Universal Precautions & Child Care Centers

The spread of germs in a child care environment is quite high. Each child and adult in the child care carries her own set of germs that can spread illness and disease. Universal precautions were set up to protect both children and adults in child care settings from passing germs from one person to another. This set of precautions was put in place by the Centers for Disease Control back in the 1980s.

Washing Hands

• Hands are required to be washed before and after diapering, handling or cleaning of bodily fluids of any kind, after applying first aid of any kind and after removing protective gloves. This helps keep the spread of germs to a minimum. Bodily fluids contain germs that can be passed form one person's body to another.

Latex Gloves

• Latex gloves are required when handling any bodily fluids that might or do contain blood, including urine, vomit and feces, and when performing first aid on another person. Latex gloves are disposable so if there is contact with germs they can be removed and disposed of to avoid the germs spreading to others.

Sanitizing the Environment

• Use a bleach solution on all surfaces, and toys should be washed down regularly and as needed if soiled. Remember that germs are not visible to the naked eye, so just because a toy or surface looks clean does not mean that it is. Cleaning all surfaces and toys at regular intervals can help keep a cleaner, more sanitary environment for all people in the child care environment.

Proper Disposal of Soiled Items or Materials

• All items that have come in contact with blood need to be double bagged and given to the parent or washed separately in the child care laundry facility. If any child requires injections or finger lancets for blood testing, the parents of the child are required to provide a sharps container for the disposal of these items.

Exposure Control Plan for Bloodborne Pathogens

• This is required for all childcare facilities, including in-home child care, to have in case a staff member or child is exposed to another person's blood. This plan includes listing who might be at risk for such an incident, how the situations will be handled and avoided, having each staff member vaccinated for Hepatitis B within 10 days of being hired and each person trained on the OSHA regulations. This plan must be in writing and adhered to by the staff of the child care facility.