ASTHMA AND ALLERGIES
Caring for Children with Asthma and Allergies
in Child Care Facilities
Training for child care staff and children attending the child care program should be a major priority for the management and prevention of asthma and allergic reactions in the child care setting. Medication to be administered to a child in care only by an employee who has completed approved medication administration training, general training should be provided to all child care staff involving the care and management of children with asthma and allergies.
All programs providing care to children, no matter the setting should have emergency procedures in place to respond effectively to an emergency. Emergency planning should include: Ensuring that children with known asthma and/or allergies have Asthma Allergy Action Plans, developing and using specific procedures to identify children with food or other allergies, developing a plan for managing or reducing environmental risks for exposure to allergens and triggers for asthma symptoms, setting up communication systems that are easy to use during an emergency situation, making sure staff can get to auto-injectors or asthma medications quickly and easily, making sure that children and staff are aware of how to access emergency medical services, and documenting the response to the emergency related to an exposure to an allergen or a child with increased asthma symptoms.
Each child care facility should provide a healthy and safe child care environment. This includes a clean and hygienic environment. To manage asthma and allergies this includes limiting the presence of known and unknown substances that may trigger or increase the severity of a medical condition. Program staff should be responsible for: creating and maintaining a clean and safe child care environment, using nonfood items for rewards or incentives, creating ways for children with asthma and allergies to participate in activities, eliminating or preventing the presence of known allergens or triggers, such as dust, use of household chemicals, and fragrances, maintaining the prescribed food service procedures that prevents contact with other food to known allergens, instructing the staff and monitoring for safe food handling practices, and maintaining good hand washing procedures for staff and children throughout the day.
H&H Child Care Training Center offers the Ashtma and Allergies Training for Child Care Providers and the 6 Hr Medication Administration course.Get started to get certified! Visit our website at www.ChildCareEd.com and register today!