Minnesota Administrative Rules
Agency 196 - Human Services Department
Chapter 9503 - CHILD CARE CENTER LICENSING
Part 9503.0140 - HEALTH

Universal Citation: MN Rules 9503.0140

Current through Register Vol. 49, No. 13, September 23, 2024

Subpart 1. Health policies.

The license holder must develop written health policies approved by the commissioner and must ensure that they are carried out.

Subp. 2. Health consultation.

The center must have a health consultant who must review the center's health policies and practices specified in items A to C and certify that they are adequate to protect the health of children in care.

The review must be done before initial licensure, submitted with the application for initial licensure and repeated every year after the date of initial licensure. For programs serving infants, this review must be done initially and monthly thereafter. Additionally, the license holder must request a review by the health consultant of the center's health policies and practices if there is a proposed change in the center's health policies or practices or an outbreak of contagious reportable illness as specified in part 4605.7040. A copy of the consultant's findings must be placed in the center's administrative record.

The consultant must review:

A. The first aid and safety policies and procedures required by part 9503.0110, subpart 3, items A, B, and C.

B. The diapering procedures and practices specified in subpart 12.

C. The sanitation procedures and practices for food not prepared by or provided by the license holder as specified in part 9503.0145, subpart 3, and for infants as specified in part 9503.0145, subpart 7.

Subp. 3. Health information at admission.

Before a child is admitted to a center or within 30 days of admission, the license holder must obtain a report on a current physical examination of the child signed by the child's source of medical care.

Subp. 4. Reexamination.

For children already admitted to the center, the license holder shall obtain an updated report of physical examination signed by the child's source of medical care at least annually for children under 24 months of age, and whenever a child 24 months or older advances to an older age category.

Subp. 5. Immunizations.

When a child is enrolled in the center, the license holder must obtain documentation of current immunization according to Minnesota Statutes, section 121A.15, a signed notarized statement of parental objection to the immunization, or a medical exemption.

Subp. 6. Notice about a sick child.

Notices about the illness or condition of a child must be given as required in items A to D:

A. The license holder must ensure that a parent is notified immediately when the parent's child becomes sick at the center.

B. The license holder must require a parent to inform the center within 24 hours, exclusive of weekends and holidays, when a child is diagnosed by a child's source of medical or dental care as having a contagious reportable disease specified in part 4605.7040, or lice, scabies, impetigo, ringworm, or chicken pox.

C. The license holder must post or give a notice to the parents of exposed children the same day a parent notifies the center of a child's illness or condition listed in item B.

D. The license holder must ensure that the health authority is notified of any suspected case of reportable disease as specified in part 4605.7040 within 24 hours of receiving the parent's report.

Subp. 7. Administration of medicine.

A license holder who chooses to administer medicine must ensure that the procedures in items A to E are followed.

A. The license holder must get written permission from the child's parent before administering medicine, diapering products, sunscreen lotions, and insect repellents. Nonprescription medicines, diapering products, sunscreen lotions, and insect repellents must be administered according to the manufacturer's instructions unless there are written instructions for their use provided by a licensed physician or dentist.

B. The license holder must get and follow written instructions from a licensed physician or dentist before administering each prescription medicine. Medicine with the child's name and current prescription information on the label constitutes instructions.

C. All medicine must be kept in its original container and have a legible label stating the child's name. The medicine must be given only to the child whose name is on the label. The medicine must not be given after an expiration date on the label, and any unused portion must be returned to the child's parent or destroyed. The license holder must ensure that the administration of medicine is recorded and give the name of the child, name of the medication or prescription number, date, time, dosage, and the name and signature of the person who dispensed the medicine. The record must be available to the parent and maintained in the child's record.

D. Sunscreen lotions and insect repellents supplied by the license holder may be used on more than one child. A product to control or prevent diaper rash, including premoistened commercial wipes that cannot be dispensed in a manner that prevents cross contamination of the product and container as determined by the health consultant, must be labeled with the child's name and used only for the individual child whose name is written on the label.

E. Medicines, insect repellents, sunscreen lotions, and diaper rash control products must be stored according to directions on the original container and so that they are inaccessible to children.

Subp. 8. [Repealed, 18 SR 2748]

Subp. 9. Cleanliness.

The indoor and outdoor space and equipment of the center must be clean.

Subp. 10. Toilet facilities.

The toilet rooms of the center must be cleaned daily. Toilet training chairs must be emptied, washed with soap and water, and disinfected after each use. Toilets and seats must be washed with soap and water and disinfected when soiled or at least daily.

Subp. 11. Diaper changing area.

A diaper must be changed only in the diaper changing area. The diaper changing area must be separate from areas used for food storage, food preparation, and eating. The area must have a hand sink equipped with hot and cold running water within three feet of the diaper changing surface, a smooth nonabsorbent diaper changing surface and floor covering, and a sanitary container for soiled and wet diapers.

Subp. 12. Diaper changing procedures.

The center must have and follow diaper changing procedures that have been developed in consultation with a health consultant. The license holder must post the diaper changing procedures in the diaper changing area.

Subp. 13. Hand washing: child.

A child's hands must be washed with soap and water after a diaper change, after use of a toilet or toilet training chair, and before eating a meal or snack. Staff must monitor hand washing and assist a child who needs help. The use of a common basin or a hand sink filled with standing water is prohibited.

Subp. 14. Hand washing: staff person.

A staff person must wash his or her hands with soap and water after changing a child's diaper, after using toilet facilities, and before handling food or eating.

Subp. 15. Toilet articles.

The license holder shall provide the following supplies and make them accessible to children: toilet paper, liquid hand soap, facial tissues, and single use paper towels or warm air hand dryers.

Subp. 16. First aid kit.

The license holder must ensure that a first aid kit is available within the center. The kit must contain sterile bandages and band-aids, sterile compresses, scissors, an ice bag or cold pack, an oral or surface thermometer, and adhesive tape. A current first aid manual must be included. The first aid kit and manual must be accessible to the staff in the center and taken on field trips.

Subp. 17. Hazardous objects.

Sharp objects, medicines, plastic bags, and poisonous plants and chemicals, including household supplies, must be stored out of reach of children.

Subp. 18. Emergency equipment.

The center must have a battery operated flashlight and battery operated portable radio.

Subp. 19. Condition of equipment and furniture.

Equipment and furniture must be durable, in good repair, structurally sound and stable following assembly and installation. Equipment must be free of sharp edges, dangerous protrusions, points where a child's extremities could be pinched or crushed, and openings or angles that could trap part of a child's body. Tables, chairs, and other furniture must be appropriate to the age and size of children who use them. Toys and equipment that are likely to be mouthed by infants and toddlers must be made of a material that can be disinfected. These must be cleaned and disinfected when mouthed or soiled and at least daily.

Infant rattles must meet the United States consumer product safety standards contained in the Code of Federal Regulations, title 16, sections 1510.1 to 1510.4, as adopted on May 23, 1978. All toys and other articles intended for use by children under three years of age that present choking, aspiration, or ingestion hazards because of small parts must meet the size standards in Code of Federal Regulations, title 16, sections 1501.1 to 1501.5, as adopted on June 15, 1979.

Subp. 20. Maintenance of areas used by children.

The areas used by children must be free from debris, loose flaking, peeling, or chipped paint, loose wallpaper, or crumbling plaster, litter, and holes in the walls, floors, and ceilings. Rugs must have a nonskid backing or be firmly fastened to the floor and be free from tears, curled or frayed edges, and hazardous wrinkles.

Subp. 21. Emergencies.

The license holder must ensure that written procedures for emergencies and accidents are posted in a visible place. The procedures must:

A. identify persons responsible for each area;

B. identify primary and secondary exits;

C. identify a tornado shelter area;

D. identify building evacuation routes;

E. describe how to use a fire extinguisher and close off the fire area; and

F. list the phone numbers and sources of emergency medical and dental care, poison control center, fire department, health authority, and licensing division of the Department of Human Services.

Subp. 22. Pets.

If pets are permitted at the center, parents must be informed at the time of admission that a pet is present.

Statutory Authority: MS s 245A.02; 245A.09; 252.28

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Minnesota may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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