Washing Sick and Soiled Children Policy

Purpose Statement

We are committed to ensuring that healthy practices are enforced to eliminate the risk of infection or illness to children and our team.

We will ensure children who have soiled themselves or pose a health risk to others will be washed privately, with utmost care and dignity and respect for the child’s culture.

Guidelines

We have two bathrooms equipped with a deep shub with a pull-out nozzle for ease of washing soiled children. (One in the child toilet 1 and one in the child toilet 2)

• An illness bucket (spill kit) with a lid will be stored in an inaccessible area to children (both in the bathroom and in the isolation space) and will contain:
  disposable gloves, apron, wipes, towel, activate spray (Hygiene House Activate 0.5%). and biodegradable bags, body wash, mask.
• Staff will wear gloves, apron and face mask and undress the child while they are standing in the shub or designated wash down area. Any protective clothing that a staff member wears will be disposed of immediately after use and will not be used for more than one child.
• The child will be washed with warm water & soap, re-dressed and comforted while being washed. One clean towel to be used per child.
• It is recommended that reusable cloth nappies are not laundered at the centre but are taken home with the child. The cloth liner insert is to be thrown away, then the cloth nappy is double bagged and stored in a bin with a close-fitting lid. Parents are to collect at the end of the day to take home and wash.
• Soiled clothing will have the contents removed but not rinsed and double bagged ready for when the parent/caregiver collects the child.
• The shub and any area potentially contaminated is to be disinfected and sanitised (Hygiene House Activate 0.5%) after use
• Staff must wash and dry their hands thoroughly after any interaction with children that involves contact with bodily fluids.
• Any laundry e.g. towels, flannels will be washed according to the laundry policy and disposable contents will be double bagged and placed in a bin with a close-fitting lid.
• Due to the risk of cross-contamination from body waste, body wash facilities must not be used for art preparation and clean up.
• The wash will be documented on the nappy chart with a record of the time and the staff member/s who washed the child.
• Parents/Caregivers will be informed on pick up of the child unless the child is unwell and then they will be contacted as soon as practicable to collect their child – refer to illness policy.
• The temperature of warm water delivered from taps that are accessible to children is no higher than 40 degrees Celsius and comfortable for children at the centre to use.