Policy
Kids Come First Child Care Services (Kids Come First) is committed to providing a safe and healthy environment for children, families and employees. Kids Come First will take every reasonable precaution to prevent the risk of communicable diseases within all our locations.
Purpose
To ensure that all employees are aware of, and adhere to, the directive established by York Region Public Health regarding cleaning and hand hygiene in all Kids Come First Child Care Programs. All employees, students and any other persons that enter the premise and engage in the programs must adhere to the following procedures.
Procedures
Hands carry and spread germs. Touching your eyes, nose, mouth or sneezing or coughing into your hands may provide an opportunity for germs to get into your body or spread to others. Keeping your hands clean through good hygiene practice is one of the most important steps to avoid getting sick and spreading germs. Ensure that employees and children are always practicing good hand hygiene when hands are visibly dirty and/or after:
- Sneezing, coughing, or blowing your nose
- Using the washroom
- Handling garbage
- Handling raw foods
- Outdoor play
- Toileting/diapering routines
- Handling soiled laundry or dishes
- Handling soiled toys or other items
- Coming into contact with bodily fluids
- Coming into contact with any soiled/mouthed items
- Gardening
In addition, hands should be cleaned using soap and water or hand sanitizer before and after:
- Preparing, handling, serving and eating food
- Handling animals
- Touching a cut or open sore
- Changing diapers
- Glove use
- Dispensing/handling expressed breast milk
- Before and after giving medication
When hands are visibly soiled, the following steps must be followed for cleaning hands.
If you have access to running water and soap:
- Wet hands
- Apply soap
- Lather for at least 20 seconds. Rub between fingers, back of hands, fingertips, under nails
- Rinse well under running water
- Dry hands well with paper towel or hot air blower
- Turn taps off with paper towel, if available
When hands are not visibly soiled, follow these steps for cleaning hands:
- Apply hand sanitizer (70-90% alcohol-based)
- Rub hands together for at least 20 seconds
- Work sanitizer between fingers, back of hands, fingertips, and under nails.
- Rub hands until dry
Hand Hygiene Monitoring
To ensure that employees are using proper hand hygiene methods, supervisors will review hand hygiene practices on a regular basis and provide feedback to employees as required. Hand washing is the preferred method of hand hygiene however, hand sanitizer will be used where hand washing is not possible such when playing outside.
Hand Sanitizing Information
When your hands are not visibly dirty, a 70-90% alcohol based hand sanitizer can be used. Hand sanitizers can only be used on children who are over the age of two and must always be used under adult supervision. Adults must ensure that the product has completely evaporated from the child’s hands before allowing the child to continue their activity. Parent consent is required to use hand sanitizer on children. If consent is not provided the child may not be permitted in the program.