Child health and wellbeing

HS24 Room temperature

§ Rooms used by mokopuna are kept at a comfortable temperature no lower than 18°C (at 500mm above the floor) while mokopuna are attending.

Rationale/intent

The criterion aims to address a current 'gap' in the Regulations which requires services to have heaters, but not that they are used when children are attending. The criterion aims to uphold the wellbeing of children. Note that the wellbeing of adults at the service is covered by the Health and Safety at Work Act.

HS25 First aid qualifications

There is an adult present at all times for every 25 children attending (or part thereof) who:

• holds a current first aid qualification gained from a New Zealand Qualifications Authority accredited first aid training provider; or
• is a registered medical practitioner or nurse with a current practising certificate; or
• is a qualified ambulance officer or paramedic.

If a child is injured, any required first aid is administered or supervised by an adult meeting these requirements.

Documentation required

Copies of current first aid (or medical practicing) certificates for adults counting towards this requirement.

Rationale/intent

The criterion aims to uphold the safety of children by ensuring adults with the necessary skills and knowledge to deal with injuries and illness are present at all times and readily available.

Amended 8 April 2021.

HS26 Response to infectious illnesses

§ All practicable steps are taken to ensure that children do not come into contact with any person (adult or child) on the premises who is suffering from a disease or condition likely to be passed on to children and likely to have a detrimental effect on them.

Specifically:

• the action specified in Appendix 2 is taken for any person (adult or child) suffering from particular infectious diseases; and

  Appendix 2: Infectious diseases for criterion HS26

• children who become unwell while attending the service are kept at a safe distance from other children (to minimise the spread of infection) and returned to the care of a parent or other person authorised to collect the child without delay.

Rationale/intent

The criterion aims to uphold the health and safety of children by ensuring that children are not unduly exposed to specified infectious diseases while at the service. Diseases included in Appendix 2 are those listed in the current Health (Infectious and Notifiable Diseases) Regulations 2016 that commonly occur.

HS27 Medical assistance

All practicable steps are taken to get immediate medical assistance for a child who is seriously injured or becomes seriously ill, and to notify a parent or caregiver of what has happened.

Documentation required

1. A record of serious illnesses and incidents that occur at the service (see HS25 for the requirement to record injuries). Records include:
   • the child's name
   • the date, time and description of the injury, illness or incident
   • actions taken and by whom and
   • evidence of parental knowledge of the incident.
2. A procedure outlining the service’s response to injury, illness and incident, including the review and implementation of practices as required.

Rationale/intent

The criterion aims to uphold the health and safety of children by ensuring that children who fall ill or are injured are given proper care.

HS28 Medicine administration

Medicine (prescription and non-prescription) is not given to a child unless it is given:

• by a doctor or ambulance personnel in an emergency; or
• by the parent of the child; or
• with the written authority (appropriate to the category of medicine) of a parent.

Medicines are stored safely and appropriately, and are disposed of, or sent home with a parent (if supplied in relation to a specific child) after the specified time.

Documentation required

1. A record of the written authority from parents for the administration of medicine in accordance with the requirement for the category of medicine outlined in Appendix 3.

   Appendix 3: Categories of medicine for criterion HS28

2. A record of all medicine (prescription and non-prescription) given to children attending the service. Records include:
   • name of the child
   • name and amount of medicine given
   • date and time medicine was administered and by whom; and
   • evidence of parental acknowledgement.

Rationale/intent

The criterion aims to uphold the health and safety of children by ensuring that children are given proper care, and that medication is not administered inappropriately by services.

HS29 Medicine training

Adults who administer medicine to children (other than their own) are provided with information and/or training relevant to the task.

Documentation required

A record of training and/or information provided to adults who administer medicine to children (other than their own) while at the service.

Rationale/intent

The criterion aims to uphold the health and safety of children by ensuring that medication is given to children only by people with the necessary knowledge and skills.

HS30 Children washed when soiled

Children are washed when they are soiled or pose a health risk to themselves or others.