Iowa Admin. Code r. 441-120.8 - Standards
Conditions in the home shall be safe, sanitary, and free of hazards. The provider shall certify that the child care home meets the following minimum standards.
(1)
Facility requirements.
a.
The home shall have a nonpay, working landline or mobile telephone with
emergency numbers posted for police, fire, ambulance, and the poison
information center. The number for each child's parent, for a responsible
person who can be reached when the parent cannot, and for the child's physician
shall be written on paper and readily accessible by the telephone. The home
must prominently display all emergency information, and all travel vehicles
must have a paper copy of emergency parent contact information.
b. Electrical wiring shall be maintained, and
all accessible electrical outlets shall be tamper-resistant outlets or shall be
safely capped. Electrical cords shall be properly used. Improper use includes
the running of cords under rugs, over hooks, or through door openings or other
use that has been known to be hazardous.
c. Combustible materials shall be kept a
minimum of three feet away from furnaces, stoves, water heaters, and gas
dryers.
d. Approved safety gates at
stairways and doors shall be provided and used as needed.
e. Annual laboratory analysis of a private
water supply shall be conducted to show satisfactory bacteriological quality.
When children under the age of two are to be cared for, the analysis shall
include a nitrate analysis. When private water supplies are determined
unsuitable for drinking, commercially bottled water or water treated through a
process approved by the health department or designee shall be
provided.
f. A safety barrier shall
surround any heating stove or heating element, in order to prevent
burns.
g. The home shall have at
least one 2A 10BC-rated fire extinguisher located in a visible and readily
accessible place on each child-occupied floor.
h. The home shall have at least one
single-station, battery-operated, UL-approved smoke detector in each
child-occupied room and at the top of every stairway. Each smoke detector shall
be installed according to manufacturer's recommendations. The provider shall
test each smoke detector monthly and keep a record of testing for inspection
purposes.
i. Smoking and the use of
tobacco products shall be prohibited at all times in the home and in every
vehicle in which children receiving care in the home are transported. Smoking
and the use of tobacco products shall be prohibited in the outdoor play area
during the home's hours of operation. "No smoking" signs shall be posted at
every entrance of the child care home and in every vehicle used to transport
children. All signs shall include:
(1) The
telephone number for reporting of complaints, and
(2) The Internet address of the department of
public health (smokefreeair.iowa.gov).
j. Homes served by a private
sewage disposal system shall be operated and maintained to ensure the system is
properly treating the wastewater and not creating an unsanitary condition in
the environment. Discharge of untreated waste water from private sewage
disposal systems is prohibited. Concerns about noncompliance shall be referred
to the local county sanitarian.
k.
A provider operating in a facility built before 1978 shall assess and control
lead hazards before being issued an initial child care assistance provider
agreement or a renewal of the provider agreement. To comply with this
requirement, the provider shall:
(1) Determine
if painted surfaces on the interior or exterior of the facility are chipping,
peeling, or cracking or in need of repair. Painted surfaces include walls,
ceilings, windows, doors, stairs, and woodwork; and
(2) If painted surfaces are in need of
repair, hire an Iowa certified lead-safe renovator to make repairs or take
training to become an Iowa certified lead-safe renovator. Iowa lead-safe
renovators shall apply interim controls on any chipping, peeling, or cracking
paint found, using lead-safe work methods in accordance with and as defined by
department of public health rules at 641-Chapters 69 and 70.
l. The child care home shall be
located in a single-family residence that is owned, rented, or leased by the
provider.
m. Any driver who
transports children for any purpose shall have a valid driver's license and
adequate motor vehicle insurance that authorizes the driver to operate the type
of vehicle being driven. Child restraint devices shall be utilized in
compliance with Iowa Code section
321.446.
n. Providers shall inform parents of the
presence of any pet in the home.
(1) Each dog
or cat in the household shall undergo an annual health examination by a
licensed veterinarian. Acceptable veterinary examinations shall be documented
on Form 470-5153, Veterinary Health Certificate. This examination shall verify
that the animal's routine immunizations, particularly rabies, are current and
that the animal shows no evidence of endoparasites (roundworms, hookworms,
whipworms) and ectoparasites (fleas, mites, ticks, lice).
(2) Each pet bird in the household shall be
purchased from a dealer licensed by the Iowa department of agriculture and land
stewardship and shall be examined by a veterinarian to verify that the bird is
free of infectious diseases. Acceptable veterinary examinations shall be
documented on Form 470-5153, Veterinary Health Certificate. Children shall not
handle pet birds.
(3) Aquariums
shall be well maintained and installed in a manner that prevents children from
accessing the water or pulling over a tank.
(4) All animal waste shall be immediately
removed from the children's areas and properly disposed of. Children shall not
perform any feeding or care of pets or cleanup of pet waste.
(5) No animals shall be allowed in the food
preparation, food storage, or serving areas during food preparation and serving
times.
o. Using an injury
report form, the provider shall document all injuries that require first aid or
medical care. The form shall be completed on the date of occurrence, shared
with the parent, and maintained in the child's file.
p. Serious injuries.
(1) Serious injuries, as defined in Iowa Code
section
702.18, that occur
in a child care home or when a child is in the care of child care home staff
shall be reported to the department within 24 hours of the incident.
(2) Serious injuries shall be documented and
information maintained in the child's file as required by subrule
120.9(2).
(2)
Use of outdoor space.
a. A
safe outdoor play area shall be maintained in good condition throughout the
year. The play area shall be fenced off when located on a busy thoroughfare or
near a hazard which may be injurious to a child and shall have both sunshine
and shade areas. The play area shall be kept free from litter, rubbish, and
flammable materials and shall be free from contamination by the drainage or
ponding of sewage, household waste, or storm water.
b. When there is a swimming or wading pool on
the premises:
(1) The wading pool shall be
drained daily and shall be inaccessible to children when it is not in
use.
(2) An aboveground or
in-ground swimming pool that is not fenced shall be covered whenever the pool
is not in use. The cover shall meet or exceed the ASTM International (formerly
known as the American Society for Testing and Materials) specification intended
to reduce the risk of drowning by inhibiting access to the water by children
under five years of age.
(3) An
uncovered aboveground swimming pool shall be enclosed with an approved fence
that is nonclimbable and is at least four feet high.
(4) An uncovered in-ground swimming pool
shall be enclosed with an approved fence that is nonclimbable and is at least
four feet high and flush with the ground.
c. If children are allowed to use an
aboveground or in-ground swimming pool:
(1)
Written permission from parents shall be available for review.
(2) Equipment needed to rescue a child or
adult shall be readily accessible.
(3) The child care provider shall accompany
the children and provide constant supervision while the children use the
pool.
(4) The child care provider
shall complete training in cardiopulmonary resuscitation for infants, toddlers,
and children, according to the criteria of the American Red Cross or the
American Heart Association.
(3)
Medications and hazardous
materials.
a. All medicines and
poisonous, toxic, or otherwise unsafe materials shall be secured from access by
a child.
b. A first-aid kit shall
be available and easily accessible whenever children are in the child care
home, in the outdoor play area, in vehicles used to transport children, and on
field trips. The kit shall be sufficient to address first aid related to minor
injury or trauma and shall be stored in an area inaccessible to children. The
kit shall, at a minimum, include adhesive bandages, bottled water, disposable
tweezers, and disposable plastic gloves.
c. Medications shall be given only with the
parent's or doctor's written authorization. Each prescribed medication shall be
accompanied by a physician's or pharmacist's direction. Both nonprescription
and prescription medications shall be in the original container with directions
intact and labeled with the child's name. All medications shall be stored
properly and, when refrigeration is required, shall be stored in a separate,
covered container so as to prevent contamination of food or other medications.
All medications shall be stored so they are inaccessible to children. Any
medication administered to a child shall be recorded, and the record shall
indicate the name of the medication, the date and time of administration, and
the amount administered.
d.
Medications shall not be provided to a child if the provider has not completed
preservice/orientation training that includes medication
administration.
e. The provider
shall establish procedures related to infectious disease control and handling
of any bodily excrement or discharge or blood. Soiled diapers shall be stored
in containers separate from other waste.
(4)
Emergency plans.
Emergency plans in case of man-made or natural disaster shall be written and
posted by the primary and secondary exits. The plans shall clearly map building
evacuation routes and tornado and flood shelter areas.
a. Fire and tornado drills shall be practiced
monthly, and the provider shall keep documentation evidencing compliance with
monthly practice on file.
b. The
provider must have procedures in place for the following:
(1) Evacuation to safely leave the
facility.
(2) Relocation to a
common, safe location after evacuation.
(3) Shelter-in-place to take immediate
shelter where the child is when it is unsafe to leave that location due to the
emergent issue.
(4) Lockdown to
protect children and providers from an external situation.
(5) Communication and plans for reunification
with families.
(6) Continuity of
operations.
(7) To address the
needs of individual children, including those with functional or access
needs.
(5)
Safe sleep.
a. The provider
shall follow safe sleep practices as recommended by the American Academy of
Pediatrics for infants under the age of one. Infant sleep shall conform to the
following standards:
(1) Infants shall always
be placed on their backs for sleep.
(2) Infants shall be placed on a firm
mattress with a tight fitted sheet that meets U.S. Consumer Product Safety
Commission federal standards.
(3)
Infants shall not be allowed to sleep on a bed, sofa, air mattress or other
soft surface.
(4) No toys, soft
objects, stuffed animals, pillows, bumper pads, blankets, or loose bedding
shall be allowed in the sleeping area with the infant.
(5) No co-sleeping shall be
allowed.
(6) Sleeping infants shall
be actively observed by sight and sound.
(7) If an alternate sleeping position is
needed, a signed physician or physician assistant authorization with statement
of medical reason is required.
b. No child shall be allowed to sleep in any
item not designed for sleeping including, but not limited to, an infant seat,
car seat, swing, or bouncy seat.
c.
A crib or criblike furniture which has a waterproof mattress covering and
sufficient bedding to enable a child to rest comfortably and which meets the
current standards or recommendations from the Consumer Product Safety
Commission or ASTM International for juvenile products shall be provided for
each child under two years of age if developmentally appropriate. Crib railings
shall be fully raised and secured when the child is in the crib. A crib or
criblike furniture shall be provided for the number of children present at any
one time. The home shall maintain all cribs or criblike furniture and bedding
in a clean and sanitary manner. There shall be no restraining devices of any
type used in cribs.
d. All items
used for sleeping must be used in compliance with manufacturer standards for
age and weight of the child.
(6)
Discipline. Discipline
shall conform to the following standards:
a.
Corporal punishment, including spanking, shaking and slapping, shall not be
used.
b. Punishment that is
humiliating or frightening or that causes pain or discomfort to the child shall
not be used.
c. Punishment shall
not be administered because of a child's illness, or progress or lack of
progress in toilet training, nor shall punishment or threat of punishment be
associated with food or rest.
d. No
child shall be subjected to verbal abuse, threats, or derogatory remarks about
the child or the child's family.
e.
Discipline shall be designed to help the child develop self-control,
self-esteem, and respect for the rights of others.
(7)
Meals and snacks.
a. Regular meals and snacks that are
well-balanced and nourishing shall be provided.
b. Children may bring food to the child care
home for their own consumption but shall not be required to provide their own
food.
c. Clean, sanitary drinking
water shall be readily available to children in indoor and outdoor areas,
throughout the day.
Notes
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No prior version found.