Section 7 AAC 41.215 - General health, safety, medication, and nutrition requirements(a) A licensed child care provider described in 7 AAC 41.200(a)(1) shall meet the applicable health and safety requirements of 7 AAC 10.1000- AAC 10.1095 and 7 AAC 57. A provider described in 7 AAC 41.200(a)(2), (3), or (4) shall meet the applicable general health and safety requirements of the accrediting, certifying, or approving agency(b) A provider described in 7 AAC 41.200(a)(5) shall meet the health and safety requirements of this chapter and the general health, medication, and nutrition requirements of this section.(c) A provider described in 7 AAC 41.200(a)(5) shall (1) take precautions against the spread of infectious disease by ensuring that each person in contact with children washes that person's hands for at least 10 seconds with soap and water and rinses them with water (A) before food handling, preparation, serving, eating, or table setting;(B) after toileting or assisting a child with toileting or diapering;(C) after handling an animal, animal waste, or an animal cage;(D) before and after giving medication;(E) before and after participation in moist play, including painting, cooking, or molding clay; and(F) if hands are contaminated with a body fluid, including from nose wiping;(2) encourage children to wash their hands at similar times described in (1) of this subsection;(3) ensure that children in care have been immunized as required under 7 AAC 57.550(a) - (e), except that children identified as homeless or in protective services or foster care may be enrolled for up to 30 days without a valid immunization record;(4) ensure that care of other children is not compromised by admitting or allowing a mildly ill child to be in attendance;(5) ensure that a provider caring for a mildly ill child arranges a plan of care with the parent and provides a place where, under supervision, the child may rest or play quietly, apart from other children, if warranted;(6) ensure that a child who shows definite signs of a serious illness or of a highly communicable disease is not admitted or allowed to remain in attendance unless a medical provider approves the child's attendance; and(7) ensure that an opportunity for a supervised rest or sleep period is provided for each child under five years of age who is in care more than five hours, and tor any other child, if desired by the child; for a child who is unable to sleep, the provider shall provide supervised time and space for quiet play; the provider may place in a crib only (A) an infant described in 7 AAC 41.025(b);(B) a nonclimbing toddler described in 7 AAC 41.025(b); or(C) a child identified as having special needs, if appropriate.(d) A provider described in 7 AAC 41.200(a)(5) shall meet the following requirements tor the administration and storage of medication: (1) a provider may administer medication only as follows: (A) upon admission or when a new medication is prescribed, the provider shall obtain from the parent of a child in care written permission for the administration of prescription medication(B) the provider shall administer prescription medication and special medical procedures only in the dosage, at the intervals, or in the manner prescribed by a physician or other person legally authorized to prescribe medication or medical procedures, and shall document in a medication log the date and time each dose is administered and the provider's initials;(C) if written permission has not been obtained from the child's parent for the administration of a commonly used nonprescription medication or medication contained in the first-aid kit required under 7 AAC 10.1075 and 7 AAC 41.230(b), the provider shall document telephone permission to administer that medication;(D) the provider shall document in a medication log, including the date and time each dose is administered and the provider's initials, the use of any commonly used nonprescription medication for oral or topical use kept on hand by the provider for the communal use of any child;(E) the provider shall ensure that prescription medicine is kept in (i) the original container showing the date filled, the expiration date, instructions, and the physician's or other medical professional's name; or(ii) medic me sets filled by a pharmacist or a licensed medical professional; the prescription date tilled, the expiration date, instructions, and the physician's or other medical professional's name must be affixed to or stored with each medicine set;(F) the provider shall ensure that all unused medication is returned to the parent of a child in care when the medication is no longer needed.(2) a provider shall ensure that (A) each stored medication, including each nonprescription medication, is in its original container and properly labeled with the name of the child for whom it is intended, the name of the medication, the dosage, the expiration date, and directions for administration;(B) medications are stored in a manner that prevents access by unauthorized persons;(C) medications, including controlled substances, are stored in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations; in this subparagraph, "controlled substance" means a drug, substance, or immediate precursor included in the schedules set out in AS 11.71.140- 11.71.190;(D) nonprescription medications and health products, including nonaspirin fever reducers, naturopathic remedies, vitamin and mineral supplements, diaper ointments and powders, sunscreen, and insect repellent, are used only at the dose, duration, or method of administration specified on the manufacturer's label; and(E) medication requiring refrigeration is grouped together, stored in a manner to prevent contamination of food, and labeled as required by this section, (e) A provider described in 7 AAC 41.200(a)(5) shall meet the following nutrition requirements: (1) the provider shall ensure that snacks and meals meet tire child care food program requirements of 7 C.F.R. 226.20;(2) the provider shall allow food for a child's meals and snacks to be provided by the child's parent if they are labeled with the child's name and the date;(3) the provider shall maintain sanitary facilities for the proper care, storage, refrigeration, and preparation of food; the provider shall ensure that (A) food served is not altered to contain harmful substances; and(B) fruits and vegetables are thoroughly washed with potable water before use;(4) the provider shall observe the following requirements for bottle feedings if caring for infants as described in 7 AAC 41.025(b): (A) bottle feedings may be prepared by the parent or the provider; if the provider prepares the bottle feedings, the provider shall consult with the parent to ensure consistency with the bottle feedings given at home;(B) an infant shall be fed on demand;(C) a child on bottle feedings (i) shall either be held or fed sitting up or, if unable to sit up, always be held by a caregiver during the feeding; bottles may not be propped for a child; and(ii) may not be permitted to hold or carry its bottle at times other than the feeding;(5) the provider shall obtain information concerning any food allergies or special dietary needs of each child and shall plan that child's meals accordingly; and(6) except for medical reasons, the provider may not deny a meal or snack to a child force-feed a child, or otherwise coerce a child to eat against the child's will; mere encouragement without any element of compulsion is not prohibited.Eff. 6/23/2006, Register 178; am 2/9/2007, Register 181; am 1/5/2017, Register 221, April 2017A copy of the child care food program referred to in 7 AAC 41.215(e)-(1) may be obtained from the Department of Health and Social Services, Division of Public Health, P.O. Box 110610, 350 Main Street, Room 503, Juneau, Alaska 99811-0610 or any other office of that division in the state.
Authority:AS 47.05.300
AS 47.05.310
AS 47.25.001