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On
any given day there are children who are injured in
child care. A child runs to grab the family pet and
trips over a toy. Another child receives a bite after
an altercation over a book. A fall off a bike leaves
a little fellow with a scraped knee. And so it goes.
After
giving hugs that soothe the crying child,
caregivers tend to the injury, cleansing
the affected area, applying an
antibiotic ointment where necessary, covering the
booboo with a bandage, or applying ice to a swelling
wrist. Within no time at all, life goes back to normal
and giggles of happiness flood the daycare. The injury
is all but forgotten.
Forgotten
that is, until Mom calls later that night to inquire
about how her son got the scrape on his knee which
is now tender and red and causing the child some discomfort.
The caregiver tries her best to relay the incident.
But it's too late. Mom is listening, just barely,
and is sighing heavily on the other end of the phone.
"I wish you'd have told me about it earlier,"
she says before hanging up the phone.
Handling
injuries and informing parents of the incidents is
a fairly simple procedure when caregivers make use
of Injury/Accident Report form. Not only is the injury
documented in detail including the time of the injury,
the treatment given, and the location of the injury
placed on the body diagram on the report, the form
serves as a communication tool for parents and caregivers,
and a protection for insurance purposes. The report
can be placed on the child's diaper bag or backpack
or in the parent's slot on the bulletin board, so
the notification is made before the child leaves the
facility. A copy then goes into the child's file as
proof that the incident was documented.
This
practice gives parents an opportunity to talk to the
caregiver about the injury prior to finding out about
it later on when bathing the child or getting him/her
ready for bed. It also adds a touch of professionalism
to the daycare business and enhances trust and respect
between both parties.
An
Accident/Illness/Injury
Report form is available in child care online's
Child Care Business
Forms.
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