Why do we need safety policies?

We need it because it sets a standard

Policies to Protect Children   

Just as children need warm blankets to protect them from the cold, they also need policies to 
guarantee other aspects of their safety and health when they are cared for away from home. 
Select one of the safety and health topics to investigate. Read about the topic in your textbooks. 
Then write on the blanket a policy for a child care facility to address this topic. Choose from 
these topics: 
Safety  
1.​ ​Supervision 
2.​ ​Adult-child ratios 
3. Safe environment 
Health 
1.​ ​Medical examinations for staff 
2.​ ​Medical care information for children 
3.​ ​Giving medications 
4.​ ​Care for mildly ill children 
5.​ ​Exclusion of ill children 
6.​ ​Sanitary practices 
7.​ ​Parent access 
 
 

Medical examinations for staff 

 
 
 
In order to be able to work with the children, each staff member must have a medical examination 
every 2 months. Also a TB skin test must be done before having any type of contact with the 
children. The TB test must be less than 12 months before employment. Each staff member must 
have emergency contacts up to date every three months. Also each staff member must have in file 
any medical issues on file (any allergies as well), the file must be updated every 6 months. 
Employees must also must be completed every 3 months. All medical examinations are due within 
the first week of employment. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

What Does the Handbook Say? 

  
Using the same safety and health topic that you used for “Policies to Protect Children,” consult the 
NC Child Care Handbook​ to find policies that regulate North Carolina child care centers with regard 
to your topic. Keep in mind that policies in this handbook are licensing standards that must be met 
in order to operate legally as a child care facility. After checking the Handbook, complete this 
form. 
Your Health or Safety Topic:  
On what pages did you find statutes/requirements that address this topic?  
Copy the requirement below as found in the Handbook.   
1. All staff must have on file within 60 days of the date of employment, a statement signed by 
a licensed physician or an authorized health professional under his/her supervision, that 
indicates that the person is emotionally and physically fit to care for children.  
2. A test showing each employee, including the administrator, to be free of active tuberculosis 
is required prior to employment.  
3. All staff must have emergency medical care information on file.  
4. Each staff member must submit annually a health questionnaire giving information about the 
status of his/her health. 
 
 
 
Now, paraphrase the requirement --- i.e., write it in your own words.   
1. Every staff must have in 6o days to have in file that they are prepare to work with children 
2. Staff must have a TB test done 
3. Emergency medical information in file 
4. Submit a paper with questions about your health. 
 
Now, compare the Handbook citation with the policy you wrote in “Policies to Protect Children.” 
How are they similar? How do they differ? The handbook is kind of similar to my guidelines but 
the days that are different for my TB skin test . It's different because I don't have a rule that 
states that staff has to show they are able to work with children. I have the same thing with the 
handbook that each staff must have emergency up to date. 
 
 
 
 
Imagine that you are the director of a child care center. What challenges do you think you might 
face in meeting these standards?   
Challenges that I might face in meeting the standards is that some staff probably won't have their 
paper work up to date. Also some staff might take a long time to get medical examinations.