Dragonfly Protocols for Common Communicable Illnesses
Dragonfly is committed to working with parents and caregivers to reduce the spread of common communicable illnesses and parasites (ie. head lice).
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Parents must notify the facility within 24 hours of a communicable illness diagnosis. When a communicable illness or parasite has been identified, we ask that children do not attend Dragonfly until the infection has passed the stage in which it may spread to others.
In accordance with section 55 of the BC Childcare Licensing Regulations, "A licensee must immediately notify a parent or emergency contact, if while under care of or supervision of the licensee, the child becomes ill or is injured. At Dragonfly we adhere to this policy. If your child shows symptoms of a communicable illness we will first call the parents or guardians for safe release of the child. If you are not available, your emergency contacts will be called. We will observe your child and occupy them with fun, solo activities, away from the other children, until they are picked up.
Awareness and participation in reducing the spread of communicable illnesses and parasites are pertinent to ensuring these challenging experiences are handled swiftly, calmly and diligently. The common illnesses we discuss within our policies and procedures include head lice, pink eye, as well hand, foot & mouth disease. This is not an exhaustive list of communicable illnesses, but chosen based on their common occurrence in childcare settings.​​
Head Lice
When a case of head lice is suspected due to frequent itching of the scalp or noticeable nits or lice, our caregivers will conduct head checks of all children in our care. If a case of head lice is found (whether nits or lice) the child's parents will be contacted and be requested to pick their child up from Dragonfly immediately.
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Head lice is extremely communicable and if left untreated for extended periods could spread or become more serious. Additional issues could include intense skin issues of various forms, contribution to poor sleep habits, difficulty concentrating, irritability and fatigue.
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For more information on identifying and managing cases of head lice some resources include, Health Link BC AND HopkinsMedicine.
Pink Eye
Also known as conjuncivitis, cases of pink eye can spread between children very easily (through direct or indirect contact and droplets). For this reason, Dragonfly has strict policies regarding symptoms commonly associated with pink eye.
Those symptoms include:
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an unusual amount of tearing in a child's eye(s)
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complaints of scratchy eyes
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red or pinkness in the whites of eyes
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the eyelid may be slighty swollen
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a white pus or discharge in the corner of the eye
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an extreme discharge causing eyelids to stick together
If a child exhibits any of these symptoms they will be asked to see a doctor immediately to confirm they do not have pink eye, before they will be able to return to regular attendance.
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Pink eye can be viral, bacterial or due to allergies. Each of these causes have different treatments and exhibit varying levels of contagion once treated. Please consult a doctor for confirmation regarding each individual case of pink eye.
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If a case of pink eye is confirmed a simple rule doctors often use for determining the case is no longer contagious, are:
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24 hours after starting antibiotic drops (if bacterial)
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When eye discharge and tearing have mostly stopped (if viral)
​For information on identifying and managing cases of pink eye in children, some resources include Health Link BC AND
Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease
Hand, foot and mouth disease primarily affects young children. Symptoms can include:
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fever
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small painful ulcers in the mouth
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a skin rash (sometimes with bumps) that generally occurs on the palms of the hands, soles of the feet and buttocks
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headache
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sorethroat
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loss of appetite
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lack of energy
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vomiting and/or diarrhea
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Not everyone with hand, foot and mouth disease will get all these symptoms. It’s also possible to be infected and have no symptoms.
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The first week of illness is generally the most contagious timeframe. There is no treatment for the infection which can last from 7 to 10 days. The virus can be transmitted from blisters and secretions as well through contact with an infected person's saliva or stool.
Ways to reduce the spread are through frequent handwashing, and disinfecting of high touch surfaces as well objects such as toys and bedding.​
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For more information on identifying and managing cases of hand, foot and mouth disease, some resources include