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Noting that the health component of child care should be planned to respond to the developmental patterns of young children, this manual was developed as a reference and resource guide for program directors and teachers of young children and can be used as a textbook for adult learners. The manual, based on national standards and reviewed by health and early childhood professionals, describes currently accepted standards for health policies and practices in early childhood programs. Following an introductory chapter, the chapter topics are: (1) preventing infection; (2) preventing injuries; (3) emergencies and injuries; (4) promoting health with good nutrition; (5) promoting health through oral health, mental health, and health education; (5) clinical health services for children; (6) staff and consultants for safe and healthy child care; (7) facility design and support services for safe and healthy child care; (9) managing illness; and (10) special issues, focusing on inclusion of children with special needs and child abuse and neglect. Each chapter begins with a delineation of major concepts related to the chapter topic, contains self-assessment instruments as appropriate, and concludes with suggested activities. The guide's four appendices provide a list of national resources for health and safety information; a list of fact sheets available from ECELS; a list of children's picture books about health, nutrition, and safety; and a health and safety checklist. (KB)

This report discusses the existence and prevention of major health and safety risks for children in day care and makes recommendations for the Federal Interagency Day Care requirements (FIDCR) concerning health and safety. Section I describes varying concepts of risk related to probability and to possibility of adverse events, and discusses assumptions about risk made by insurance, legal and lay sources. Section II presents evidence which delineates the major risks to health and safety of young children, in terms of both frequency of incidence and potential severity of outcome. Risks discussed include motor vehicle and pedestrian accidents, fires and burns, falls, suffocation and ingestion, drowning, infectious disease, malnutrition, dental disease, lead absorption, hearing loss, developmental and speech disabilities, allergies, vision problems and genetically transmitted disease. Section III discusses four internal program characteristics and four outside resources which help prevent or minimize risks described in section II. Later sections survey current health and safety practices in day care, discuss three options for a federal role in minimizing risks, and offer recommendations pertaining to federal regulation and areas for further research. (Author/CM)