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Childcare
Just a little gripe but want thoughts on it.
jellyjelly · 05/07/2006 13:50
Mindee arrived with a large area of scratches on arm from a fall yesterday.
I was told in the first aid trianing i had that cuts must be covered to protect us in the view of lawsuits etc and to protect germs coming into the wound.
Said this to parent today that i would look and assess but might have a plaster on it.
the other parent called today to say what had been discussed and that it was a cut and nothing serious so can i take the plaster off. I hadnt put one on anyway as it was big area not just one scratch.
Thought please. She is quite bossy, i see it that it is my business but she doesnt see that and thinks i am being petty.
alison222 · 05/07/2006 14:16
I was told in first aid training not to use plasters as too many children are allergic, and Ofsted told me to make sure there were none in my first aid kit. I know fashions change and this was 2.5 years ago but I am still working on this assumption.
Also agree with DMO. Record it as an existing injury in your book and get the parent to sign. If they won't sign write parent refused to sign on it.
gooseegg · 05/07/2006 14:24
If it has scabbed over then it's ok to leave it. Otherwise I would pop a clean long sleeved top on, and explain to the parent verbally and also in the child's daily diary that you did it for their protection.
Lots of people have reactions to plasters so I personally would avoid using a plaster for a large area.
I would only ask a parent to fill out and sign one of my existing injury forms if any injuries were pointed out to me on drop-off.
If I noticed them subsequent to drop-off I would make a note in daily diary and remind parent to let me know in future if their child has any new bumps/bruises. This is only because I need to protect myself from any suggestion that they might have been caused here and not reported by myself whilst in my care.
As a parent I would be wary of over zealous childcarers hovering to phone social services. Maybe this is why this parent seems a bit touchy.
ayla99 · 05/07/2006 14:52
Plasters aren't popular not only because of the allergy risk but also because of the need to air the wound.
If the parent hasn't given permission to use sticky plasters the wound can still be covered using a melolin absorbent dressing & either micropore tape or tie on with a bandage.
If the child is only attending for a few hours I would agree it should probably be covered at the childminders & left open at home. If the child is going to be with you all day then you could cover it during outdoor/messyplay & uncover at naptime/story time?
Wound Care Guide
looneytune · 05/07/2006 19:40
I totally agree about airing etc, I always do that with grazed knees that have been quite bad as I believe it heals better. Just covered up for outdoor or messy play.
One thing I do want to point out however is that I know exactly what JellyJelly is talking about with the controlling mother and believe me, this mother is well and truely out of order. Thank god you've now given notice to her as she has been very horrible imo. I know the rest of you don't know the story but I just wanted to point out that this particular mother is not just feeling guilty for leaving her child with a minder!
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