Health and Safety

HEALTHY KIDS ARE HAPPY KIDS!

The health and safety of all children is very important to us.  A registered nurse is on duty each day during the entire school session, and every member of our staff has been trained in first aid as well as the recognition of common childhood diseases.  A list of staff compliance is posted in each classroom next to the fire and weather alert directions and the medical and dental emergency plans.The nurse is in charge of all aspects of the childrens' health and health records.  We require a current medical form signed by a physician every year that a child is enrolled in our program.   Our procedures meet state licensing requirements and ensure that children are healthy before they come to school. We ask all parents to keep current immunization and health information at home, and to notify either the nurse or the office of any pertinent health history or new medical situations.  Emergency contact information must also be kept current, and parents should notify us of any change of address, home or work telephone number, or emergency contact person, etc. The nurse tries to reach the parents of an absent child any time that a child is absent for more than one school day.    Children develop close ties to their teachers and peers, and they are missed when not at school.  We want them to know that they are missed, and that they are important to us.  We encourage parents to let children know that we have called to inquire about them. Upon returning the child to school, we ask that parents prepare a note for our records.   If the child has been ill, the nurse will make the final decision about that child's readiness to return to class.

To read additional policies pertaining to health and safety, you may use the hyperlinks above to access individual pages.  If you are using a Java-enabled browser, summarized versions of each policy will scroll in the space below. THE HEALTH CHECK

On arriving at school each day, every child receives a health check by the nurse or a trained substitute.   The health check includes looking into each child's throat with a flashlight and gently touching the glands at the side of the neck as well as general observation of the child. The nurse or designated staff person who checks the children regularly quickly becomes familiar with what is "standard" or "normal" for each given child.  Warning symptoms can be caught as early as possible.

If, during the health check, the nurse or other designated person finds possible warning symptoms, they alone will be responsible for the decision to exclude the child from school for health reasons.  To protect the child as well as other children, it is sometimes necessary to send a child home again.  We encourage parents to be understanding and supportive of the child in these situations, providing reassurance if the child is upset. 

The following symptoms warrant exclusion from school:
	Elevated temperature (Normal temp. is 98.6 degrees)
	Possibly contagious skin rashes of undetermined nature
	Diarrhea and/or vomiting two or more times in a 24 hour period
	Evidence of lice, scabies, or other parasitic infestation
	Severe and/or persistent coughing, yellow, or green nose drainage.
	Difficult or rapid breathing
	Yellowish skin or eyes
	Stiff neck
	Conjunctivitis (pink eye)

AUDITORY AND VISUAL SCREENINGS

Auditory and vision screenings for all 3/4, 4/5, 5/6 age groups are offered during the school year at the discretion of parents or the recommendation of staff.  We notify parents as soon as possible with information, including the day, date, and time of the screening.  And we notify parents promptly about results.The instrument used for auditory screening is a Aussco-Vasc screening audiometer with a visual screen.For vision screening, we use the Peek-a-boo series, which is a pre-school children’s vision screening keystone view.   Children are screened for near and far vision, simulating 20 feet. We also screen for depth perception and perform tracking exams, including horizontal, circular, vertical, and convergence testing. We recommend that every child receive a professional eye examination before starting kindergarten.

A communicable disease chart is posted just outside of the office.If children are exposed to a communicable illness in the classroom, we will send a note home to notify parents when the exposure occurred, what symptoms to look for, and when the symptoms might occur. Parents with questions concerning communicable diseases are encouraged to telephone the COMMUNICABLE DISEASE HOTLINE at 1-800-282-0546.

At Kirkmont, we make certain that no child is ever left alone or unsupervised.  Once children finish the health check and come to the classroom, the teachers are responsible until each child has been dismissed to a parent, authorized carpool member, or a designated staff person. Children are dismissed ONLY to designated persons.We maintain immediate access to a working telephone within the building at all times.

If your child becomes ill after the school session has begun, the teaching staff asks the nurse or designated health care provider to check the child and determine the best course of action.  If it is necessary to have the child isolated from the other children, a cot with clean linens is provided in an area where the child can be well supervised by a staff member.  We try to prevent accidents to the best of our ability, but if a child is injured we ensure that they receive prompt and careful attention from the nurse or other health care provider, who can determine whether paramedics or the child's physician need to be contacted.  We contact parents any time that a child needs outside professional care; and we complete an incident report for all significant accidents and emergencies.  We ask parents to read, sign, and return this form to the office on the next school day.At any time that a child is injured or ill, that child's emotional well being is of vital importance to us.  If the child must be taken home or to an outside physician, the nurse or other designated staff member contacts the child's parents as soon as possible, and the child is provided added support and reassurance until the parents arrive.

Each member of the staff is required to have an initial six hours of training in the recognition of suspected child abuse or neglect, with three additional hours of supplemental training.  Staff compliance is posted in each classroom.Under section 2151.421 of the revised code, the administrator and each employee of the school are required to report suspected child abuse and/or child neglect.

We require a medical authorization form to be kept on file for any and all medications or vitamins.  In case of an allergic reaction, proper notification on these records will allow our registered nurse to provide the proper assistance. In case of an emergency, the nurse will take verbal medical directions from a physician unless it is determined that paramedics can be more efficient or expedient. All medications provided to us must the proper RX label and be signed by the parent. The use of aerosol sprays is prohibited when children are in the building.

We ask parents to please park in the center of the parking lot closest to the school's east entrance, moving in a forward direction only.   The parking lot is busy and there are many small children moving back and forth.  We ask that no one reverse their vehicles in the parking lot.

Parents should pull forward between the straight parking lines,  drawing as far forward as possible to allow additional parking behind them.  When assistance is required for dropping off or picking up children, we encourage parents to contact us.  We are happy to make special arrangements for parking or seeing a child in or out of the building, but we ask that no one use the handicapped parking spaces without prior approval from the pre-school office.

No child should be left unattended in a vehicle for any reason.   We will be happy to provide assistance. 

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