North Carolina Administrative Code
Title 15A - Environmental Quality
Chapter 18 - ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
Subchapter A - ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
Section .2800 - SANITATION OF CHILD CARE CENTERS
Section 18A .2827 - COMMUNICABLE DISEASES AND CONDITIONS

Universal Citation: 15A NC Admin Code 18A .2827

Current through Register Vol. 39, No. 6, September 16, 2024

(a) In child care centers, a child who becomes ill to the extent that the child can no longer participate in routine group activities shall be separated from the other children until the child leaves the child care center and in accordance with 10A NCAC 09 .0804.

(b) Each child care center shall include a designated area for a child who becomes ill to the extent that she or he can no longer participate in the routine group activities. When in use, such area shall be equipped with a bed, cot, or mat and a vomitus receptacle and shall be cleaned and disinfected after each use. Thermometers and all materials used in the designated area, including toys, shall be cleaned and sanitized after each use. Linens shall be changed after each use.

(c) If the designated area required under Paragraph (b) of this Rule is not a separate room, then it shall be separated from space used by other children by a partition or screen. The designated area shall be located so that health and sanitation measures can be carried out without interrupting activities of other children and staff.

(d) The child care center shall have written procedures that employees shall follow when responding to vomiting or diarrheal events that involve the discharge of vomitus or fecal matter onto surfaces in the center. The procedures shall address the specific actions employees must take to minimize the spread of contamination and the exposure of employees, children, food, and surfaces to vomitus or fecal matter. The written procedures shall include the following information:

(1) Child care center employees who are part of the designated clean up response team;

(2) A supply list for vomit and diarrhea cleanup kit items that shall be kept on-site at the child care center, including:
(A) disposable personal protective equipment (gloves, apron, mask, shoe covers, and hair restraint);

(B) two disposable plastic bags;

(C) paper towels;

(D) a scoop or scraper;

(E) a mop and bucket; and

(F) an approved disinfectant;

(3) The location of the supplies described in Subparagraph (d)(2) of this Rule;

(4) A procedure for preventing access to the contaminated area;

(5) The steps used to clean and disinfect the contaminated area, which shall include the following:
(A) for hard surfaces, remove the vomit or diarrhea, wash the contaminated surface, and use an approved disinfectant.

(B) for carpet or upholstery, remove the vomit or diarrhea without use of vacuum, wash all surfaces, and steam clean or use an approved disinfectant.

(6) The steps for after clean up, which shall including the following:
(A) throw away all items that came into contact with the vomit or diarrhea;

(B) remove all personal protective equipment (PPE);

(C) discard all cleaning items and PPE in a secured trash area;

(D) disinfect non disposable cleaning items such as scoops, scrapers, mop heads, mop handles, and buckets and discard of disposable cleaning items; and

(E) wash hands in accordance with the procedures in Rule .2803(e) of this Section.

(7) Identify steps for properly storing contaminated articles of clothing and cloth diapers that came into contact with the vomit or diarrhea in accordance with the procedures in Rule .2819(f) of this Section.

(e) Employees with a communicable disease or a communicable condition shall be excluded from work or subject to restrictions to prevent transmission in accordance with the Rules in Section 10A NCAC 41A .0200. Any employee with boils, sores, burns, infected wounds, or other draining lesions on exposed skin shall bandage the affected area to avoid exposing others to drainage. If such bandaging obstructs handwashing as set out in Rule .2803 of this Section, if the exposure to drainage cannot be prevented, or if otherwise required under the rules in Section 10A NCAC 41A .0200, then the employee shall be excluded from food preparation and work activities that involve contact with other employees or children while risk of transmission of the communicable disease or condition exists.

Authority G.S. 110-91;
Eff. July 1, 1991;
Amended Eff. February 1, 1995;
Temporary Amendment Eff. April 15, 1998;
Amended Eff. January 1, 2006; April 1, 1999.

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