South Carolina Code of Regulations
Chapter 114 - DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
Article 5 - LICENSING
Subarticle 1 - DAY CARE FACILITIES
Section 114-505 - Health, Sanitation and Safety
Universal Citation: SC Code Regs 114-505
Current through Register Vol. 48, No. 3, March 22, 2024
A. Child health
(1) There shall be a statement from a
parent/guardian attesting to the health status of the child within 30 days
prior to admission and utilizing the appropriate DSS Form.
(2) Children shall be excluded from child
care when they exhibit the conditions listed in the South Carolina Department
of Health and Environmental Control Exclusion Policy, State Law 1976, Code
Section
44-1-110,
44-1-140,
and
44-29-10.
(3) During hours of operation there shall be
no smoking or consumption of alcoholic beverages, or use of other
non-prescription narcotic or illegal substances on the center premises. People
who appear to be under the influence of alcohol or other drugs shall not be in
the center when children are present.
B. Sanitation
(1) Staff shall ensure that children's faces
and hands are clean.
(2) Furniture,
toys, and equipment that come into contact with children's mouths shall be
washed, rinsed, and sanitized daily and more often if necessary.
(3) Furniture, toys and equipment soiled by
secretion or excretion shall be sanitized before reuse.
(4) Linens and blankets as well as cribs,
cots, and mats shall be cleaned at least weekly.
(5) If children brush their teeth at the
center, each child shall have a separate, labeled toothbrush, stored with
bristles exposed to circulating air, and not in contact with another
toothbrush.
C. Emergency medical plan
(1) The center shall have an
emergency medical plan to address the following:
(a) Medical conditions under which emergency
care and treatment is warranted;
(b) Steps to be followed in a medical
emergency;
(c) The hospital or
source of health care to be used;
(d) The method of transportation to be used;
and
(e) An emergency staffing
plan.
(2) Emergency
information for the child shall be taken with the child to the hospital or
emergency location.
(3) A staff
person shall remain with the child at the hospital or emergency location until
the parent arrives.
D. Medications or medical procedures
(1) Written,
signed and dated parental consent is required prior to the administration of
any prescription or over the counter medication or administration of special
medical procedures:
(a) All medications shall
be used only for the child for whom the medication is labeled;
(b) Medications shall not be given in excess
of the recommended dose; and
(c)
Prescribed special medical procedures ordered for a specific child shall be
written, signed, and dated by a physician or other legally authorized
healthcare provider.
(2)
Storage of medications:
(a) All medications
shall be kept in their original labeled containers and have child protective
caps. The child's first and last name shall be on all medications;
(b) All medications shall be stored in a
separate locked container under proper conditions of sanitation, temperature,
light, and moisture; and
(c)
Discontinued and expired medications shall not be used and shall be returned to
the parent or disposed of in a safe manner.
(3) Medication log:
(a) For each medication that is administered
by a staff person, a log shall be kept including the child's name, the name of
the medication, dosage, date, time and name of person administering the
medication. This information shall be logged immediately following the
administration of the medication and a copy provided to the child's
parent(s)/guardian(s).
(4) Medication errors:
(a) Medication errors, e.g. failure to
administer a medication at the prescribed time, administering an incorrect
dosage of medication or administering the wrong medication, shall be recorded
in the child's record; and
(b) The
parent shall be immediately notified and notified in writing of a medication
error or a suspected adverse reaction to a medication.
E. First aid kit
(1) A first aid kit shall be available for
the treatment of minor cuts and abrasions and shall be stored in a location
inaccessible to children.
F. Diapering
(1) Each room in which children who wear
diapers are cared for shall have its own diaper-changing area adjacent to the
hand-washing sink.
(2) Facilities
caring for infants shall provide a diaper changing area located within clear
view.
(3) Diaper changing
procedures shall be consistent with those recommended by the Center for Disease
Control and Prevention.
(4)
Diapering surfaces shall be sanitizable.
(5) Diapering surfaces shall be clean,
seamless, waterproof and sanitary.
(6) Diapering surfaces shall be cleaned and
sanitized after each use by washing to remove visible soil followed by wiping
with an approved sanitizing solution (e.g. 1 tablespoon of chlorine bleach per
1 quart of water) and/or disposable, non-absorbent paper sheets approved for
this purpose and shall be discarded immediately after each diapering.
(7) Blood contaminated materials and diapers
shall be discarded in a plastic bag with a secure tie. Surfaces contaminated
with blood or blood-containing body fluids shall be cleaned with a solution of
chlorine bleach and water.
(8)
Diapering shall occur only at a diapering changing area or in a
bathroom.
(9) Diaper changing areas
shall not be used for any purpose other than for diapering.
(10) Individual disposable wipes shall be
used at each diaper change and shall be placed in a plastic-lined, covered
container and disposed of properly, and kept out the reach of
children.
(11) Each waste and
diaper container shall be labeled and clean and free of build-up of soil and
odor. Wastewater from such cleaning operations shall be disposed of as
sewage.
(12) Soiled disposable
diapers and disposable wipes shall be kept in a closed, labeled hands-free
operated, plastic lined receptacle within reach of diaper changing area
separate from other trash. Soiled non-disposable items shall be kept in a
sealed plastic bag after feces is disposed of through the sewage.
(13) Disposable non-absorbent paper sheets
shall be disposed of immediately after diapering is completed.
(14) Soiled disposable diapers shall be
disposed outside the building daily. Soiled non-disposable diapers shall be
kept in a sealed plastic bag and returned to the parent daily.
(15) Staff shall check diapers and clothing
at a frequency that ensures prompt changing of diapers and clothing.
(16) No child shall be left unattended while
being diapered.
G. Staff health
(1) The director shall maintain the
following records in the center for herself/himself, staff, and emergency
person(s):
(a) Medical statements required by
the Department and completed by the staff person verifying that his/her health
is satisfactory. Medical statements shall be updated as necessary;
(b) A health assessment from a health care
provider assessing the ability of the staff person to work with children. The
health assessment shall be completed within three months prior to employment or
within the first month of employment and shall include health history, physical
exam, vision and hearing screening, a review of immunization status, and a
discussion regarding recommended vaccinations, including a one-time adult dose
of TDAP. A new health assessment shall be obtained by the director and staff at
least every four years after the initial assessment; and
(c) New employees must provide written
evidence from a physician or health resource attesting that they are free from
communicable tuberculosis pursuant to state statute or the South Carolina
Department of Health and Environmental Control regulations or policy.
(d) For transferring employees, a current
health assessment and written evidence that the employee is free from
communicable tuberculosis can transfer with the employee pursuant to state
statute or the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control
regulations or policy.
(2) No person who is known to be afflicted
with any disease in a communicable form, or who is a known carrier of such a
disease, or who is afflicted with boils, infected wounds, or sores or acute
respiratory infection, shall work in any capacity in a child care center in
which there is likelihood of such person transmitting disease or infection to
other individuals.
(3) Any staff
member, including the director, emergency person(s) and volunteer(s) who, upon
examination or as a result of tests, shows a condition that could be
detrimental to the children or staff, or which would prevent satisfactory
performance of duties, shall not continue work at the child care center until
the healthcare provider indicates that the condition no longer presents a
threat to children or staff.
(4)
Staff persons shall wash their hands with soap and warm running water upon
arrival at the center, before preparing or serving food, before assisting a
child with eating, after assisting a child with toileting or diapering, before
and after toileting, after administering medication, after cleaning, after
assisting with wiping noses, after contact with body fluids, after contact with
animals and after using cleaning materials. Hands shall be washed even if
gloves are worn to perform these tasks.
(5) Staff shall be excluded when they exhibit
the conditions listed in the SC Department of Health and Environmental Control
Exclusion Policy, pursuant to Section
44-1-110,
44-1-140,
and
44-29-10
of the South Carolina Code Ann (2002).
H. Fire safety and emergency preparedness
(1) Private and public child care centers
shall comply with the regulations and codes of the State Fire
Marshal.
(2) In the event of a
natural disaster or unscheduled closing of a child care center, the capacity
may be exceeded temporarily to accommodate the displaced children. The director
shall notify the Department of the situation and maintain appropriate
staff:child ratios at all times. Required records shall be kept on file for the
new enrollees.
(3) The facility
shall have an up to date written plan for evacuating in case of fire, a natural
disaster, or other threatening situation that may pose a health or safety
hazard. The facility shall also include procedures for staff training in this
emergency plan.
I. Transportation
(1) If the center provides or
arranges for transportation through contract, the following transportation
requirements apply:
(a) The staffing ratios
specified in 114-504.B.(1) through (3) apply. The driver of the vehicle shall
not be counted in the ratios for infants or toddlers.
(b) Each child shall be secured in an
individual, age-appropriate safety restraint at all times the vehicle is in
motion.
(c) Safety restraints shall
be used in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions.
(d) A child shall not be left unattended in a
vehicle.
(e) Transportation
placement of children in the vehicle shall be in accordance with all applicable
state and federal laws.
(f) The
driver shall have a valid regular or commercial driver's license and shall be
in compliance with Section
63-13-40
of the South Carolina Code of Laws.
(g) There shall be a first aid kit and
emergency information on each child in the vehicle.
(h) Use of tobacco products is prohibited in
the vehicle.
(i) Written consent
from the parent is required prior to transportation.
(j) When the facility provides transportation
to and from the child's home, the facility staff shall be responsible for
picking the child up and returning the child to a designated
location.
(k) The director and/or
staff of the center shall provide the driver of the vehicle with a record that
lists the name, address, and telephone number of the center, as well as names
of children being transported.
(2) The following requirements apply for safe
pick-up and drop-off:
(a) The center shall
have safe crossways and pick-up and drop-off locations and communicate these
locations to the parents.
(b)
Children shall be directly supervised during boarding and exiting
vehicles.
(c) The director and/or
staff shall have on file, in the facility, written permission from
parent(s)/guardian(s) for transporting children to and from the home, school,
or other designated places, including center-planned field trips and
activities.
(d) Written
transportation plans for routine travel shall be on file. Plans shall include a
checklist to account for the loading and unloading of children at every
location.
Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. South Carolina 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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