Handwashing for Childcare Providers
Handwashing for Childcare Providers
Why is it so important for childcare providers to wash their hands? Most importantly, it prevents the spread of germs. Washing your hands can reduce the risk of disease and sickness. Providers have a responsibility to keep themselves and the children in their care healthy and safe. For most childcare centers and daycares it is a licensing regulation that hand washing practices are used in order for the center to stay in compliance with the governing organizations. It is also important that providers and caregivers model the expected behavior for the children in their care. They can teach the children in their care to use good hygiene in order to protect hemselves and others from getting sick and spreading germs.
Caregivers should wash their hands: Before, during, and after preparing food. Before eating food. After using the restroom. After changing diapers or assisting a child who has used the restroom. After blowing your nose or a child's nose. After handling an animal or their surroundings. After touching waste/garbage. Before and after administering first aid.
Caregivers should wash their hands using the following procedure: Remove jewelry. Use soap and running water. Rub hands vigorously as you wash them. (20 seconds, the "HappyBirthday" song twice.) Wash back of hands, palms, wrists, between fingers, and under finger nails. Rinse your hands well and leave the water running. Dry your hands with a single use towel. Turn off the water by using a paper towel, not your bare hands. Remember to wash the child's hands also using the above procedure.
When hand washing with soap and water is not possible, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention recommends using alcohol-based products made for disinfecting your hands. See the label before using with small children, may read "keep out of reach of children".
It is also recommended that caregivers/providers clean environmental surfaces with a virus-killing disinfectant to help prevent the spread of germs and disease. Rhinoviruses can live up to 3 hours on your skin. They can also survive up to 3 hours on objects such as toys, tables, highchairs and hard surfaces. Caregivers should disinfect tables and highchairs after children are finished with their snacks and meals. It is recommended that a basket for dirty toys be available to easily gather and store toys that the children have had in their mouth and are no longer playing with. The caregiver can clean and disinfect those toys and use the clean toys in rotation to avoid exposing the children to each other's germs in the childcare center. Proper hand washing and disinfecting of surfaces will help to keep the caregivers and the children in their care healthy and happy! Fine position on your child How Children Can Have Fun On Camping Trips Unplug Your Kids With Harry Potter Lego Sets Pricey Tobacco Reduced Teens Smoking Mountain buggy strollers: apt for children while traveelling For the Sake of the Children,' Let Social Security Die Poems-Passionate tango/Kiss my soul/Making a child Get Children To Comprehend Our Past By Making Use Of Log Cabin Miniatures Things to Consider when Choosing Organic Kids Bedding Does Your Child Have Otitis Media (Middle Ear Infection)? How Everyone Can Help to Prevent Childhood Obesity Clever genius parents teach children to play with toys - toys, intelligence - the toy industry Personalised bridesmaid gift ideas for adult and child bridesmaids