There are many reasons for a child care center to give medications.
Some children need medicine regularly because of a condition, while others may have a prescription to help them recover from an ear infection.
Parents want to be sure their children are receiving the right medications at the proper time.
It is important for a childcare center to have a policy on how they give medications.
Why Are Parents Concerned? There is good reason for parents to be worried about how a child care center gives medications.
In recent years, more than a dozen early childhood education workers have been convicted for giving medicine to children without the consent of the parent.
At least 4 infants died within a 3-year period from medications given at a child care facility.
Parents also want to be sure that their child is given the correct dosage, as well as the right medicine.
Every daycare should have a policy in place to answer any questions.
Medication Administration Policies There are several factors involved in how medicine is handled in a child care center.
The policy should state how medications are stored throughout the day, as well as how and when they are given.
Some early childhood education centers include information on who has access to the medications within their written guidelines.
Others may name the individuals with permission to administer them.
State and local ordinances come into play as well.
Storage of Medicine How medications are stored is critical in a child care center.
Most facilities use a locking box that must have a key to open.
Medicine boxes may be kept in each classroom to make it easy to store sunblock or insect repellant.
Many centers have a medicine box in the refrigerator for prescriptions or cough and cold medications.
Generally, medicines must be in their original containers with the child's name on the bottle.
Some daycares keep medication permission forms in the same location.
How Medicine Is Given Permission forms usually include the name of the medicine, along with the dosage instructions and the parent's signature.
Some child care centers give medications at a specific time once a day, except under special circumstances.
In this case, the day care administrator may be the only person who handles medicine in the center.
Other daycares may allow teachers to give medications at certain times of the day.
In either case, the dosage is verified and typically noted on a medication administration form.
Nevada Laws on Medicine in Child Care Centers In the state of Nevada, a single person is responsible for giving medications.
Any medicine within the child care center must be labeled with the name of the person taking it and should be stored in a place that is inaccessible to children.
Oral medications should be stored separately from diaper creams, sunblock, and other external medicines.
Refrigerated medications must be inaccessible to children as well.
A record must be kept in each child's file with the name, date, and time that each medicine is given during daycare hours.
The way medications are handled is an important part of safety in a child care center.
Parents want to know that their children are in safe hands while they're away.
Good policies that are strictly adhered to are a must.
Most child care centers make a copy of their medication policy available to parents in their facility handbook.