CD9: Health, Safety and Nutrition

Chapter 3: Health Appraisals

Chapter 4: Health Assessment Tools

Driving Concepts

Not all children have equal access to health care

Teacher Roles:– Early identification of child health problems – Help parents get appropriate treatment and care– Encourage a healthy life style

Partner Talk-About: Be Alert!

Pg 53 case study: Joshua What are you alerted to? What will you say to the parent? What will you say to other staff members?

Teacher’s Considerations:

Collect information from a variety of sources before forming any conclusion

What impact could these symptoms have on the child?

What impact could these symptoms have on the group?

Observation is Health Assessment

Sight: how does the child look? Smell: is there bad breath or body odor? Touch: is the child’s skin warm, cold or

clammy? Sound: does breathing sound raspy, labored,

or shallow? Does the child stutter? Vera’s senses story.....

Ages and Stages

What is normal and typical for each child?

What are the atypical symptoms and behaviors telling you?

What will you do as a result of your observation?

Health Assessment Tools

First and best tool is the Daily Health Check If you suspect a chronic illness or problem,

share your concerns and get information– Your director– Local school district nurse or health specialist– Public health nurse– Community Care Licensing

Daily Health Checks

Daily Health Check form Method and routine

– Do health checks daily & document the results– Keep the parent present until end of check– Dismiss child to classroom OR back to parent– Record observations daily and file in classroom

health file

Benefits to Daily Health Checks

Teachers are morally and professionally obligated to ensure health and safety of all children in their care

Sending sick children home reduces the spread of illness to all children and staff

DO NOT diagnose! Describe your observations and concerns Recommend the parent take the child to a health

care provider

Involving Parents Encourage! Show interest and care for their child(ren) Offer assistance and resources Build trust by being friendly and accountable Build effective and genuine lines of

communication Share information with the parents Carol’s daughter and green poop.....

Parent Responsibility

“Primary responsibility for a child’s health care always belongs to the parents. Parents are ultimately responsible for maintaining their child’s health, following through with recommendations, and obtaining any necessary evaluations and treatments.” (pg 62)

Partner talk: What gets in the way of parents taking responsibility?

How Teachers Help Parents Become Responsible

Be supportive! Help parents understand the importance of

routine check-ups Offer community and specialized resources Ensure health consistency between school

and home Katy and her Achilles' tendons .... OR .....

Benjamin and his eyes

Promoting Health in Quality Programs Document all observations Perform daily health checks Continually monitor each child’s health Identify potential health needs for each

child Teacher Michele’s discovery ....

General Resources

Any problem: Appendix C, pgs 524-530 Growth problem: Appendix B, pgs 518-523 Infection Control in child care settings Vision problem:

Blind Children’s Resource Center Hearing problem:

American Speech, Language and Hearing Association

Developmental problem: Learning Disabilities Association of America

Dental problem: American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry

Physical problem: American Academy of Pediatrics

Asthma problem: American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology

Ethical Conduct and Making Tough Decisions

“Above All, Do No Harm!”