Health and First-Aid Laws

**This is a mini paper I did for Trends and Problems in Early Childhood Education sophomore year at PBC.**

When operating a daycare or a pre-school one of the most important things to be concerned with is keeping the children healthy and safe. In North Carolina, there are a few laws to be noted when it comes to having a law-approved preschool center. The first section of laws is concerning health and the second set is concerning first aid requirements.
When it comes to keeping children healthy there are a few things to keep in mind. First each child kept in the daycare needs to have his/her immunization records up to date and turned in to the office for filing (“North Carolina”). Second, sanitation is very important. Germs are so easily spread so in order to keep them from spreading among all the children everything needs to be sanitized and clean (“North Carolina”). Obviously, when it comes to being healthy, watching what is eaten is very important. Snacks and meals should always be nutritious (“North Carolina”). Portion sizes also need to be monitored so the kids are not being overfed (“North Carolina”). They need to be satisfied, not extremely stuffed. According to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, “Food must be offered at least once every four hours” (“North Carolina”). Another way to stay healthy is to be active. If weather permits, allow the children time outside to get the “wiggles out” and get some exercise (“North Carolina”). Also, give them “space and time to rest” (“North Carolina”). Lastly, health inspectors need to visit regularly to make sure all standards are up to par to keep the children healthy (“North Carolina”).
Not only is it important to make provisions for keeping the children healthy, but there also needs to be provision made for the “just-in-case” moments. What this means is having a first-aid kit and first aid regulations. According to the National Resource Center for Health and Safety in Child Care and Early Education website, North Carolina defines a first-aid kit as consisting of “a collection of first aid supplies (such as bandages, tweezers, disposable nonporous gloves, micro shield or face mask, liquid soap, cold pack) for treatment of minor injuries or stabilization of major injuries” (“Child Care”). There also needs to be a permission slip for emergency medical care to be administered and contact numbers for an emergency situation on file for each child just like the immunization records (“Child Care”). The center needs to have specifics outlined on what organization, hospital, clinic, doctor, and emergency room just in case an emergency ever arises (“Child Care”). There also needs to be someone designated to accompany the child or accompany the leftover children when one does need to be rushed to the hospital or clinic (“Child Care”).
It is so very important to not only educate children, but to also keep the children healthy and safe. An education is a very good thing to have but if they are not kept healthy and safe the education will be pointless. All organizations devoted to child care should have these ideas in mind.



Works Cited
1. “Child Care Rules.” National Resource Center for Health and Safety in Child Care and Early Education: North Carolina, 1 August 2010. Web. 2 September 2010. 2. “North Carolina Child Care Law and Rules.” Division of Child Development: North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, 2009. Web. 1 September 2010.