910 Whalen Rd.
Verona, Wi 53593
(608) 845-2367
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HEALTH POLICY

In order to maintain and protect the health of all enrolled children and to reduce the risk of spreading disease and childhood illnesses from child to child, Once Upon a Time requires that:

Each child under 2 years of age is required to have an initial physical examination within 6 months before or 3 months after the enrollment date. A follow-up health exam is required at least once every 6 months after admission until the age of 2.

Children age 2 to 12 years are required to have a physical exam not more than 1 year before enrollment or no later than 3 months after the first day of enrollment. A follow up exam is required at least every 2 years after the initial exam.

The Wisconsin Department of Health and Family Services requires all physicals to be on a Department-approved form which the Center will provide. The attending physician or physician’s assistant must sign the physical form.

Immunization Records:

A record of immunizations for each child is also required by the state. This must be on file within 30 school days of enrollment. The immunization history must include the dates on which each of the following vaccines was received: DPT/DT/TD, ORAL POLIO, MMR (Measles, Mumps, and Rubella), HEPATITIS B, HIB, and VARICELLA (Chicken Pox).

Immunization requirements may be waived upon the signature of the parent stating that the child may not be immunized for personal or religious reasons or upon receipt of a signed physician’s statement explaining that the child may not be immunized for health reasons.

A continuing immunization record will be kept at the Center for each child. When the child receives an additional immunization, please indicate the type/dose and date on a note. The note will go into the child’s file and the Center Director will update the immunization record.

Non-Compliance:

As required by Wisconsin law and administrative rule, the District Attorney will be notified that a child has failed to comply with immunization requirements. Staff will notify parents of the need for compliance and if parents still do not comply, the District Attorney will be notified. Non-compliance will be defined as:

  • Children who do not submit an immunization record within 30 school days of enrollment.
  • Children whose record at 30 days after admission indicates they do not have at least the first dose of each required vaccine.
  • Children who fall behind schedule of required vaccines.

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Medications:

Once Upon a Time maintains a Medical Log in each classroom which includes notations on any prescription or non-prescription medications given to your child (upon your written request) while at the Center. It is preferred that you ask your pediatrician if the medicine can be given early in the morning and at dinner time to avoid having to bring the medicine to the Center at all.

Medications may be left at the Center only for the period of time the child is taking the medication and must be accompanied by a completed “Authorization to Administer Medication” form. This form will need to be completed each week if the administration of medication exceeds one week. All medications must be in the original, pharmacy or manufacturer-labeled container with your child’s name, drug name, dosage, administering directions, date and physician’s name. Non-prescription medication must be in the original container labeled with the child’s first and last name, administering directions and dosage. No medication may be left at the center to be used “as needed”.

Medications will be placed in a locked medicine box in an area not accessible to children, and should NEVER be left in the child’s cubby. Medications requiring refrigeration will be placed in the refrigerator in a covered container labeled “Medication”. Your child’s teacher or the Center Director will give you specific information about the location of the medicine boxes in the Center.

For some illnesses, strep throat, for example, your child may return to the Center 24 hours after he/she has begun medication. Be sure to get three doses of antibiotic in during the 24-hour period as it takes BOTH the 24-hour period and 3 doses of medicine for your child to be no longer contagious. Different physicians will give varying time spans, but Once Upon a Time requires 3 doses in 24 hours. Written notes from physicians for a child to return to the Center in relation to an illness will not be accepted if they are in disagreement with policy and guidelines received from Public Health. Public Health guidelines will be followed over that of private physicians, if necessary.

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Allergies:

If your child has allergy issues, please speak to your child’s teacher and the Center Director so proper precautions can be taken.

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Children with special needs

Once Upon a Time will work with parents of children with special needs to ensure that their needs are being met. Reasonable accommodations (within our budget and ability) will be made to curriculum and environment to accommodate these needs. Staff will be aware of all children and their particular needs. Specific information from the child’s parents (conditions, issues to watch out for, how to help the child, emergency information, etc.) will be maintained in the classroom and in the child’s main file.

Illness:

An informal check will be done of each child upon arrival at the Center. If the child appears ill, the staff member or Center Director may require the parent to take the child home. If the child has evidence of unusual bruises, contusions, lacerations or burns, it shall be noted in the accident/injury log and immediately reported to the Center Director. If a child becomes ill
during the course of the day, the Center Director or staff member will contact the child’s parents immediately.

In order to protect the health of all enrolled children and to reduce the spread of disease and illness, please do not bring your child to the Center when they have the following symptoms:

  • Axillary (under arm) temperature above 100 degrees or an oral temperature above 101 degrees. Once Upon a Time uses digital thermometers either in the ear or under the arm. Children must stay away from the Center until they have been fever-free for 24 hours (see “Fever-Free” Policy below).
  • If a child is vomiting or has vomited. The child must stay away from the Center for 24 hours after the last episode of vomiting.
  • Diarrhea is defined as 2 or more watery or very loose bowel movements within a 2 hour period. The child must stay away from the Center for 24 hours after the last episode of diarrhea.
  • A discharge from the eye area may be a sign of pink eye which is very contagious. Your child should be seen by a physician, and if diagnosed, needs to have taken antibiotics for 24 hours and have no discharge remaining before returning to the Center.
  • An unexplained rash that has the appearance of Chicken Pox, roseola, hand-foot-mouth disease, fifths disease, impetigo or other communicable disease must be cleared by a physician before returning to the Center. Children with other types of minor rashes may be at the Center as long as they are participating normally, in good spirits and fever free.
    A child with head lice must be treated with medicated lice and nit killing shampoo, and, all lice and nits must be eliminated from the hair before the child can return to the Center.

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Pick-up of an Ill Child:

Parents will be notified if a child exhibits any of the above symptoms or symptoms of ear infection or has severe nasal or chest congestion. You will be told whether or not it is necessary to pick up your child from the Center. This parent contact is made so that parents are aware of their child’s symptoms and can contact a physician for treatment or information if necessary.

If a parent is notified that the illness requires that the child be removed from the Center, parents must make arrangements to have their child picked up from the Center immediately (within 1 hour of being notified).

A crib or cot and blanket will be provided for a child who is ill and they will be allowed to lie down and rest until a parent or designated person arrives to pick them up. A staff member will remain with them. The isolation room is adjacent to the Administrator’s office.

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Fever-Free Policy:

Your child must be fever-free (at 98.6 degrees) (without the use of fever-reducing medication) for 24 hours before returning to the Center after being sent home.

Nit-Free Policy:

If your child has head lice, he/she may not return to the center until all nits are gone.

Communicable Disease:

Parents must notify the Center within 24 hours if their child has been diagnosed with a communicable disease. Examples are but not limited to: strep throat, roseola, chicken pox, impetigo, scabies, ringworm, lice, etc. When a child is suspected of having chicken pox, German measles, infectious hepatitis, measles, mumps, poliomyelitis, scarlet fever, whooping cough, diphtheria, meningitis, or other reportable communicable disease under ch. HSS145, the Center Director will notify the local public health office.

Exposure Notices:

If children at the Center have been or may have been exposed to a communicable illness or disease, a written notice will be posted including symptoms to watch for, incubation period and recovery time. Staff will watch children for symptoms of the illness. A child, after having an illness, may be readmitted without a written statement from a physician only after the child has been absent for a period of time equal to the longest usual incubation period for the specified illness.

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Let Us Know!!:

Please call the Center by 9:00 am if your child will be out ill. Notify the Center Director if the child has a suspected or confirmed communicable illness. If a child is well enough to come to the Center, the child will be expected to participate in all activities, including outdoor play.

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Accident and/or Injury:

Once Upon a Time has taken precautions to ensure that the building, equipment and playground areas meet or exceed all applicable safety guidelines and requirements. Our staff is trained to prevent and watch for potential accidents. Children will receive instruction on safety while at the Center and at home.

Any accident or injury that does occur at Once Upon a Time will be taken seriously. Staff has been trained in First Aid and CPR. First aid will be provided and the event will be recorded in the Injury Log. The account will detail what happened, first aid provided, name of witness if applicable and the signature of attending teacher. In addition, an Incident Report will be completed by the attending teacher, signed by the Director and placed in the child’s cubby for the parent. Staff will also record any bruises or injuries observed on a child upon arrival to the Center. Staff will wear gloves during first aid treatment. Any bodily fluids will be cleaned up using gloves and a bleach formula. Any items containing or covered in bodily fluids (gloves, paper toweling, etc.) will be disposed of in a sealed plastic bag. Staff will wash their hands with soap and warm running water immediately afterwards.

Most injuries are minor and do not require immediate notification of a parent. However, in the case of a minor injury with a questionable need for medical care, the Center will notify a parent by phone so the parent has input as to the next step. In the case of a serious injury, 911 will be called immediately while first aid is given until emergency service personnel arrive. A parent will be contacted immediately. Children will be transported to U.W. Hospital if Center staff is unable to reach a parent or the information on the child’s Emergency Information Card is incorrect or unavailable. A staff member will ride to the hospital with the child if the parent or guardian is not available to do so. That staff member will carry the child’s Emergency Information Card, Child

Health Report, Daycare Immunization Record and Child Intake Form (children under 2 years of age) to assist emergency personnel in administering aid to the child.

In the event that an accident or injury occurs while on a field trip, the Trip Leader will have a cell phone to call 911 in the case of a sever injury or accident; and, a first aid kit and ice pack for minor emergencies. The Trip Leader will also have Emergency Information Cards for each child. Staff will administer first aid for minor injuries and will also provide first aid until emergency personnel arrive in the event of a severe accident or injury.

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Universal Precautions and Glove Usage

Staff members who come in contact with bodily fluids containing blood must wear single use gloves to take care of the situation. Gloves should be worn when changing diapers and dealing with any bodily fluids. Gloves that came into contact with blood must be removed appropriately and disposed of in a plastic bag and hands washed with soap and warm running water. Gloves used in other circumstances must be removed appropriately and disposed of and hands washed with soap and warm running water. Any surface, that comes in contact with any bodily fluid spills, must be washed and disinfected with the standard bleach solution of one (1) tablespoon (T) bleach to one (1) quart (qt) water made fresh daily or a quad-4 sanitizing cleanser.

Handling bodily secretions: Runny noses, eye drainage and coughed up matter will be wiped with a tissue and disposed of at once in a plastic lined container. Bodily secretions on any surface shall be washed immediately with soap and water and cleaned with the standard bleach solution of one (1) tablespoon (T) bleach to one (1) quart (qt) water made fresh daily or a quad-4 sanitizing cleanser. Hands must be washed after any handling of body secretions.

Hand Washing Procedures

Children’s hands will be washed with soap and running water before and after snack and meals and after diapering and toileting. For children under 1 year, hands may be washed with soap and a fabric or paper washcloth.

Staff will wash hands with soap and warm running water before and after diapering a child or helping a child with toileting, after helping a child with any bodily secretions, and before any snack or meal activity. Staff will wash their hands any time they feel the potential of passing bacteria due to what they have just done. Staff will wash hands after using the restroom themselves. Staff must turn off running water with a paper towel, not their bare hand in all situations.

SIDS Policy

Every child will be placed on his/her back for sleeping unless there is a written medical authorization signed by a doctor stating why a different sleep position is required. Non-mobile babies will spend time on their tummies when they are awake to engage and strengthen neck and head muscles, but safe from potential SIDS.

All employees must complete SIDS training to learn about SIDS techniques and prevention strategies before working with infants. Even if a staff member does not regularly work with infants, they must still complete the SIDS training.

Each parent of a new infant enrolled in the Center will be given a current SIDS informational brochure. The brochure will give more information about SIDS and ways to prevent it.

Building Temperature

In order to maintain a healthy environment within the Center, an inside temperature of not less than 67 degrees and not more than 80 degrees will be maintained throughout the year. A commercial heating and cooling system with thermostats on both levels of the building will be used to maintain this temperature range.

In the rare event that the building loses heat, air conditioning, water, electricity, plumbing capability or telephone, staff will make every effort to keep children comfortable (warm in winter and cool in the summer) until parents can be notified and children can be picked up. Professional personnel will be contacted immediately to fix the problem with the hopes that it could be repaired within 12-24 hours. In the event that it cannot, the Center cannot operate without water or plumbing or heat or electricity. Parents will be contacted if the center must remain closed for an additional day(s). If the telephone service is not working, the Center will have 2 cell phones available for emergency use (staff personal cell phones). If the air conditioning is not working, staff will use fans and activities to keep children cool.

Sunscreen and/or Insect Repellent

If you bring sunscreen (recommended) and/or insect repellent for your child, please fill out a sunscreen and insect repellent permission slip. Please also be sure that your child’s name is written on the bottles. Sunscreen and insect repellent will be applied to the child every time they go outside. If you would like to bring in a sunhat or sunglasses for your child, we will be sure the child wears those when going outside also.

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