DCF 251.07(5)(b)5.
5. Eating surfaces, including high chairs, shall be washed and sanitized before and after each use.
DCF 251.07(6)(a)
(a) Observation. Each child upon arrival at a center shall be observed by a staff person for symptoms of illness and injury. For an apparently ill child, the procedure under par.
(c) shall be followed.
DCF 251.07(6)(b)
(b)
Isolation. A center shall have an isolation area for the care of children who appear to be ill. If the area is not a separate room, it shall be separated from the space used by other children by a partition, screen, or other means to keep other children away from the ill child.
DCF 251.07(6)(c)
(c) Ill child procedure. The following procedures shall apply when a child with an illness or condition that has the potential to affect the health of other persons, such as vomiting, diarrhea, unusual lethargy, or uncontrolled coughing, is observed in the child care center:
DCF 251.07(6)(c)1.
1. The child shall be isolated until the child can be removed from the center.
DCF 251.07(6)(c)2.
2. The child in the isolation area shall be within sight and sound supervision of a staff member.
DCF 251.07(6)(c)3.
3. The child shall be provided with a bed, crib, playpen, cot, or padded mat and a sheet and blanket or a sleeping bag.
DCF 251.07(6)(c)4.
4. The child's parent or emergency contact shall be contacted as soon as possible after the illness is discovered and arrangements shall be made for the child to be removed from the center.
DCF 251.07(6)(d)
(d) Care of a mildly ill child. A child who is mildly ill may be cared for at the center when all of the following conditions are met:
DCF 251.07(6)(d)1.
1. The space for the care of a mildly ill child shall be a self-contained room and shall be separate from children who are well.
DCF 251.07(6)(d)4.
4. The written health policy of the center allows a mildly ill child to remain at the center.
DCF 251.07(6)(d)5.
5. The center follows and implements procedures in a written plan for the provision of care to mildly ill children approved and signed by a licensed physician, or a pediatric or family nurse practitioner which covers all of the following:
DCF 251.07(6)(d)6.
6. Medical consultation is available from a physician or local health department in establishing policy for the management of mildly ill children.
DCF 251.07(6)(dm)1.1. The licensee shall maintain a medical log book that has stitched binding with pages that are lined and numbered.
DCF 251.07(6)(dm)2.
2. Pages may not be removed from the medical log book under subd.
1. and lines may not be skipped. Each entry in the log book shall be in ink, dated, and signed or initialed by the person making the entry.
DCF 251.07(6)(dm)3.
3. A child care worker shall record all of the following in the medical log under subd.
1.:
DCF 251.07(6)(dm)3.a.
a. Any evidence of unusual bruises, contusions, lacerations, or burns seen on a child, regardless of whether received while in the care of the center.
DCF 251.07(6)(dm)3.b.
b. Any injuries received by a child while in the care of the center on the date the injury occurred. The record shall include the child's name, the date and time of the injury, and a brief description of the facts surrounding the injury.
DCF 251.07(6)(dm)3.c.
c. Any medication dispensed to a child, on the date the medication is dispensed. The record shall include the name of the child, type of medication given, dosage, time, date, and the initials or signature of the person administering the medication.
DCF 251.07(6)(dm)3.d.
d. Any incident or accident that occurs when the child is in the care of the center that results in professional medical evaluation.
DCF 251.07 Note
Note: See s.
DCF 250.04 (8) for requirements related to reporting suspected child abuse or neglect.
DCF 251.07(6)(dm)4.
4. The director or the director's designee shall review records of injuries with staff every 6 months to ensure that all possible preventive measures are being taken. The reviews shall be documented in the medical log book under subd.
1. DCF 251.07(6)(e)1.1. No child or other person with a reportable communicable disease specified in ch.
DHS 145 may be admitted to or permitted to remain in a center during the period when the disease is communicable.
DCF 251.07(6)(e)3.
3. An employee, volunteer or a child may be readmitted to the group child care center if there is a statement from a physician that the condition is no longer contagious or if the person has been absent for a period of time equal to the longest usual incubation period for the disease as specified by the department.
DCF 251.07 Note
Note: The Wisconsin Department of Health Services, Division of Public Health, has developed materials that identify those communicable diseases that are required to be reported to the local public health officer. These materials also provide additional guidance on the symptoms of each disease and information on how long an infected child must be excluded from the center. The materials include a communicable disease chart and exclusion guidelines for child care centers. Copies of the communicable disease chart or the exclusion guidelines for child care centers are available from the Child Care Information Center at 800-362-7353.
DCF 251.07(6)(f)1.1. Center staff may give prescription or non-prescription medication, such as pain relievers, teething gels or cough syrup, to a child only under the following conditions:
DCF 251.07(6)(f)1.a.
a. A written authorization that includes the child's name and birthdate, name of medication, administration instructions, medication intervals and length of the authorization dated and signed by the parent is on file. Blanket authorizations that exceed the length of time specified on the label are prohibited.
DCF 251.07 Note
Note: The department's form, Authorization to Administer Medication — Child Care Centers, is used to obtain the parent's authorization to provide medications. Information on how to obtain the department's form is available on the department's website,
http://dcf.wisconsin.gov, or from any regional licensing office in Appendix A.
DCF 251.07(6)(f)1.b.
b. The medication is in the original container and labeled with the child's name and the label includes the dosage and directions for administration.
DCF 251.07(6)(f)3.
3. Medication shall be stored so that it is not accessible to the children.
DCF 251.07(6)(f)4.
4. Medication requiring refrigeration shall be kept in the refrigerator in a separate, covered container clearly labeled “medication".
DCF 251.07(6)(f)5.
5. All medication for a child in care shall be administered by the center as directed on the label and as authorized by the parent.
DCF 251.07(6)(f)6.
6. No medication intended for use by a child in the care of the center may be kept at the center without a current medication administration authorization from the parent.
DCF 251.07(6)(g)1.1. Bodily secretions, such as runny noses, eye drainage, and coughed-up matter shall be wiped with a disposable tissue used once and placed in a plastic-lined container.
DCF 251.07(6)(g)2.
2. Surfaces exposed to bodily secretions including walls, floors, toys, equipment, and furnishings shall be washed with soap and water and disinfected. The disinfectant solution shall be registered with the U.S. environmental protection agency as a disinfectant and have instructions for use as a disinfectant on the label. The solution shall be prepared and applied as indicated on the label.
DCF 251.07(6)(g)3.
3. As appropriate, children shall be protected from sunburn and insect bites with protective clothing, sunscreen, or insect repellent. Sunscreen and insect repellent may only be applied upon the written authorization of the parent. The authorization shall include the ingredient strength and be reviewed and updated every 6 months. If sunscreen or insect repellent is provided by the parent, the sunscreen or repellent shall be labeled with the child's name. Recording the application of sunscreen or insect repellent is not necessary.
DCF 251.07(6)(g)5.
5. Center staff shall adopt and follow universal precautions when exposed to blood and blood-containing bodily fluids and injury discharges.
DCF 251.07(6)(g)6.
6. Single use disposable gloves shall be worn if there is contact with blood-containing bodily fluids or tissue discharges. Gloves shall be discarded in plastic bags.
DCF 251.07(6)(g)7.
7. Wet or soiled clothing shall be changed promptly from an available supply of clean clothing.
DCF 251.07(6)(i)1.1. A child's hands shall be washed with soap and warm running water before meals and snacks, after handling a pet or animal, and after toileting or diapering. A child's hands and face shall be washed when soiled. For children under one year of age, hands may be washed with soap and a wet fabric or paper washcloth that is used once and discarded.
DCF 251.07(6)(i)2.
2. Persons working with children shall wash their hands with soap and warm running water before handling food, before and after assisting with toileting and diapering, after wiping bodily secretions from a child with a disposable tissue, and after exposure to blood or bodily fluids. If gloves are used, hands shall be washed after the removal of gloves.
DCF 251.07(6)(i)3.
3. Personal use items, such as cups, eating utensils, toothbrushes, combs, and towels may not be shared and shall be kept in a sanitary condition.
DCF 251.07(6)(i)4.
4. Wet or soiled clothing and diapers shall be changed promptly from an available supply of clean clothing.
DCF 251.07(6)(i)6.
6. If running water is not immediately available when outdoors or on field trips, soap and water-based wet wipes may be used. When running water becomes available, hands must be washed immediately with soap and running water.
DCF 251.07(6)(i)7.
7. Disinfecting hand sanitizers may not replace the use of soap and water when washing hands.
DCF 251.07(6)(j)1.1. Written permission from the parent to call a child's physician or refer the child for medical care in case of injury shall be on file at the center. The center shall contact the parent as soon as possible after an emergency has occurred or, if the injury is minor, when the parent picks up the child.
DCF 251.07 Note
Note: The center may use the department's form,
Child Care Enrollment, or its own form for obtaining medical consent from the parent. The form is available on the department's website,
https://dcf.wisconsin.gov/cclicensing/ccformspubs.
DCF 251.07(6)(j)2.
2. A center shall identify a planned source of emergency medical care, such as a hospital emergency room, clinic or other constantly staffed facility, and shall advise parents about the designated emergency medical facility.
DCF 251.07(6)(j)3.
3. A center shall establish and follow written procedures for bringing a child to an emergency medical care facility and for treatment of minor injuries.
DCF 251.07(6)(j)6.
6. Superficial wounds shall be cleaned with soap and water only and protected with a bandaid or bandage.
DCF 251.07(6)(j)7.
7. Suspected poisoning shall be treated only after consultation with a poison control center.
DCF 251.07(7)(a)
(a) Animals shall be maintained in good health and appropriately immunized against rabies. Rabies vaccinations shall be documented with a current certificate from a veterinarian.
DCF 251.07 Note
Note: Service animals used to assist persons with a disability are not considered pets when they are used as a service animal.
DCF 251.07(7)(b)
(b) Animals that pose any risk to the children shall be restricted from the indoor and outdoor areas used by children.
DCF 251.07(7)(c)
(c) Licensees shall ensure that parents are aware of the presence of pets and animals in the center. If pets and animals are allowed to roam in areas of the center occupied by children, written acknowledgement from the parents shall be obtained. If pets are added after a child is enrolled, parents shall be notified in writing prior to the pets' addition to the center.
DCF 251.07(7)(d)
(d) Reptiles, amphibians, turtles, ferrets, poisonous animals, psittacine birds, exotic and wild animals may not be accessible to children.
DCF 251.07 Note
Note: Psittacine birds are hooked-billed birds of the parrot family that have 2 toes forward and 2 toes backward and include parrots, macaws, grays, lovebirds and cockatoos.
DCF 251.07(7)(e)
(e) All contact between pets or animals and children shall be under the close supervision of a child care worker who is close enough to remove the child immediately if the pet or animal shows signs of distress or the child shows signs of treating the pet or animal inappropriately.
DCF 251.07(7)(f)
(f) Pets in classrooms shall be confined in cages while food is being prepared or served in the classroom. Pets, cages and litter boxes are prohibited in kitchens, lunch rooms, and food storage areas. Pet and animal feeding dishes, excluding water dishes, and litter boxes may not be placed in areas accessible to children.
DCF 251.07(7)(g)
(g) Indoor and outdoor areas accessible to children shall be free of animal excrement.
DCF 251.07(7)(h)
(h) If dogs or cats are allowed in areas of the center accessible to children, the certificate of insurance required under s.
DCF 251.04 (2) (g) shall indicate the number and types of pets covered by the insurance.
DCF 251.07(7)(i)
(i) Licensees shall ensure that the center is in compliance with all applicable local ordinances regarding the number, types and health status of pets or animals.
DCF 251.07(8)
(8) Miscellaneous activities. A center that includes in its program watercraft, riflery, archery, horseback riding, or adventure-based activities shall comply with the applicable requirements under s.
DCF 252.44 (8),
(9),
(11), and
(13).
DCF 251.07 History
History: Cr.
Register, January, 1997, No. 493, eff. 8-1-97;
CR 03-052: am. (1) (a) (intro.), (2) (b) and (e) (intro.), 1. and 3., Table 46.07 (title), (5) (a) 9., (6) (d) 5. (intro.), (e) 1., 2. and 3., (f) 1., a. and c., (6) (j) 5. and 9. and (k) 5., cr. (5) (a) 9m. and (6) (f) 2., renum. (6) (f) 2. and 3. to be 3. and 4., r. and recr. (7)
Register December 2004 No. 588, eff. 3-1-05; corrections in (6) (e), (i) 5., (L), (7) (h) and (8) made under s.
13.92 (4) (b) 7., Stats.,
Register November 2008 No. 635;
CR 07-102: am. (1) (a), (2) (e) (intro.), 1., (4) (b), (5) (a) 5. (intro.), (6) (a) 2., (c) (intro.), (e) 2., 3., (f) 1. (intro.), c., 2., (g) 3., (j) 8., 9., (k) 1., 2. and (7) (f), cr. (1) (a) 7., (2) (e) 5., (3) (f), (5) (a) 6m., (6) (f) 5., 6., (i) 6. and 7.
Register December 2008 No. 636, eff. 1-1-09;
2015 Wis. Act 132: am. (6) (k) 3.
Register February 2016 No. 722, eff. 3-1-16;
EmR1918: emerg. am. (2) (b), (c), (3) (title), (a) (intro.), cr. (3) (a) 5., r. and recr. (3) (e), cr. (3) (g) to (i), r. and recr. (4) (c), cr. (4) (cm), am. (4) (d), (e), (5) (title), (a) 4., cr. (5) (a) 4m., r. (5) (a) 5. d., cr. (5) (a) 5m., r. (5) (a) 7., am. (5) (s) 8., 9., r. and recr. (5) (b) (title), cr. (5) (b) 3. to 5., renum. (6) (a) 1. to (6) (a), r. (6) (a) 2., am. (6) (b), r. and recr. (6) (c), cr. (6) (dm), am. (6) (e) 1., r. (6) (e) 2., (f) 1. c., 2., r. and recr. (6) (g), r. (6) (h), am. (6) (i) 1. to 3., 5., r. (6) (j) 8., 9., (k), (L), am. (8), eff. 1-30-19;
CR 19-089: am. (2) (b), (c), (3) (title), (a) (intro.), cr. (3) (a) 5., r. and recr. (3) (e), cr. (3) (g) to (i), r. and recr. (4) (c), cr. (4) (cm), am. (4) (d), (e), (5) (title), (a) 4., cr. (5) (a) 4m., r. (5) (a) 5. d., cr. (5) (a) 5m., r. (5) (a) 7., am. (5) (s) 8., 9., r. and recr. (5) (b) (title), cr. (5) (b) 3. to 5., renum. (6) (a) 1. to (6) (a), r. (6) (a) 2., am. (6) (b), r. and recr. (6) (c), cr. (6) (dm), am. (6) (e) 1., r. (6) (e) 2., (f) 1. c., 2., r. and recr. (6) (g), r. (6) (h), am. (6) (i) 1. to 3., 5., r. (6) (j) 8., 9., (k), (L), am. (8)
Register March 2020 No. 771, eff. 4-1-20; correction in (4) (cm) (intro.) made under s.
35.17, Stats.,
Register March 2020 No. 771;
CR 21-100: am. (1) (a) (intro.), r. and recr. (2) (a) 1., (c), r. (2) (d), am. (6) (g) 4., cr. (6) (g) 7.
Register February 2023 No. 806, eff. 3-1-23; correction in (2) (a) 1. made under s.
35.17, Stats.,
Register January 2024 No. 817.
DCF 251.08(1)(a)(a) Except as provided in par.
(b), this section applies to all transportation of children in care, including both regularly scheduled transportation to and from the center and field trip transportation if any of the following apply:
