15A NCAC 18A .2836      MILDLY sick CHILDREN

Child care centers that are licensed by the licensing agency to offer care to mildly sick children pursuant to 10A NCAC 09 .2404 shall comply with all rules in this Section except as follows:

(1)           Prior to operating a program for mildly sick children, the child care center operator shall undergo a sanitation inspection of the child care center by the Department.

(2)           Drinking fountains shall not be used by mildly sick children.

(3)           Toilet fixtures, potty chairs, utility sinks, tubs, and showers shall be cleaned and disinfected after each use.

(4)           Lavatories shall be of a hands-free design or equipped with single-lever faucets.

(5)           Cloth diapers shall not be used.

(6)           Individually labeled moist towelette containers shall be provided for each child in diapers.

(7)           Caregivers shall wear clean disposable gloves when changing each diaper.

(8)           Moist towelettes shall not be used in lieu of handwashing for children who cannot support their heads.

(9)           A 36-inch separation shall be maintained or partitions shall be placed between beds, cots and mats to minimize contact among children.

(10)         Furniture shall be nonabsorbent.

(11)         Thermometers and mouthable toys shall be cleaned and sanitized between uses by different children. Soft, cloth material toys may be brought from home if labeled with the name of the child to whom the toy belongs and used only by that child. If soft toys are provided by the child care center, they shall be sanitized between uses by different children.

(12)         Employees caring for mildly sick children shall not prepare food in a kitchen used to prepare food for one or more children who are not mildly sick or serve food to children who are not mildly sick.

(13)         Family style and other self-serve food service is prohibited.

(14)         Carpeted floors are prohibited. Throw rugs may be used if laundered when contaminated and at least weekly. Floors contaminated by body fluids shall be cleaned and disinfected immediately.

(15)         Caregivers shall wash hands in accordance with the procedures in Rule .2803(c) before leaving the area designated for mildly sick children.

(16)         All waste shall be disposed of in a plastic-lined, covered receptacle.

 

History Note:        Authority G.S. 110‑91;

Eff. January 1, 2006;

Readopted Eff. July 1, 2023.