If you are a childcare provider, you know that each child poses his or her own set of challenges. In some cases, children have medical challenges that can actually impact the way you take care of them. In this guide, you will find tips for taking care of children who may have unique health needs while they are in your care.
Diabetes
In children who are diabetic, the body fails to produce enough insulin, leading to levels of glucose in the blood increasing dramatically. Some children need insulin injections regularly in order to avoid health consequences.
While diabetes is typically more associated with individuals who are older or obese, juvenile diabetes, or Type I diabetes, is extremely common. As a childcare provider, you need to know how to look for the warning signs of health issues common in children with the condition.
Asthma
Asthma attacks are serious, and they are among the most common conditions affecting children. When you are working with children who have asthma, you should know which activities may trigger a response. You also need to know how to respond if an asthma attack does happen.
Knowing the symptoms of an asthma attack will be helpful as well. Look for rapid breathing, redness, sweating, and difficulty talking. Without proper treatment, asthma attacks can lead to serious health issues.
Peanut Allergies
Peanut allergies seem to be increasingly common. In fact, millions of people in America are allergic to peanuts. For children with this allergy, exposure to peanuts can be fatal.
Many childcare settings are banning peanuts from the lunchroom and kitchen when they have children attending who are allergic. You are smart to ask parents about any allergies when you are doing intake for new charges.
If you do discover that a child is allergic to peanuts, you should be aware of anaphylactic shock. Look for signs that include difficulty breathing, blue lips, and inability to speak. Medical treatment is vital.
Seizures
Some children are prone to seizures or have a condition known as epilepsy. If you take care of a child with epilepsy, you need to understand the signs of a seizure. These include convulsions, stiffening, jerking, and vomiting. Call for emergency help right away if you see this happening.
Providing child care is difficult, but understanding the unique challenges many of your charges face will help you provide the best possible care. You can also be well aware of when it is time to call the emergency line or child's parents.
Share30 June 2018
Welcome to my website. I'm George Clemence. One of the most difficult things I have done as a single dad has been to find time to simultaneously work a full-time job while raising my kids. It is very important to me that the child care services that I hire are the best that I can find. Therefore, I have spent a lot of time researching the type of child care services that would be best for my children. If you are concerned about whether you are choosing the right daycare, my blog should help you look at all of the angles with the unique needs of your child in mind.