Infection Prevention and Control

Limestone Learning Foundation
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Health Issues Handbook - Templates and Guidelines

This handbook is an official guideline issued under AP-140, Safe Environments of the Limestone District School Board

Table of Contents

Roles and Responsibilities

A) Responsibilities of the Limestone District School Board

  • develop Administrative Procedure 171 Bloodborne Pathogens: H.I.V., A.I.D.S.,
  • Hepatitis B & C
  • develop and update Health Issues Handbook in consultation with Public Health and South East Community Care Access Centre (SECCAC)
  • provide for central purchasing of Personal Protection Equipment (PPE)
  • provide for training of all staff as appropriate
  • provides a safe learning environment for all students
  • provides a safe working environment for all employees and provides proper training and re-training as needed

B) Responsibilities of Tri-Board Transportation

  • communicate with contracting companies and DSB drivers information related to Routine Practices

C) Responsibilities of the Parents/Guardians

  • share medical information as appropriate with Director of Education or with School Principal so that proper routine practice and PPE are in place (see Appendix D for List of Childhood Illnesses from Public Health)
  • supply continence supplies as appropriate
  • keep sick children at home
  • provide update emergency contact information

D) Responsibilities of the School Principal

  • inform Director of suspected or known communicable diseases as per AP171
  • ensure all staff (including occasional/casual staff) are aware of Routine Practices
  • ensure staff are following Routine Practices
  • review registration forms for disclosed medical information
  • set up staff training as required
  • ensure staff are aware of location(s) of Health Issues Handbook
  • report identified disclosed information to Medical Officer of Health
  • provide PPE as required (see other information on The Hub forms)
  • provide private/separate space for the dignity of students and staff

E) Responsibilities of Teaching and Support Staff

  • be aware of and follow Routine Practice
  • report knowledge of infectious disease to school principal if the staff member becomes aware of such
  • be diligent in observing and reporting suspected illnesses
  • participate in training
  • re-enforce awareness of Routine Practices with students and others, especially hand hygiene

F) Responsibilities of Custodial Staff

  • discuss cleaning and disinfecting procedures with school principal
  • use cleaners and equipment as specified by Facility Services of the Limestone DSB
  • dispose of materials properly and safely
  • request support from Area Supervisors as appropriate

G) Responsibilities of Students

  • follow Routine Practices
  • follow school procedures

H) Responsibilities of Public Health

  • provide training for Routine Practices as requested and available
  • provide resources as appropriate and available
  • provide updated information as required

I) Responsibilities of South East Community Care Access Centre

  • provide consultation as required

Routine Practice

KFLA&A Public Health
Infection Control-Routine Practices

What are Routine Practices?

Routine practices are normal work activities used to protect students, yourself, and co-workers from potential infectious diseases. Routine practices assume that all blood and/or body fluids could transmit disease.

If you are going to have contact with body fluids:

  • Blood
  • Urine
  • Feces
  • Oral secretions
  • Wound drainage
  • Anything "wet and goopy and not your own"

Then you should follow routine practices.

  1. Hand hygiene is one of the most important ways to prevent the spread of infection.
  2. Use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) may include one or all of the following:
  3. Gloves
  4. Gowns
  5. Mask and Eye Protection
  6. Other routine practices include:
  7. Cleaning and disinfection
  8. Proper handling of soiled clothing or linen
  9. Garbage disposal
  10. Safe sharps disposal

Refer to Appendix A - Routine Practices C

Other considerations:

  1. Toileting or diapering
  2. Blood or body fluids spills
  3. Equipment and toys
  4. Contact with animals
  5. Snoezelen Room

Toileting and Diapering

When toileting or diapering a student, if the environment becomes visibly soiled with urine or feces; a two step method of cleaning and disinfection should be completed. Proper hand hygiene must be included for staff and for students. Refer to Appendix B - Diapering Procedures.

Blood or Body Fluid Spills

All blood and body fluid spills, secretions and/or excretions should be cleaned up immediately. Always wear appropriate PPE. Ensure product used for cleaning and disinfection is effective against bacteria and viruses. Always follow manufacturers instruction for use, particularly contact times for product. Never use mops for cleaning up blood and body fluid spills. Refer Appendix C - Blood and Body Fluid Exposures: Information for Childcare Providers.

Equipment and Toys

Any equipment or toys that can be potentially contaminated with body fluids (i.e. drool from mouthing toys), must be cleaned and disinfected between each student. Disinfection of equipment or toys should be done on a daily basis.

Equipment may include: mats, bean bag chairs, keyboards, computer mouse, headsets, musical instruments, etc.

Note: Mats used in high needs rooms as "seizure beds" should be cleaned and disinfected between uses.

Contact with Animals

Ensure cages or living quarters of classroom pets are kept clean. Waste should be disposed of regularly and litter boxes should not be accessible to students. Children should be supervised when handling animals. Proper hand hygiene after contact is a must! Reptiles are not suitable as pets in schools as many species may carry salmonella and/or other organisms.

Special attention should be made when visiting farms or animal displays. Students must practice proper hand hygiene after contact with animals, animal feces, before eating or drinking, and before departure. Sttudents must not to eat or drink anything while touring the farm (eat meals in designated areas), not put fingers in mouths, not eat anything which may have fallen on ground or any animal food.

Routine Practices from the KFL&A Public Health

Hand Hygiene

  • Hand hygiene in school is performed using soap and water.
  • Before and after each student contact.
  • Before preparing, handling, serving or eating food.
  • Before moving to another activity.
  • Before putting on and after taking off gloves and personal protective equipment (PPE).
  • Whenever hands look dirty or come into contact with blood, body fluids, secretions, and/or excretions, soap and water should be used.
  • After contact with items in the student's environment.
  • After handling pets and/or cleaning pet cages.
  • After using the toilet hands should be washed with soap and water.

Gloves

  • Wearing gloves is NOT a substitute for hand hygiene.
  • Use for touching blood, body fluids, secretions, excretions, dirty surfaces or items, and non-intact skin, or new rash.
  • Avoid contaminating the environment by ensuring gloves are removed promptly.
  • Perform hand hygiene after removal.
  • Change gloves between each student.

Gown

  • Use to prevent soiling of clothes.
  • Not needed for all care, but should be used during procedures and activities likely to generate splashes or sprays of blood, body fluids, secretions or excretions.
  • Mask & Eye Protection
  • Protect eyes, nose and mouth during procedures and care activities likely to generate splashes of blood, body fluids, secretions or excretions.
  • Wear within 2 meters of a coughing/sneezing student or when a known risk of coughing or sneezing can be expected.

Cleaning and Disinfection

  • All equipment should be cleaned between each student.
  • Disinfection of surfaces should be done daily or when there has been a blood or body fluid spill. Pay attention to high touch surfaces (i.e. light switches, railings, keyboards, etc.).

Proper Handling of Soiled Clothing or Linen

  • Handle soiled clothing and/or linen carefully to prevent contamination of clothing or environment.
  • Soiled clothing and/or linen should be bagged and sent home with student at end of day.

Garbage Disposal

  • Wear gloves.
  • Do not put hands blindly into a pail or container.
  • Pour contents from one container to another.
  • Hold bags away from your body and do not push down to prevent potential punctures.
  • Do not overload bags.
  • Double bag if necessary (i.e. heavy wet garbage).

Safe Sharps Disposal

  • Please remember: LDSB staff do not administer needles to students in our schools.
  • NEVER RECAP USED NEEDLES
  • Prevent injuries from needles, broken glass and other material capable of causing cuts by disposing safely in a puncture resistant container.

Kingston, Frontenac and Lennox & Addington Health Unit

Clean Up Procedures

Procedure for Cleaning up
Body Spills and Vomit / Fecal Accidents

Individuals who clean up blood and body fluids, vomit or feces, should minimize the risk of infection to themselves and others by following the steps outlined below.

Steps:
  • Disposable gloves must be worn during cleaning and disenfecting procedures. If the risk of splashing exists, the worker should wear protective eyewear and a gown as well.
  • If any broken glass or sharps are involved, they should be disposed with care into a sharps container.
  • The spill area must be cleaned of visible organic material (blood, feces, etc.) before applying disinfectant, as disinfectants are substantially inactivated by blood and other materials.
  • Excess blood, vomit, feces and fluid should be absorbed and removed with disposable towels. Discard the towels in a plastic-lined waste receptacle that you bring with you.
  • After cleaning, the affected area should be disinfected with hospital grade disinfectant.
  • Leave the disinfectant on the surface according to the manufacturer's recommendations.
  • The treated area should be wiped with paper towels soaked in tap water. Allow the area to dry.
  • The towels, gloves and other disposable equipment should be discarded in a plastic-lined waste receptacle. Immediately tie and place with regular waste where daily trash removal occurs. Take care not to contaminate other surfaces during this process. Change gloves as needed.
  • Care must be taken to avoid splashing or generating aerosols during the clean up.
  • Hands must be thoroughly washed for 15 seconds with soap and warm water after gloves are removed.

Diapering Procedure

Diapering Procedures

1. Assemble supplies. This should include personal protective equipment (PPE). Hand hygiene or sanitizing should be done prior to putting on gloves.

2. If changing child while child is standing; have child stand over clean changing surface (i.e. disposable pad). Remove soiled diaper, fold soiled surface inward and place on disposable pad.

OR

3. If changing child while child is lying down; place child on clean changing surface (i.e. disposable pad). Remove soiled diaper, and fold surface inward. Place on disposable pad or directly in garbage.

4. Cleanse skin with disposable cloth, moving front to back. Remove all soil, including soil in skin creases. Petroleum jelly, zinc oxide, and other skin-care products should be used only if parents specifically request them. These products may interfere with proper skin cleaning.

5. Remove gloves and clean hands.

6. Fasten fresh diaper in place.

7. If change area visibly soiled, surface must be cleaned first then disinfected with hospital grade disinfectant. Follow manufacturer's instructions for use of disinfectant. Otherwise the change surface should be wiped clean after each use. Let the areas dry before changing the next child to prevent irritation. A thorough cleaning and disinfection of the changing surface should be done at the end of each day.

8. REMEMBER! Anything touched before cleaning your hands should be considered contaminated until cleansed. Proper hand hygiene must be done after toileting or diapering.
9. EVERYONE: Proper Hand Hygiene is the most effective way to stop the spread of infection!

N.B. If using a cloth diaper, remove soiled matter from cloth diapers into the toilet. Place soiled disposable diaper and change pad in waster container. Soiled cloth diapers should go into a plastic bag. Put bag into a second plastic bag and label. Give soiled cloth diapers to parents at the end of the day.

Handwashing Poster (English)

Handwashing Poster (French)

Cover Your Cough Poster

Childhood Illnesses Poster

The Limestone District School Board is situated on traditional territories of the Anishinaabe & Haudenosaunee.