An Ounce of Prevention: Deterring Emergencies in Child Care Settings and Schools Bethany Geldmaker, PNP, Ph.D. Virginia Department of Health Director, Early Childhood Health, Healthy Child Care Virginia

Learning Objectives 1. Define a child care emergency 2. Identify three categories of potential child care emergencies 3. Describe actions to take in working with child care emergencies

Definition of Child Care Any setting that houses children out of home, whether for care or education: Before and after school programs Public/private schools Child care facility, faith based, or family day homes Parks and recreation (e.g.-YMCA)

Definitions of Child Care Emergencies OR It is an illness or injury that may threaten a child’s life OR Cause permanent harm if action is not taken right away. What it is not: a health problem that needs a doctor’s advice or help but does not require the speed, special equipment, and training of emergency providers.

Non Emergency Situations Situations that are not emergencies may be handled through basic first aid or can wait for the parent to immediately pick up and transport their child to the doctor or clinic office.

Psychology Before a Disaster A disaster will not happen…………………….. A disaster will not happen to me………….. A disaster will not be that bad………………. If it happens and it is that bad, there is nothing I can do about it.

Types of Emergencies  Injury  Illness  Environmental hazard

Child Care Emergencies: Injury Bicycle - helmets Automobile – car seats Falls – playground safety Poisonings – environmental safety

Child Care Emergencies: Injury Choking - CPR Near drowning – water and environmental safety Electric shock Burns

Child Care Emergencies: Injury Shaken Baby Syndrome (SBS) Smoke inhalation Drug overdose Weapons (e.g.- firearms)

Child Care Emergencies: Illness Asthma Seizures Meningitis Communicable diseases (e.g.- RSV) Vaccine preventable diseases ( i.e.-tetanus, pertussis, hepatitis)  Sudden Infant Death Syndrome

Child Care Emergencies: Environmental Hazards Hazardous material incident Lead poisoning Fire Weather related Technological Bioterrorism

Symptoms of a Potential Emergency Bleeding that does not stop Rhythmic jerking A large,deep burn or cut Very loose or knocked out teeth Increasing trouble breathing

Symptoms of a Potential Emergency Acting strangely, becoming more withdrawn, less alert, decreasing responsiveness Any loss of consciousness, confusion, bad headache, or vomiting after hitting head

Symptoms of a Potential Emergency Fever over 104  F in an infant Slurred or unintelligible speech (based on child’s level of development) Skin or lips that look blue, purple, or gray

Response to an Emergency  STAY CALM!!  Assess the situation: 1. What type of care is needed (e.g.- CPR) 2. What level of emergency response is required

Response to an Emergency 1. Activate child care center emergency preparedness plan: who remains with the ill/injured child who assumes responsibility for the rest of the children in the room/center

Response to an Emergency 2. Communication: calling911 / who assumes responsibility for calling 911 / who contacts the child’s family / who works with the remaining staff and children

Working with the Child Care Facility Following an Emergency  Recovery  Resources  Evaluation

Working with the Child Care Facility Following an Emergency Recovery- 4 How and what needs to be communicated with staff, children, and families 4 How to debrief those who witnessed the event 4 Dealing with stress after the event

Working with the Child Care Facility Following an Emergency Resources * Mental health consultant * Social worker * Critical incident team * Faith based support

Working with the Child Care Facility Following an Emergency: Evaluation How prepared was the center for the emergency? Center debriefing Were numbers posted Contact numbers for parents What were the lessons learned? Center policies Documentation Coordination/response of outside resources

Ways to Help in Child Care Settings CPR training Awareness of the location of facilities that work with children Awareness of children with special needs in the agency, school, or home Education around policy development for emergencies, first aid, and safety

Summary Definition of an emergency in a child care center Types of child care emergencies Symptoms in a child with a potential emergency How to respond to an emergency Debriefing, recovery, and evaluation of the event

An Ounce of Prevention Questions

Internet Resources disasters.html (Caring for Our Children, Preparing for Illness, Model Child Care Health Policies) (The ABC’s of Safe and Healthy Child Care plus great fact sheets)

Resources It Pays To Prepare-- an emergency preparedness guide for child care providers (Early Childhood Health)