State rules to keep the flu out of daycare centers

Washington State has seen six confirmed flu deaths so far this season, one of the victims just a child. Young children are one of the groups identified by the health department as being highly vulnerable – developing complications and dying from the flu virus.

Daycare facilities are often ground zero for the spread of sickness among kids. So, you might be wondering what to do if an obviously ill child winds up playing alongside your son or daughter there.

The Department of Early Learning (DEL) oversees all licensed daycare facilities in Washington State. They have rules about what needs to happen when a child or care provider becomes ill.

“There’s a series of criteria that, if they meet, they’re excluded from care,” explains DEL Communications Director Kara Klotz. “If someone tried to drop off a child with these conditions they would say, ‘I’m sorry, we can’t take them today. You’re going to need to take them with you.’ ”

Those criteria include a fever combined with a headache, fatigue or soar throat and other symptoms that correlate with the flu. The rules are slightly different depending on the type of facility, whether it’s a daycare center for young children, an in-home daycare setting, or a program for school-aged kids.

If you notice a child suffering from the symptoms outlined who is not turned away, Klotz says you should contact the state.

“We do have oversight. We inspect them. But, we rely on parents to tell us if they see an egregious violation of a rule, because we’re not there 24/7,” says Klotz.

The Department of Early Learning has been proactive when illnesses reach epidemic levels in our state. For example, they helped some daycare facilities organize free whooping cough clinics to get their staff vaccinated for that disease earlier this year.

But, not all day care situations are licensed. For example, many of the drop-off child care facilities at gyms and churches. In those cases, the centers set up their own rules for dealing with sick kids and it’s up to parents to make sure their children are in a safe environment.

“Parents are always the first line of protection for their kids,” Klotz says. “Parents should always be keeping an eye out for that kind of thing, using their best judgement and trusting their instincts.”

You can read more about the rules surrounding sick children at state-licensed facilities here.