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The Center for Disease Control has identified cases of swine influenza A (H1N1) virus infection in people in several U.S. states, including New York. CDC is working with local and state health agencies to investigate these cases. It has been determined that this virus is spreading from human to human. Right now, there is no vaccine for this new virus and the current seasonal influenza is thought to be unlikely to provide protection against this new strain.
To protect the health of child care staff, children and the community, the Oneida County Health Department recommends that child care provider make the following considerations:
- First and most importantly, remind parents and enforce policies for having ill children stay at home during their illness.
- In addition, remind and inform workers not to come to work while ill.
- A child may be infectious for up to 10 days after illness onset with influenza while adults are generally infectious for 5-7 days.
- Review their plans for responding to a pandemic and make sure they are up to date.
- Know local/state plans for child care in the event of a mild or severe pandemic. This information may be available from state or local health authorities, child care licensing agencies or resource and referral agencies.
- Develop and implement a system to track illness and absence due to illness among children and staff if one is not already in place. The system should be simple and easy to maintain but should record the number of persons with various illnesses (e.g. respiratory, diarrhea, rash) by day or at least by week. (see Caring for Our Children Standards 3.001 and 3.002 for information on how to do this http://nrckids.org/CFOC/PDFVersion/Chapter%203.pdf )
- Review and implement CDC Guidelines and Recommendations for Preventing the Spread of Influenza (the Flu) in Child Care Settings: Guidance for Administrators, Care Providers, and Other Staff, (http://www.cdc.gov/flu/professionals/infectioncontrol/childcaresettings.htm)
- Make sure staff are familiar with the above guidelines and that they are being followed in your program. Remind child care staff to clean/disinfect frequently touched surfaces within the facility.
- Provide information to parents on steps that they could take to prevent flu. (See attached fact sheet that could be distributed to each parent or posted on a door to the facilities with providers calling attention to the posted fact sheet).
- Monitor the postings on the CDC web site about this virus to see if child care facilities should begin preparing for possible closure or changes in operation (www.cdc.gov/swineflu).
- Contact your local public health department if you have questions or suspected cases.
- Review your facilities emergency preparedness plans and consult with state and/or local health department’s pandemic plans, particularly if the number of cases escalates dramatically.
Child care and preschool programs can help protect the health of their staff and the children and families they serve by calling attention to the every day preventive actions that parents can initiate to protect their children. (Please consider posting or distributing the attached message in your child care facility).
More information on preventing the spread of influenza can be found at: http://www.pandemicflu.gov/plan/school/preschool.html. For generic information on disaster preparedness, see NACCRRA’s web site http://www.naccrra.org/for_parents/coping/disaster.php
For more information or resources, contact Arlene Brouillette, the Child Care Council's Health Care Consultant, at 223-7850.
Child Care Council recognizes CACFP providers
March 15--21 is National Child and Adult Care Food Program week. This year's theme, "Pleasing the Picky Palate" emphasizes the important role that CACFP plays in promoting lifelong healthy eating and physical habits in children.
The Child Care Council acknowledges the commitment of the child care providers and programs in our area that participate in CACFP. By doing so, these programs help maintain a healthy atmosphere for children, and provide them with nutritious snacks and meals while in child care. The quality of child care provided in our community is improved due to educational and financial resources availbe to caregiver through CACFP. Please join us in honoring all CACFP providers for their invaluable work done on behalf of our children!
Learn more about the Child Care Council's Child and Adult Care Food Program here.
Peanut Butter Recalls and You
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has determined that PCA distributed potentially contaminated product to more than 70 consignee firms, for use as an ingredient in hundreds of different products, such as cookies, crackers, cereal, candy and ice cream. Companies all over the country that received product from PCA have issued voluntary recalls of their products. FDA has created a searchable database for these products, which can be found at http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/peanutbutterrecall/index.cfm, Identification of products subject to recall is continuing and this list is updated frequently.
FDA and CDC recommendations for consumers include:
- Do not eat products that have been recalled and throw them away in a manner that prevents others from eating them.
- To determine if commercially-prepared or manufactured peanut butter/peanut paste-containing products (such as cookies, crackers, cereal, candy and ice cream) are subject to recall, consumers are urged first to visit FDA’s website and check the searchable database of recalled products.
- For information on products containing peanut butter from companies not reporting recalls, consumers may wish to consult the company’s website or call the toll-free number listed on most packaging. Information consumers may receive from the companies has not been verified by the FDA.
- If consumers cannot determine if their peanut butter, peanut butter/peanut paste-containing products or institutionally-served peanut butter contains PCA peanut butter/peanut paste, FDA recommends that they do not consume those products.
- Persons who think they may have become ill from eating peanut butter are advised to consult their health care providers.
Winter Safety Tips for Everyone
Whether winter brings severe storms, light dustings or just cold temperatures, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has some valuable tips on how to keep your children safe and warm. Use these tips, developed by the AAP, to help keep yourself and your family safet this winter:
What to Wear
Dress infants and children warmly for outdoor activities. Several thin layers will keep them dry and warm. Clothing for children should consist of thermal long johns, turtlenecks, one or two shirts, pants, sweater, coat, warm socks, boots, gloves or mittens, and a hat. The rule of thumb for older babies and young children is to dress them in one more layer of clothing than an adult would wear in the same conditions.
Hypothermia
Hypothermia develops when a child's temperature falls below normal due to exposure to cold. It often happens when a youngster is playing outdoors in extremely cold weather without wearing proper clothing or when clothes get wet. As hypothermia sets in, the child may shiver and become lethargic and clumsy. His speech may become slurred and his body temperature will decline. If you suspect your child is hypothermic, call 911 at once. Until help arrives, take the child indoors, remove any wet clothing, and wrap him in blankets or warm clothes.
Frostbite
Frostbite happens when the skin and outer tissues become frozen. This condition tends to happen on extremities like the fingers, toes, ears and nose. They may become pale, gray and blistered. At the same time, the child may complain that her skin burns or has become numb. If frostbite occurs, bring the child indoors and place the frostbitten parts of her body in warm (not hot) water. 104° Fahrenheit (about the temperature of most hot tubs) is recommended. Warm washcloths may be applied to frostbitten nose, ears and lips. Do not rub the frozen areas. After a few minutes, dry and cover him with clothing or blankets. Give him something warm to drink. If the numbness continues for more than a few minutes, call your doctor.
Winter Health
Cold weather does not cause colds or flu. But the viruses that cause colds and flu tend to be more common in the winter, when children are in school and are in closer contact with each other. Frequent hand washing and teaching your child to sneeze or cough into the bend of her elbow may help reduce the spread of colds and flu. **Children between 6 months and 18 years of age should get the influenza vaccine to reduce their risk of catching the flu.**
Winter Sports and Activities
Set reasonable time limits on outdoor play to prevent frostbite. Have children come inside periodically to warm up.
Sun Protection
The sun’s rays can still cause sunburn in the winter, especially when they reflect off snow. Make sure to cover your child’s exposed skin with sunscreen.
Fire Protection
Winter is a time when household fires occur. It is a good time to remember to: Buy and install smoke alarms on every floor of your home, test smoke alarms monthly, practice fire drills with your children.
For more information, visit the American Academy of Pediatrics
Holiday Toy Safety
As the holiday season approaches, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) urges gift-givers to keep safety in mind when choosing toys for young children. The CPSC estimates that more than 120,000 children are treated in hospital emergency rooms for toy-related injuries each year.
CPSC requires labels to be on all toys marketed for children from three to six years old if the toys pose a choking hazard to children under age three. These labels tell consumers two critical things: that a toy is not safe for younger children and why it is not safe. Before CPSC issued these labeling requirements, it was more difficult for consumers to know that certain toys they bought for older children could be a danger to younger kids. CPSC has the most stringent toy-safety standards in the world, and toys on store shelves are safer because of the day-to-day compliance work by CPSC.
For more information on holiday safety, visit:
Think Toy Safey During the Holiday Season
Toy Safey Shopping Tips
Holiday and Toy Safety Shopping Times
National Handwashing Week
According to the Centers for Disease Control, "the most important thing you can do to keep from getting sick is to wash you hands." Hand washing can prevent not only common diseases like colds, but also more serious diseases like hepatitis A, meningitis, and infectious diarrhea.
For more information on handwashing, visit Henry the Hand.
Snort. Sniffle. Sneeze. No Antibiotics Please.
The Center for Disease Control has recently launched the "Get Smart" campaign. "Get Smart" encourages parents to treat their children with antibiotics wisely. According to the CDC, antibiotics are not always the answer to treating illness.
> Antibiotics cannot cure viral infections, including the common cold, most coughs, and the flu. Children fight off these viral illnesses on their own.
> When not used correctly anitbiotics can actually be harmful to your child's health.
> If your child's healthcare provider prescribes an antibiotic to treat a bacterial infection--like strep throat--be sure to give your child all of the medicien. only using part of the prescription means that only part of the infection has been treated. Not finishing the medicine can cause resistant bacteria to develop.
> Talk with your healthcare provider about the right medicines for your child's health.
For more information, visit the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
Wishing You a Safey & Happy Halloween
Everyone wants to have a safe and happy Halloween for themselves, their guests and their children. Using safety tips and common sense can help you make the most of your Halloween season and make it as enjoyable for your kids as it is for you!
Consider these tips from the American Red Cross:
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Walk, slither, and sneak on sidewalks, not in the street.
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Look both ways before crossing the street to check for cars, trucks, and low-flying brooms.
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Cross the street only at corners.
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Don't hide or cross the street between parked cars.
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Wear light-colored or reflective-type clothing so you are more visible. (And remember to put reflective tape on bikes, skateboards, and brooms, too!)
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Plan your route and share it with your family. If possible, have an adult go with you.
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Carry a flashlight to light your way.
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Keep away from open fires and candles. (Costumes can be extremely flamable.)
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Visit homes that have the porch light on.
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Accept your treats at the door and never go into a stranger's house.
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Use face paint rather than masks or things that will cover your eyes.
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Be cautious of animals and strangers.
It's summertime, and along with the warm weather comes packing up the family car and heading out on a roadtrip with the whole family. But before you set off, consider these tips to help make your family roadtrip as stress-free as possible!
For tips on "Surviving Travel with Kids", click here.
For 101 Travel Games for Kids Preschool and Up, click here.
To view more great games for the car, click here.
Most of all, have a safe trip. Make sure your child is traveling in the appropriate child passenger restraint. More information on children and vehicle safety, click here.
February has been designated National Children’s Dental Health Month to raise awareness about the importance of oral health. For more information and resources on Children's Dental Health Month, visit the American Dental Association.
The American Academy of Pediatrics has compiled a resource for child care providers on preventing influenza. Information includes ways to help avoid getting the flu, tips on how to prevent the spread of the flu, and a variety of additional resources for child care providers. To view the AAP's flu resource, "Preventing the Flu in 2007-2008", click here.
The Child Care Council received its Child Care Resource & Referral Best Practice Certification. This certification is required of all child care resource and referral agencies throughout New York State, and is awarded by the NYS Child Care Coordinating Council. Receiving certification signifies that a child care resource and referral agency is a high quality, professionally run organization that uses sound business practices.
Effective November 1, level 2 and 3 sex offenders who have been convicted of an offense against a minor cannot maintain residence or enter within 1500 feet of any school grounds, child care facility, park or playground in Oneida County. To view the adopted resolution, click here.
Concerned about keeping your program safe from the drug-resistant Staph infection outbreak? Contact the Child Care Council at 223-7850 for more information on how to keep the children and staff in your program safe.