H1N1 Flu and Your Program

11/04/2009

Service is the rent we pay to be living. It is the very purpose of life and not something you do in your spare time.
Marian Wright Edelman, author and founder of Children’s Defense Fund

Has your early childhood program experienced a confirmed case of H1N1 (Swine) Flu in the past 30 days? In this week's Exchange Insta Poll we are surveying early childhood programs in North America to find the extent to which our programs are being impacted. Please report whether your program has been impacted at www.ChildCareExchange.com. Note: In the near future we will be conducting a similar survey on a global basis.

The federal government has a web site offering "Guidance on Helping Child Care and Early Childhood Programs Respond to Influenza during the 2009-2010 Influenza Season." In part, this site advises...

"Children less than 5 years of age are at increased risk of complications from influenza (flu); the risk is greater among children less than 2 years old. Importantly, infants less than 6 months of age represent a particularly vulnerable group because they are too young to receive the seasonal or 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccine; as a result, individuals responsible for caring for these children constitute a high-priority group for early vaccination. Influenza vaccination is the primary means of preventing flu. Additionally, infection control measures are recommended to reduce the spread of flu. However, early childhood settings present unique challenges for infection control due to the highly vulnerable population, close interpersonal contact, shared toys and other objects, and limited ability of young children to understand or practice good respiratory etiquette and hand hygiene. Thus, parents, early childhood providers, and public health officials should be aware that, even under the best of circumstances, transmission of infectious diseases such as flu cannot be completely prevented in early childhood or other settings. No policy can keep everyone who is potentially infectious out of these settings."

Training Tools on Health and Safety

Exchange's Out of the Box Training Kits are designed with over-burdened directors in mind. They provide you, the director as trainer, with the tools you need to run a training session on over 60 topics including health and safety. This week the online Out of the Box Kits are on sale at a 20% discount — so check out the complete list and start upgrading your training right away

Earn a director credential online!
Start earning your director credential today from the convenience of your computer with Aim4Excellence™. The credential focuses on the essential knowledge and skills needed to deliver high-quality programming for young children and is designed around your unique needs of a busy adult learner. Aim4Excellence™ is recognized by NAEYC as an alternative pathway for meeting part of the director qualifications for program accreditation. Tell me more!

For more information about Exchange's magazine, books, and other products pertaining to ECE, go to www.ccie.com.