Illness and Communicable Diseases Policy Purpose Outlines the responsibilities of student illness for students, parents/guardians and teachers.

Transcription

1 Policy Name Related Policies and Legislation Policy Category Relevant Audience Date of Issue / Last Revision Illness & Communicable Diseases Policy Accident Policy & Procedure Anaphylaxis Management Policy & Procedure Asthma Policy Lice Policy First Aid Policy Medication Policy WA Dept. of Health Communicable Disease Guidelines Student Wellbeing & Safety Staff Safety & Wellbeing Community All Treetops Community 25 October July March 2017 Date Set for Review March 2020 Person/s Responsible for Review Treetops Administration Illness and Communicable Diseases Policy Purpose Outlines the responsibilities of student illness for students, parents/guardians and teachers. This policy will assist the staff, parents and associated members of Treetops Montessori School to identify infectious and communicable diseases within the School community. By adhering to the measures outlined below, the School will be able to reduce the transmission of such diseases amongst its students, staff and parents. Rationale Academic Integrity Policy Page 1 of 9

2 This policy outlines the procedures to be followed by school staff in the event of a student falling ill at school. The procedures which apply to ambulance transportation of students is also included. The policy includes the responsibilities of staff in relation to the completion, storage and use of Student Illness Reports and the Department of Education Services (DES) Directorate s obligations for reporting communicable diseases, and the provision of information to parents, students and others concerning illnesses. Term 3 Illnesses As we are now in the winter months and illnesses are on the increase, the school would like to remind everyone that as per the school s Illness Policy and Infectious Diseases Policy, it is preferable that any child who is unwell remain at home until fully recovered to prevent the spread of infection to other students, their families, and to the teaching staff. The Western Australia Department of Health s Communicable Disease Guidelines recommends that children should remain absent from school until they are symptom free if they have a cold or flu; and for at least 24 hours (48 hours for early childhood areas) if they have had gastroenteritis (diarrhoea and/or vomiting). If your child is ill and you take them to a doctor, please check with them if your child has a contagious illness, how long they should be excluded from school if they are contagious, and at what point they can return to school. GPs also recommend that if you or your child are ill, that care should be taken around babies, pregnant women and the elderly. If your child is at school and is unwell, the school will contact you as soon as possible for them to be collected and taken home. Academic Integrity Policy Page 2 of 9

3 Communicable Diseases Background Preventing the transmission of infectious and communicable diseases in the school environment is a fundamental concern for Treetops Montessori School. While it is often difficult to prevent the transmission of common respiratory (colds/flu) and gastroenteritis infections that occur, every effort should be made to minimise the spread of infection by encouraging: staff and students to stay at home in the early stages of illness as at this stage they can be infectious. staff and students who are ill should remain absent until they are symptom free if they have a cold or flu; and for at least 24 hours (48 hours for early childhood areas) if they have had gastroenteritis (diarrhoea and/or vomiting). parents to seek medical advice if their child has ongoing symptoms of illness. Strategies to Prevent Transmission of Infection The most important ways to break the chain of infection and stop the spread of diseases are: effective hand hygiene exclusion of ill children, educators and other staff immunisation. Other strategies to prevent infection include: cough and sneeze etiquette use of appropriate cleaning tools and use of protective personal equipment (eg. gloves, masks). effective environmental cleaning. Immunisation The World Health Organization considers immunisation to be the most effective medical intervention we have to prevent deaths and reduce disease in our communities. Treetops Montessori School supports the full immunisation of its students (appropriate to their age and health status) and encourages its parents to have their children immunised. On enrolment at Treetops Montessori School a record of each child s immunisation history should be included with enrolment documents. Treetops Montessori School recognises that some parents do not wish their children to be immunised. If a student has not been immunised the parent should provide a copy of their Australian Childhood Immunisation Register (ACIR) Exemption Form completed by an eligible health professional. Should an outbreak of a vaccine preventable communicable disease occur, non-immunised students may be excluded from school. The student will be permitted to return to school at the discretion of the Principal. Academic Integrity Policy Page 3 of 9

4 Symptoms and Signs of Infection A communicable disease may be suspected when one or more of the following symptoms are present: Abnormal behaviour eg: persistent crying, drowsiness, lethargy, limpness, irritability, disorientation, confusion Elevated temperature/fever 38.5 o C or higher Vomiting Diarrhoea Headache Sore throat Cough Skin rash or eruptions Watery, inflamed eyes and nose Purulent nasal discharge Exclusion Many infectious diseases require student/staff to be excluded from school for a recommended period of time. Students with non-immunisation against specific diseases that are known to be highly transmissible will be excluded. A student with symptoms or signs of infection should be kept at home. In the event that parents/carers overlook these symptoms, a teacher may exclude a student from contact with other students. The student will be isolated from other students to minimise the risk of infection, made comfortable and kept under close observation. The parent/carer will be contacted as soon as possible for the student to be collected and taken home. Exclusion Guidelines The school may request that a student or staff member does not attend school if the student or staff member is suffering from a medical condition that is infectious, contagious or otherwise harmful to the health of persons at the School. Recommended minimum periods of exclusion from school for contacts of and cases with infectious diseases: Condition Exclusion Chickenpox Exclude until all vesicles have crusted, approximately 5 days. Conjunctivitis Exclude until discharge from eyes has ceased. Diarrhoea Exclude until diarrhoea has ceased for 24 hours. For high risk groups (early childhood areas) exclude for 48 hours after symptoms cease. Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease Exclude until vesicles have crusted/dried Hepatitis A Exclude until 14 days after onset of illness or 7 days after jaundice appears. Cold Sores (Herpes Simplex) Not excluded if the person can maintain hygiene practices to minimise the risk of transmission. If the person cannot comply with these practices (e.g. because they are too young), they should Academic Integrity Policy Page 4 of 9

5 Impetigo (School Sores) Measles Meningococcal Infection Molluscum contagiosum Mumps Parvovirus (B19 Erythema Infectiousm, Fifth Disease) Ringworm, Scabies, Pediculosis (Lice), Trachoma Rubella (German Measles) Streptococcal Infection (including Scarlet Fever) Whooping Cough be excluded until the sores are dry. Sores should be covered with a dressing where possible. Exclude until after antibiotic treatment has commenced. Lesions on exposed skin surfaces should be covered with a waterproof dressing. Young children unable to comply with good hygiene practice should be excluded until sores are dry Exclude for 4 days after the onset of rash. Exclude until after treatment completed Do not exclude. 2 days prior, to 5 days after parotitis (swollen salivary glands) Exclusion not necessary. Exclude until person has received antifungae treatment for 24 hours. For head lice exclude until hair is treated, lice removed. For scabies, trachoma, exclude until person has received treatment Exclude for 4 days after onset of rash. Exclude until person has received antibiotic for 24 hours. Exclude until 5 days after an appropriate antibiotic treatment or for 21 days from the onset of coughing Exclude until diarrhoea has ceased. Worms (intestinal) Information from Communicable Disease Guidelines, WA Department of Health (updated 2017) For more specific information regarding infectious and communicable diseases, refer to the above WA Department of Health publication, at: Returning to School For every student that has had time away from school due to an illness that requires exclusion, parents are required to supply a letter stating the child s condition, exclusion period, treatment undertaken and readiness to return to school. The Principal or class teacher may request that a child have a medical examination by a medical practitioner to determine readiness to recommence school. Medication If the need to administer medication at school arises a Medication Permission Form must be completed with written instructions and consent to administer provided. Medications must be handed directly to the class teacher. Medications must not be left in the student s bag. Prescription medications will not be administered by staff without appropriate written instructions from the prescribing doctor or pharmacist. Homeopathic medications will not be administered by staff without appropriate written instructions from the prescribing homeopath. Academic Integrity Policy Page 5 of 9

6 PROCEDURE Definitions Parent(s) includes all people who have parental responsibility for a child. First aid intervention is the immediate care of an injured or suddenly sick person prior to obtaining professional medical services, if required. It includes first aid, maintenance of records, and recognition and reporting of hazards. Professional medical services include attention provided by medical practitioners, dentists, nurses and ambulance personnel. Under the principle of vicarious liability, school employees, in the course of their employment, are protected in law should legal action be initiated, provided they have acted responsibly, within their level of competence, and followed established policies and guidelines and with proper motive. Procedure 1. Any child who is unwell is expected to remain at home until fully recovered. 2. If illness manifests itself during school hours, in the first instance they will be assessed by the class teacher. If the student is not listed on the No Permissions list, paracetamol may be administered if appropriate. 3. If an anaphylaxis episode or asthma attack are apparent then the first aider should follow Anaphylaxis Management Policy & Procedure, or Asthma Policy, as appropriate. 4. An ambulance is to be called at the earliest suggestion that it may be required e.g. if the child is seriously ill, or suffering an asthma or anaphylaxis attack. 5. If Panadol is not appropriate or there is no improvement from this, then the student is cared for by a member of staff until he/she can be picked up. 6. Teachers are required to contact parents or arrange for the parent to be contacted. If unable to contact the parents a designated emergency contact person should be phoned. 7. The student will be sent to the School Office for collection, if at School. The student will remain with the supervising adult if not on the school premises e.g. excursions or camps. 8. The parent will sign out the child upon collection. The Admin team will update SEQTA to reflect the absence. 9. In the event of illness that manifests during school hours, teachers are required to fill out an Illness Report on SEQTA Health centre. 10. If the illness manifests on a camp or excursion, teachers are required to fill out a hard copy Illness Report. This must be returned to the School Office upon return to School site. The illness report on SEQTA will then be updated using this hard copy information. 11. In the case of communicable diseases, the Government of Western Australia Department of Health Communicable Disease Guidelines, together with any updated information, will be followed. Academic Integrity Policy Page 6 of 9

7 Appendix SEQTA Reporting of student Illness Academic Integrity Policy Page 7 of 9

8 Infection Control Measures 1. Disinfection Disinfection of the skin (through hand washing) or surfaces that may be contaminated by infectious micro-organisms is an effective method of preventing the transmission of infectious diseases. Hand washing should be encouraged using soap and water, immediately after going to the toilet, and before eating and preparing food. This is the single most important method of disease control. Proper hand washing: 1. Use soap and running water 2. Wet hands and lather with soap 3. Rub hands vigorously for at least 15 seconds as you wash them 4. Pay attention to the backs of hands, wrists, between fingers and under fingernails 5. Rinse well under running water 6. Dry hands with a disposable paper towel or clean cloth towel 2. Managing Contamination with Blood or Body Substances Prevent contact with potentially contaminated body substances, including blood, saliva, mucous, phlegm, faeces and urine. Use disposable tissues in the classroom. Do not use cloth handkerchiefs. If blood or body fluids contaminate: 1. The skin: wash well with soap and water 2. The eyes: rinse the area gently but thoroughly with water with eyes open 3. The mouth: spit it out and rinse the mouth with water several times To disinfect surfaces contaminated with blood or body fluids: 1. Wear gloves. Use eye protection, mask and apron if there is a risk of splashing 2. Remove as much of the spill as possible with a paper towel 3. Clean the area with warm water and detergent, using a disposable cleaning cloth or sponge 4. Disinfect the area by wiping over with household bleach 5. Remove and dispose of gloves, paper towel, cleaning cloth in a sealed plastic bag. 6. Wash hands thoroughly 3. Eating and Drinking Utensils Children should be discouraged from sharing utensils Utensils should be washed and dried after use, using clean cloths 4. Covering mouth when coughing or sneezing 5. Disposing of tissues in a bin, preferably an enclosed bin 6. Parent Information Parents should be reminded about their responsibility in supporting the Treetops Montessori School s efforts to reduce incidences of infection by keeping sick children away from school. Parents should be informed when there is confirmation of an infectious disease occurring within the School. On direction from the Principal, teachers will notify parents via their noticeboards of the infection and remind parents of the website address on which specific information may be found. ( Academic Integrity Policy Page 8 of 9

9 Hand washing with soap and water for at least 15 seconds before preparing or eating food, after using the toilet, changing nappies, after blowing your nose with a tissue and after any contamination of the hands with body fluids such as blood and vomit. Effective cleaning with detergent and water, followed by rinsing and drying will remove the bulk of germs from environmental surfaces (refer to your school/day care policy or Staying Healthy in Child Care (external site). Use of appropriate cleaning tools and use of protective personal equipment (gloves, masks) is important and should be easily accessible to clean up spills immediately, to prevent aerosol spread of viruses and bacteria. Discuss issues related to managing suspected or confirmed cases of infectious diseases with staff at your local public health unit (Healthy WA). Academic Integrity Policy Page 9 of 9