washing hands often with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds
• throwing away tissues or cotton balls after each use
• frequent cleaning and disinfecting of high-touch areas like doorknobs, tables, and light switches
• Avoiding touching or rubbing your face and eyes
• Not sharing personal care items, like towels, wash clothes or eye drops

Check with a healthcare provider for diagnosis and possible treatment needs.

Conjunctivitis (pinkeye) is considered a “nuisance” illness. Children and staff with pinkeye should not be excluded from childcare unless:

• they are unable to participate in activities.
• care for other children would be compromised because of the level of care required by the child with pinkeye 
• they meet other exclusion criteria, such as fever, or
• a health care provider or health department recommends exclusion of the person with pinkeye

Child care facilities may choose to include pinkeye as a criterion for exclusion, but it is not required by law, and it is not considered best practice. It is recommended that individuals with eye discharge be excluded from school or child care at the end of the day until the drainage is gone or until a healthcare provider has evaluated the child.

For more information, here are a few resources: 

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention About Pink Eye | Conjunctivitis (Pink Eye) | CDC
• American Academy of Pediatrics: Pinkeye (Conjunctivitis) - HealthyChildren.org
• Snohomish County Health Department: Pinkeye Fact Sheet for Child Cares

Stress Management for Child Care Providers

This class identifies stressors child care providers experience and suggests ways to manage these stressors. In this course, you will learn about the impacts of personal stress, job stress, burnout, and secondary trauma and how to combat these stressors with coping skills and self-care practices.

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