9.4.1.11: Review and Accessibility of Injury and Illness Reports

The injury and illness log should be reviewed by caregivers/teachers at least semiannually and inspected by licensing staff and child care health consultants at least annually. In addition to maintaining a record for documentation of liability, forms should be used to identify patterns of injury and illness occurring in child care that are amenable to risk reduction or prevention.

RATIONALE

Surveillance for symptoms can be accomplished easily by using a combined attendance and symptom record. Any symptoms can be noted when the child is signed in, with added notations made during the day when additional symptoms appear.

 

Injury patterns and child abuse and neglect can be detected from such records and can be used to prevent future problems (1). A report form is also necessary for providing information to the child’s parents/guardians, primary care provider, and other appropriate health agencies. Simple forms, for a weekly or monthly period, that record data for the entire group help caregivers/teachers identify patterns of illness for an individual child or among the children in the group or center. Child care health consultants can be especially helpful by identifying patterns of illness or injury and suggesting interventions to reduce the risk of future illnesses or injuries.

TYPE OF FACILITY

Center, Early Head Start, Head Start, Large Family Child Care Home, Small Family Child Care Home

RELATED STANDARDS

1.6.0.1 Child Care Health Consultants
9.2.4.1 Written Plan and Training for Handling Urgent Medical or Threatening Incidents
9.4.1.9 Records of Injury
9.4.1.10 Documentation of Parent/Guardian Notification of Injury, Illness, or Death in Program
10.4.2.2 Statutory Authorization of On-Site Inspections
10.4.2.3 Monitoring Strategies
Appendix F: Enrollment/Attendance/Symptom Record

REFERENCES

1. Jackson AM, Kissoon N, Greene C. Aspects of abuse: recognizing and responding to child maltreatment. Curr Probl Pediatr Adolesc Health Care. 2015;45(3):58–70

NOTES

Content in the STANDARD was modified on 10/16/2018.