The Head Lice Story Part Two ... please read and give in put (long sorry)

[familyschoolcare]

I'm not sure what guidelines you're referring to.

I prefer to reference the CDC for national guidelines over county ones as I tend to take a conservative route for treatment of all communicables.

They certainly don't recommend doing NOTHING. Not only do they recommend treatment but REtreatment as well as no one anti-parasitic is completely ovicidal. Treatment needs to be spread out over the course of a couple of days.

If you're interested:

http://www.cdc.gov/parasites/lice/head/treatment.html

http://www.cdc.gov/parasites/lice/head/prevent.html

http://www.cdc.gov/parasites/lice/head/health_professionals/index.html

Although they don't support "no-nit" policies in schools they are obviously strong advocates for taking a hard line on treatment and preventing the spread.

I am aware of the nation; guidelines howver, the schools do not follow them

[familyschoolcare]

So I am getting ready to send the E-mail and then I have some things to take care of for my family before I pick DCK up today. I will keep everyone posted any updates.

[small_steps]

I agree with the majority here that he is paying for a space and not the actual attendance of the child. Most daycare's that I know of would still charge in this case. In my opinion if you were to allow him to get away with this what's to say he won't come back and say this again when one of your other daycare children has a stomach bug or anything for that matter. For example: DCB goes home and says "Anna threw up today and teacher sent her home"...dad could email you and say "my sons staying home today and tomorrow because I don't want him exposed to what little Anna had and what seems to be going around at the daycare. Can you credit me 2 days for next week since I'm keeping him home for the next 2 days due to your him being exposed to a stomach bug in your home".

There has to be a line drawn. He doesn't even know that it's your child correct? He assumes its a daycare kid. That would be my biggest worry. And children are exposed to things everywhere. I'm glad you changed the note up but I still think you're doing the right thing. Good luck

[My3cents]

To those that think that sort of response is perfectly acceptable, do you always require payment if parents choose not to expose their kids to something communicable literally right there in your daycares?

If a kid comes in with rotovirus you send them home right? Why? Because they can infect others.

If they're vomiting you send them home right? Why? Because they can infect others.

Influenza?

TB?

Ringworm?

Coxsackie?

Chicken Pox?

If the child in question cannot be quarantined from the rest of the group because it's literally the providers child and the affliction inside the home what else is a parent to do?

Do you seriously say tough beans? Bring your kid or pay up anyway even though you have to pay someone else for alternative care to keep your own child disease/illness/parasite free?

To me this isn't about money, or policy, it's purely about ethics. It would be RIDICULOUSLY unethical to stick parents in that position.



DaisyMamma - you'd put in an option to terminate THEM?? I cannot tell you how floored I was to read that....just...straight unbelievably shocked and literally horrified. As a parent ***I*** would absolutely terminate contract if that was the rock and a hard place a provider presented and attitude they had.

Seriously. Just wow....

Willow-

Most daycares- the parents pay if the child is in attendance or not. The provider needs to be able to anticipate a weekly income- The provider is providing a service and is open no matter if the child is there or not. This is good business practice. In answer to your question, yes I charge if the parent decides to keep the child home, or if I send the child home sick.

Lice is different then a disease that will make you sick. Keeping your child home because she might get it.......come on. You might get all those illness's just walking into your local wal-mart- should you stay home forever? This provider has assured her client that the situation is under control- but to be on the look out just in case. The client should trust her provider and go from there. If Lice was rapid in the house and on the kids- the provider would shut down and take precautions to do what needs to be done.

Be nice to your fellow providers- we are a team of knowledge and experiences that will help you as you venture down the path of daycare. We come here to vent to each other our frustrations.

[My3cents]

Not a health risk? Just an annoyance?

Because they don't bite and cause infection...or spread like wildfire.....


You wouldn't believe how bad lice can get until you saw the shaved completely ulcerated and infected head of a toddler....multiple times.

The provider is not letting it get to that point!

There is a big difference between a disease and lice-

[Willow]

Willow-

Most daycares- the parents pay if the child is in attendance or not. The provider needs to be able to anticipate a weekly income- The provider is providing a service and is open no matter if the child is there or not. This is good business practice.

That's pretty insulting to everyone who does things different than you do.

I don't agree that taking money for time not spent working is good business practice. That doesn't mean I'm right and the way you operate your daycare is using bad business practices.

We just see that issue differently is all.

Lice is different then a disease that will make you sick.

Lice can make people sick though, and does all the time. Not like *cough cough* sick but as far as skin infections via the bites and scratches from the itching go they can really get out of control, and fast. I've seen it first hand.

Whether you think it's worth the risk of you or your child getting it that's fine, but not everyone lives in your world and has to agree.

[littlemissmuffet]

I don't agree that taking money for time not spent working is good business practice.

I am curious how long you have been doing daycare for?

Many of us have been doing daycare for 10 years, 20 years or longer. Many of us know that if we didn't charge for SPACES vs time then we likely wouldn't have businesses because there are MANY parents out there who would rip us off. It happens. Every single day. We need to be able to DEPEND on our incomes... not guess week to week or month to month how much we will be bringing in.

Anyhow, this "good business practice" isn't not just used by the majority of home daycares.... I cannot think of a single daycare center that would reimburse for a child's absence from daycare!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[familyschoolcare]

Lice can make people sick though, and does all the time. Not like *cough cough* sick but as far as skin infections via the bites and scratches from the itching go they can really get out of control, and fast. I've seen it first hand.

Whether you think it's worth the risk of you or your child getting it that's fine, but not everyone lives in your world and has to agree.

That is intresting information do you have a source to back it up I would like to read/see it first hand

[familyschoolcare]

up date -- DCD's response to my E-mail

When I came back from taking care of stuff I had two E-mails form DCD this is what their where.


The first on was …

Day Car Provider,

Since the contract essentially says that payment is still required whether or not DCB attends your daycare, no final decision will really need to be made at this time. So, go ahead process the payment made as you need. Ill be in touch with you again to let you know if DCB will be requiring your services on Monday and Tuesday.

Thanks,

The second was …

By the way, will the child who is reported to have lice be at your daycare any day of this week?

Please let me know


I sent the following response …

DCD,

As per Santa Clara county health department guidelines the child who was reported to have head lice will be allowed back into day care as soon as their head has been treated and there is no signs of the bugs or the eggs. Also, please see the attachment. I have decided that while I am not required to give parents a written notice that I will be handing out the County of Santa Clara public Health Department exposure notice starting today when parents come and pick up. I have attached your copy and will give you the hard copy when I see you next. I am not sure it scanned very clearly however you should get the general idea.

I will wait to hear from you about your final answer in regards to Gavin requiring my services on Monday and Tuesday.

Thank You
ME

FYI the exposure notice amongst other things says …

Need to keep child home? Yes at the end of the program or school day
Return to school/childcare? Children may return to school/childcare after treatment is completed

[My3cents]

That's pretty insulting to everyone who does things different than you do.

I don't agree that taking money for time not spent working is good business practice. That doesn't mean I'm right and the way you operate your daycare is using bad business practices.

We just see that issue differently is all. Anyone that knows me or has followed my postings knows the last thing I like to do is to insult another provider. I am able to agree to disagree. My point, is that you are working, if your client needed you, you would be there. I have been doing daycare for a very long time. I know what works and I know what doesn't work.






Lice can make people sick though, and does all the time. Not like *cough cough* sick but as far as skin infections via the bites and scratches from the itching go they can really get out of control, and fast. I've seen it first hand.The OP was not talking about out of hand Lice Infestation. She had the issue under control and was just letting the parent know as one more precaution. The parent was wrong in this situation. Looking for a way to not have to pay her for a week- maybe even pull the child from her care. The parent was looking for free- he signed the contract that she went over with him.

Whether you think it's worth the risk of you or your child getting it that's fine, but not everyone lives in your world and has to agree.

I will say I too thought Op's first response was a bit much, but she quickly fixed it to be more suited to the problem- very nicely I might add.

When you send your child to public school- you stand the risk of them coming home with lice, wal-mart etc....

The OP was not letting lice take over and make anyone sick, like a disease would from the get go. Big difference

We can agree to disagree. I don't agree with you~

[sharlan]

That is intresting information do you have a source to back it up I would like to read/see it first hand

Complications
By Mayo Clinic staff
Lice may cause you to scratch your head so vigorously that you break the skin. See your doctor if these scratches become infected.

[MarinaVanessa]

Well the good thing is that the parent understands that they are still obligated to pay for their child's absences and it looks like they aren't going to press you about this issue any further so that's good news for you.

That is intresting information do you have a source to back it up I would like to read/see it first hand

I was curious about this also as I had never heard of it so I did research of my own. The onlything I did find so far is on WebMD (slide 7 of 16) which says "The itching associated with lice is caused by an allergic reaction to the bug bites. Frequent scratching may lead to sores or raw skin on the scalp. Although uncommon, sores related to scratching can become infected by skin bacteria. Call a doctor promptly if the skin becomes red, swollen, or painful; or the lymph nodes in the neck become tender. These are signs of a skin infection." Slide 13 of 16 also said that lice are not carriers of any disease. I thought slide 15 was also interesting "If you have young children, there's unfortunately very little you can do to ward off head lice. Kids will be kids ..." and goes on to talk about how catching them early can prevent the rest of the family from getting them.

It makes sense about getting a bacterial skin infection due to excessive scratching however it does say that it is uncommon.

I did read from this site that actually washing items like toys is not necessary and that popping them into the dryer for 20 minutes is sufficient heat to kill any lice that could be on them. It did also mention (as did many other sources) that lice don't survive without a host longer than 48 hours. I also read that only the bedding and clothing used within the past 48 hours of the ones being treated for lice need to be washed.

[itlw8]

Recalling what I went through with the kids that came in with it, with my own kids in preventing the spread to them, with what I had to do with my home to keep everyone free of it, with how I had to handle visitors, and those that handled the kids in my care outside of our home...I *have* to laugh. If I didn't I'd cry. It's an incredibly overwhelming thing to recall.

.

There is HUGE difference between finding a few live lice and nit and taking care of them and a neglected child entering the fostercare system because the parents did not take care of them including a severe case of head lice that had gone on for months.

One may take some work that can be done in a day and the other may take weeks.

[Willow]

Yes, I guess we have simply reached different conclusions which is a wonderful example of how there is a good fit for every family.

Child care providers all have the right to operate differently and in whatever manner works best for them.

I couldn't agree more




littlemissmuffet - although I agree that time sometimes changes how we feel about things, this is one thing I hope I am never inspired or required to change for the families of the kids I care for. I depend on my income too, and up until a year ago I was a single mother of two to boot. That didn't change what I felt was fair or right.

[familyschoolcare]

I can see how too much stratching can cause an infection.

So if I read all the reports here corectly the lice themselves do not cause any health issues. However, too much scratching can cause an infection. That is true reguardless of the reason for the scratching. If a child is scratching that much then the treatment is not working.