Serious Illness, Injury, or Death

POLICY:  Our childcare program will have a plan for handling a child serious illness, injury, or death occurring in the center. 

PURPOSE: To respond appropriately to a serious illness, injury, hospitalization, or death occurring at the childcare facility.

PROCEDURE:

1. In the event of a serious illness, injury or death in the childcare facility;
   1. Perform CPR per protocol and call 9-1-1
   2. Contact parents to inform them of the situation.
   3. Remove the other children from the immediate area.
   4. Answer the children’s questions as honestly as you can and reassure them the ill or injured child is being cared for.
2. When the paramedics arrive, they will take charge of the ill / injured person.
3. Notify Licensing of the incident for further instructions and complete required documentation (e.g. LIC 624/624B, and if applicable, LIC 9187 Death Report).
4. Conduct an internal review to determine if the environment or the staff contributed to the injury or death, and if any action needs to be taken. 
5. Assist the children in understanding and coping with the situation:
   1. Ask victim’s family what information/update you can provide to families and children who are worried. Respect privacy and relay appropriate information to the families and children. 
   2. Consult a professional grief counselor or therapist to assist with the next few days and the tasks at hand.
   3. Locate appropriate children’s books that deal with the situation.
   4. Validate children’s feelings. Answers questions honestly but keep it  age appropriately.