National Resource Center for Health and Safety in Child Care and Early Education

MAJOR CHANGES IN HEALTH AND SAFETY PRACTICE SINCE THE RELEASE OF CARING FOR OUR CHILDREN, 2ND EDITION IN JANUARY 2002

The National Resource Center for Health and Safety in Child Care, in coordination with its partners American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Public Health Association and the Maternal and Child Health Bureau will post major changes in health practices, since the release of CFOC, 2nd Ed. and Stepping Stones, 2nd Ed., supported by current, authoritative research that greatly effects the health and safety of children in out-of-home child care. Click on the subject of interest below and each entry will have a date of posting, subject/issue area, supporting research and links to the Standards that were affected by the change in health practice. Please check this site periodically for updated information.

Posting Date	Issue	Brief Description
3/18/04	Syrup of Ipecac	Syrup of Ipecac shall not be used to induce vomiting and shall not be included in first aid kits or available at a child care program.
3/18/04	Influenza Immunizations	Influenza immunizations are recommended for healthy children between 6 and 24 months of age, for household contacts and out-of-home caregivers of all children younger than 24 months of age, and for health care professionals.
3/16/06	CPR Training (Cardio-Pulmonary-Resuscitation)	The American Heart Association’s 2005 national guidelines recommends a significant change to the ratio of chest compressions to rescue breaths – from 15 compressions for every two rescue breaths in the 2000 guidelines to 30 compressions for every two rescue breaths in the 2005 guidelines. The 30-to-two ratio is the same for adults, children and infants (excluding newborns) for a single rescuer. Child care providers should anticipate this change in the next training they receive. Also, CPR is recommended for unresponsive individuals of all ages, even though in most cases, infants and children suffer from a respiratory problem which can lead to death.. (In adults, CPR is more likely to be needed because ofa sudden cardiac arrest).
2/1/2007	Safety Helmets	All children shall wear approved safety helmets while riding tricycles, bicycles, and other riding toys. Approved helmets shall meet the mandatory standards of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).