Child Care Provider and Staff Wellness

Preventing illness is an important step toward overall wellness for child care providers, staff, and other adults working in your program. Let's look at simple strategies for promoting your health and wellness along with that of your staff.

Select a topic to learn more about each strategy.

Health Assessment/Medical Evaluation

A health assessment or medical evaluation includes:

a health history and physical examination
a review of immunization status for vaccine-preventable diseases
job-related health concerns
assessment of risk from exposure to Tuberculosis and communicable diseases

Tuberculosis (TB) is a contagious disease caused by a bacteria (Mycobacterium tuberculosis) that usually attacks the lungs, but it can attack any organ in the body. TB infection is most often diagnosed by a TB skin test or TB blood test. If either test is positive, additional tests are needed to see if the person has:

A Latent TB infection:

Person has no symptoms and cannot spread the TB bacteria to others.
Person has potential to develop active TB disease if not treated.

or Active TB disease

Person has symptoms such as a fever, cough, or weight loss.
Person may spread the germ to others and needs treatment to cure the disease.

Tuberculosis screening and tests may include health, travel and exposure questions, skin test/s( (PPD) , blood test, chest X-ray and laboratory tests based on the health care provider's clinical decision. Treatment for TB depends on which form of TB the person has, latent or active.

Immunization

Vaccines are one of the safest ways to protect your health and prevent serious diseases. Staying up to date with vaccinationsLinks to an external site. help prevent serious illness, hospitalization, and death due to illness and complications. Everyone should stay up to date on routine vaccines for:

COVID-19Links to an external site.

COVID-19 vaccines cut the risk of severe disease in half. Yet, in the fall of 2023, over 95% of the adults hospitalized with COVID were not up to date with their vaccines.

FluLinks to an external site.

Flu vaccines cut the risk of severe disease nearly in half.

TDaPLinks to an external site. (orTdLinks to an external site.)

TDaP vaccine helps protect people from tetanus, diphtheria, and whooping cough.
Td vaccine helps prevent tetanus and diphtheria only.

For the first time in fall 2023, immunization against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) for older adults, pregnant people, and young children became available.

Hygiene & Standard Precautions

Consistent and proper hygiene and cleaning practices limit the spread of germs and protect others. This includes:

Covering your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. If tissues are unavailable, cough or sneeze into your elbow instead of your hands.
Throwing used tissues in the trash.
Using proper handwashing techniqueLinks to an external site..
Teaching children the correct way to wash their hands.
Cleaning frequently touched surfaces, such as countertops, handrails, and doorknobs regularly.

Remember that any body fluid may carry contagious germs. It is important to avoid direct contact with potentially contaminated materials.

Standard precautions are a set of rules designed to prevent the spread of diseases transmitted by blood or body fluids. Promptly washing hands, wearing gloves if needed, and cleaning and sanitizing areas with EPA approved or registered products are all standard precautions to follow. Others include:

Cleaning and disinfecting soiled surfaces.
- All cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting products should be used only for the intended purpose and according to manufacturer recommendations.
- Store products in their original containers only.
- Keep out of reach of children.
Protecting against getting contaminants into your eyes, nose, or mouth.
Disposing of blood-contaminated material. For example, discard tissues and bandages in a secured plastic bag.
Wearing protective gloves.
- Providers and staff working with infants must wear gloves as needed to prevent exposures to bodily fluids during diaper changes and helping young children with toileting.
Following strict washing your hands procedures at all times, including after handling body fluids and removing gloves.

Visit the Resources section to find helpful information and videos on cleaning schedules, managing blood-borne pathogens, and strategies to promote staff health and infection control.

Exclusion Policy

It is important for all children and adults in child care to follow exclusion policies and recommendations consistently. Policies and expectations for Stay Home If Sick must be well communicated to families, children, and staff. Follow your local health department and the program guidance and recommendations for staying home. Stay home if your illness limits your ability to provide acceptable care and education of the children. Remember, never compromise the health and safety of children and others.

Injury & Risk: Protection & Prevention

By practicing basic injury prevention and procedures, you can make your child care environment safer and healthier for everyone. Child care providers and staff must maintain proper body mechanics and positions to protect themselves from injuries.

Ways to Reduce Back Injury
Back injury is the most common cause of occupational injury for child care providers. These tips can help you stay healthy and strong.

Use proper lifting techniques.

When lifting children, keep them as close to you as possible.
Avoid any twisting motion as you lift a child.

Use adult furniture and adult-height changing tables.

Avoid using child-sized chairs, tables, or desks.
Instead of lifting children on to a changing table and other equipment, supervise them to climb up themselves.
A ramp or small, stable stepladder or steps allow children to climb up to places they would ordinarily be lifted.

Use comfortable chairs with back support.

Sit in rockers, gliders, or other chairs with back support when holding children for long periods of time.

Reduce the need for carrying children long distances.

Use convenient equipment like multi-seat carriages to transport children from place to place outdoors.