Childcare Centers

EH professionals don’t issue permits for childcare centers we ______.

only inspect them

The chain of infection

Starts with a reservoir →exit (means of escape) →transmission →entrance → susceptible host (aka enters a new host)

You must have a _______.

sickroom in a childcare center

• for sick kids to wait until their parents pick them up

Definition of Childcare

The care of 3 or more unrelated kids under the age of 13 for more than 4 hrs a day

Types of Childcare centers

• Family childcare homes (small; run in people’s homes)

• Childcare centers ( large)

The allowed number of kids in a large childcare center is based on ______.

the size of the classroom

Specialized activities, programs, or events exempt from childcare rules

• any athletics

• dance

• art

• boy scouts and girl scouts

• Boys & Girls club

• gymnastics

• health-spas

• bowling alleys

• churches and Vacation bible school

• military bases

Transmission patterns in childcare centers

• fecal-oral route (primarily)

• respiratory

• direct contact

5 Common Risk Factors for Food

1. Food from unsafe sources

2. Contaminated equipment

3. Poor personal hygiene

4. Inadequate cooking

5. Inadequate hot and cold holding

TCS (Time/Temperature Control for Safety) Foods

Foods that require time & temperature controls

• These foods are potentially hazardous due to being moist and high in protein → what makes them this classification

What things do microorganisms need to grow?

• Food

• Acidity

• Time

• Temperature

• Oxygen

• Moisture

When parents send formula to the childcare center, it must be _______.

fully prepared, dated, and have the kid’s name on it

Formula and other cold beverages must be ______.

refrigerated at 45 degrees Fahrenheit or below

Hot foods must be kept at _______.

140 degrees Fahrenheit or above

If the childcare center has to provide formula, it must be _______.

commercially pre-packaged and ready to feed

If the childcare center has to feed the child, serve the _______.

prepared baby food from a serving dish and the food must be used within 48 hours and labeled

If the childcare center staff feeds the baby directly from the commercial food jar _________.

the left-over food must be discarded

Small childcare centers are those that are licensed for _________.

fewer than 13 kids

• may store food in the laundry room due to limited space

All poultry items including chicken must be cooked entirely to _______.

at least 165 degrees Fahrenheit

Ground beef must be cooked to _______.

at least 160 degrees Fahrenheit

All leftovers must be re-heated rapidly to _______.

165 degrees Fahrenheit

Do not use steam tables or crock pots to _______.

reheat foods

• only used to keep hot food hot

Ways to properly thaw food

1. Cool running water (70 degrees Fahrenheit)

2. Leave at the bottom of the refrigerator

3. Microwave (if cooked immediately after)

4. Part of the cooking process

Disinfecting Solution

Cleaning solution that contains 500 - 800 ppm of chlorine

Sanitizing Solution

Cleaning solution that contains 50 - 200 ppm of Chlorine

Whether you use sanitizing or disinfecting solution, the ______.

bottle must be labeled as disinfecting or sanitizing

We use a _______ to determine the concentration (ppm) of chlorine.

Chlorine test strip (indicator paper)

The diaper changing area must be _______.

beside or in close proximity of a hand-sink that has soap and single-use towels

All diaper changing surfaces must be _______.

sanitized or disinfected after each diaper change and hands should be washed (the kid and the staff member)

Hand sanitizers should _________.

never replace handwashing

Kids can use hand sanitizer ________.

outside on the playground, but once they are inside they must wash their hands

Emergency medication, sanitizing, or disinfectant solution must be ______.

kept out of reach of kids, but does not need to be locked

• ex: epi-pens

Aerosol cans under pressure, insecticides, bleaches, detergents, corrosive agents, and any other hazardous chemicals must be _______.

locked away

If any items are locked in a daycare center, the keys cannot _______.

be stored in the lock

Regular medications must be stored in a _______.

separate locked cabinet

If regular medication must be refrigerated, _________.

it has to be stored in a locked container inside the refrigerator

The mats must be ________.

washable, waterproof, properly labeled to each child, and at least 2 inches think

Beds, cots, and linens must be ________.

properly labeled for each child

Cribs must be placed at least _______.

18 inches apart and properly labeled to each child

There is no ______.

safe level of lead in a child’s blood

All childcare centers must have at least a ________.

two compartment sink with drainboard/counter space, adequate refrigeration equipment, adequate cooking equipment, and a dishwasher for multi-use utensils (if needed)

In a larger facility, a ________ is sufficient alone

three-compartment sink

• don’t need a dishwasher

Domestic refrigeration is _______.

fine in childcare centers less than 13 kids

Criteria for domestic equipment in large childcare centers

1. If they thaw food in a domestic refrigerator, the food must be prepared that day.

2. Can have any leftovers of potentially hazardous foods

3. Salads containing potentially hazardous foods shall not be prepared on-site

If they prepare food in the classroom aka have a food preparation area _______.

must have a separate sink for food preparation

Sanitizing and disinfecting solution must be _______.

prepared daily

How to clean surfaces/objects/equipment

wash, rinse, sanitize, and let air dry

Types of sanitizers

• chlorine

• iodine

• quartnernary ammonia

The final rinse of machine ware washing must be at ______.

180 degrees Fahrenheit

• dishes and utensils will be dry after

Machine ware washers that use chemical sanitizing _______.

dishes and utensils will be still wet → drainboard space → only put in storage once dry

Spoons, knives, and forks shall be _______.

stored handle-up

Temperature range of water in areas accessible to kids

80 - 110 degrees Fahrenheit