Compilation of Rules and Regulations of the State of Georgia › Department 290 - RULES OF DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES › Chapter 290-2 - FAMILY AND CHILDREN SERVICES › Subject 290-2-3 - RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR FAMILY CHILD CARE LEARNING HOMES › Rule 290-2-3-.11 - Health, Safety, and Discipline

Current through Rules and Regulations filed
				through June 27, 2024
(1) Health.
(a) Children, Parents, Staff, or any other
				persons being supervised by the Staff, shall not be allowed in the Home who
				knowingly have or present symptoms of a contagious communicable disease (such
				as fever, coughing, fatigue, muscle aches, diarrhea, etc.) or any virus or
				illness (such as COVID-19, etc.) identified during a public health
				emergency.
(b) Parental
				Notification. Parents must be notified of incidents, illnesses, or injuries as
				follows:
Notification
When
Immediately notify Parent(s) and obtain specific
							 instructions until child can be picked up or returned to group.
When professional medical attention is required,
							 or
When child experiences symptoms of moderate
							 discomfort such as elevated temperature, vomiting or diarrhea, or
When child is involved in an incident that puts their
							 health and/or safety at risk (e.g., missing from program, left on vehicle,
							 escaped from building/playground, etc.)
Notify Parent(s) by the end of the day.
When professional medical attention is not required,
							 or
When child experiences symptoms of less than moderate
							 discomfort, or
When child experiences an adverse reaction to
							 prescribed medication which does not constitute moderate discomfort.
(c)
				The Home shall obtain emergency medical services when required by a child's
				condition.
(d) Except for first aid
				and as authorized under Georgia law, personnel shall not dispense prescription
				or nonprescription medications to a Child without specific written
				authorization from the Child's physician or Parent. All medications shall be
				stored as authorized under Georgia law or in accordance with the prescription
				or label instructions and kept in places that are inaccessible to children.
				Each dose of medication given to a Child shall be documented showing the
				Child's name, name of medication, date and time given, and the name of the
				person giving the medication.
(e)
				The Home and any vehicle used by the Home for transportation of Children shall
				have a first aid kit which shall at least contain: scissors, tweezers, gauze
				pads, thermometer, adhesive tape, band-aids, insect-sting preparation,
				antiseptic cleaning solution, antibacterial ointment, bandages, disposable
				rubber gloves, protective eyewear, facemask, and cold pack. The first aid kit,
				together with a first aid instruction manual which must be kept with the kit at
				all times, shall be stored in a central location so that it is not accessible
				to Children but is easily accessible to the Provider and Staff. The Home must
				also maintain written directions for the use of universal precautions for
				handling blood and bodily fluids. The directions on the use of universal
				precautions must be kept with the first aid kit at all times.
(f) Diapers shall be changed in the Child's
				own crib or on a nonporous surface which is cleaned with a disinfectant and
				dried with a single use disposable towel after each diaper change.
(g) Soiled diapers and linens shall be
				disposed of in a closed container.
(h) If used, toilet potty chairs shall after
				each use be emptied by disposal in a flush toilet, cleaned with a disinfectant,
				and stored in the bathroom. If a sink is used, it shall be disinfected after
				each use.
(i) Personnel shall wash
				their hands with liquid soap and warm running water: immediately before and
				after each diaper change; immediately upon the first Child's arrival in the
				Home for care and upon re-entering the Home after outside play; before and
				after dispensing oral medications and applying topical medications, ointments,
				creams or lotions, handling and preparing food, eating, drinking, preparing
				bottles, feeding or assisting children with eating and drinking; after
				toileting or helping children with toileting, using tobacco products, handling
				garbage and organic waste, touching animals or pets, handling bodily fluids
				such as, but not limited to, mucus, saliva, vomit or blood and after
				contamination by any other means.
(j) Children's hands shall be washed with
				liquid soap and warm running water: immediately upon arrival for the day and
				re-entering the child care area after outside play; before and after eating
				meals and snacks, handling or touching food, and playing in water; after
				toileting and diapering, playing in sand, touching animals or pets, contact
				with bodily fluids such as, but not limited to, mucus, saliva, vomit or blood,
				and after contamination by any other means.
(k) Washcloth handwashing is permitted for
				infants when the infant is too heavy to hold for handwashing or cannot stand
				safely to wash hands at a sink and for children with special needs who are not
				capable of washing their own hands. An individual washcloth shall be used only
				once for each child before laundering.
(l) Smoking is prohibited on the premises of
				a Home during the hours of operation and no smoking signs must be posted.
				Smoking is also prohibited in any vehicle used to transport children during the
				hours that the Home is in operation.
(m) Children shall be kept clean, dry and
				comfortable.
(n) Pets in the Home
				shall be vaccinated in accordance with the requirements of the local county
				Boards of Health. Unconfined pets shall not be permitted in child care areas
				when any Child is present except for supervised learning experiences.
(o) Pets and all other animals shall be
				controlled to assure that proper sanitation of the premises is maintained and
				animals are not a hazard to the children, personnel or other visitors. No
				animal, such as but not limited to, pit bull dogs, ferrets, and poisonous
				snakes, which may have a vicious propensity, shall be permitted on the Family
				Child Care Learning Home premises at any time there are children on the
				premises. Horses or other farm animals shall not be quartered on any property
				over which the Provider exercises any control that is located within five
				hundred (500) feet of the building in which the Family Child Care Learning Home
				is located.