Health Policy

Please keep the following in mind when deciding if your child is too ill to attend daycare:

• the protection of other children from communicable disease, including coughs and colds
• the comfort and safety of the child who is ill
• the capacity of the program staff to look after an ill child

Please keep your child at home if any of the following apply:

1. your child is too ill to participate in normal activities of the day, including outdoor play
2. One or more episodes of vomiting or two or more episodes of diarrhea (please allow 24 hours without symptoms before allowing your child to return to daycare)
3. an outbreak of chicken pox (children may return to the daycare 5 days from the onset of the rash, if they feel well enough to participate in normal activities of the day)
4. any contagious diseases, including measles, mumps or rubella (or any undiagnosed rash), head lice, conjunctivitis, croup, fifth disease, hand foot and mouth disease, etc.
5. a fever (38C/101F or higher)
6. a persistent cough (the child may return after a doctor’s evaluation)

If your child exhibits any of the above symptoms, the parents will be contacted to arrange for pick up of the child. Please call the daycare when your child has a contagious illness and will be staying home.

A doctor’s note is required if you would like the staff to give your child any nonprescription medication. If you would like the staff to give your child prescription medication, please ask for the “Permission to Administer Medication” form.

Based on guidelines of the Vancouver Coastal Health Department and the “Sneezes and Diseases” handbook.