Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 591-1-1-.17 - Hygiene

(1) Bathtubs and Showers. If used, bathtubs and showers shall be cleaned with a disinfectant after each use.

(2) Children's Hygiene. To the extent possible, Personnel shall keep children clean, dry and comfortable.

(3) Children's Personal Items. Children's combs, toothbrushes and cloth towels shall be kept clean.

(4) Contagious Diseases. Children, Parents, Staff, or any other persons being supervised by the Staff, shall not be allowed in the Center who knowingly have or present symptoms of a contagious communicable disease (such as fever, coughing, fatigue, muscle aches, diarrhea, etc.) or any virus or illness (such as COVID-19, etc.) identified during a public health emergency.

(5) Drinking Fountains and Cups. Drinking fountains, if available, shall be safe and kept clean, have regulated pressure, not be mounted on sinks used for diaper changing activities and have an angle jet with an orifice guard above the rim. Single-service drinking cups shall be provided when appropriate drinking fountains are not available, and cups shall be discarded after each use unless the cups are sanitized in a dishwasher between each use.

(6) Garbage. Garbage and organic waste shall be stored in containers that are lined with plastic liners and have tight-fitting covers. Trash and garbage shall be removed from the building daily or as often as necessary to maintain the premises in a clean condition.

(7) Handwashing, Children. Children's hands shall be washed with liquid soap and warm running water: immediately upon arrival for care, when moving from one child care group to another and upon re-entering the child care area after outside play; before and after eating meals and snacks, handling or touching food, or playing in water; after toileting and diapering, playing in sand, touching animals or pets, contact with bodily fluids such as, but not limited to, mucus, saliva, vomit or blood and after contamination by any other means.

(a) Washcloth handwashing is permitted for infants when the infant is too heavy to hold for handwashing or cannot stand safely to wash hands at a sink and for children with special needs who are not capable of washing their own hands. An individual washcloth shall be used only once for each child before laundering.

(8) Handwashing, Staff. Personnel shall wash their hands with liquid soap and warm running water: immediately upon arrival for the day, when moving from one child care group to another, and upon re-entering the child care area after outside play; before and after diapering each child, dispensing medication, applying topical medications, ointments, creams or lotions, handling and preparing food, eating, drinking, preparing bottles, feeding each child, and assisting children with eating and drinking; after toileting or assisting children with toileting, using tobacco products, handling garbage and organic waste, touching animals or pets, handling bodily fluids, such as, but not limited to, mucus, saliva, vomit or blood and after contamination by any other means.

(9) Laundry. If laundry is done on Center premises, the laundry area shall be located outside the children's activity rooms or areas and not used as a passageway by children to travel from one area to another whenever any soiled or clean laundry is exposed.

(10) Potty Chairs. If used, toilet potty chairs shall after each use be emptied by disposal in a flush toilet, cleaned with a disinfectant, and stored in the bathroom. If a sink is used, the sink shall also be disinfected.

(11) Soiled Containers and Items. Separate containers shall be used for storing soiled disposable items, such as disposable diapers, disposable washcloths and soiled nondisposable items, such as cloth diapers, washcloths and bed linens. Such containers shall be waterproof or equipped with a leakproof disposable liner, covered, easily cleaned and maintained in such a manner so as the contents of the container are never accessible to the children.

(12) Wet Clothing. Children's wet or soiled clothing shall be stored in individual plastic bags immediately after being removed from the child.

Notes

Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 591-1-1-.17

O.C.G.A. § 20-1A-1 et seq.

Original Rule entitled "Hygiene" adopted. F. Dec. 23, 1997; eff. Mar. 1, 1998, as specified by the Agency. Amended: F. Jan. 12, 2005; eff. Feb. 1, 2005. Repealed: New Rule of same title adopted. F. Dec. 2, 2009; eff. Dec. 22, 2009. Repealed: New Rule of the same title adopted. F. Aug. 5, 2010; eff. Aug. 25, 2010. Amended: F. Dec. 4, 2015; eff. Dec. 24, 2015. Amended: F. May 26, 2017; eff. June 15, 2017. Amended: F. Aug. 31, 2020; eff. Sept. 20, 2020.