◀ Back to all policies

INJURY, ILLNESS & INCIDENT

MIDCITY CHILDCARE CENTRE

INJURY, ILLNESS & INCIDENT

Rationale

We do everything possible to keep tamariki and adults in our Centre safe. We have clear procedures for identifying and reducing hazards, for recording all injuries, illnesses and incidents that occur at this Centre, and notifying whānau.

This policy reflects Te Whāriki and Te Tiriti o Waitangi by prioritising the wellbeing, dignity, and mana of tamariki, and by ensuring responsive, caring practices that support hauora (health) for all.

Purpose

Both tamariki and adults have accidents, even in safe environments. Tamariki can also get sick quite suddenly or can be unwell on arrival at the Centre. Our job is to maintain the wellbeing of our tamariki by creating a safe and healthy environment and acting quickly and effectively to ensure the health and wellbeing of all tamariki.

We are guided in our decisions regarding illness by:
Licensing Criteria for Early Childhood Education and Care Services 2008 which require us to have a policy to take appropriate action when a tamaiti is unwell (Health and safety: Child health and wellbeing HS118 through to HS124).
Recommendations from the Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora, National Public Health Service (NPHS).

Detail

General:

• The Manager is our Health & Safety Officer. Team Leaders will act on behalf of the Manager in her absence and will make the necessary decisions that may arise.
• We have a first aid kit that is kept fully equipped by the Administrator, who completes a stock take every 4 months.
• Our isolation area (front office) is a well-ventilated, warm, quiet area where sick babies and tamariki can be cared for away from other tamariki, food preparation areas and sleeping areas while they wait for their whānau to collect them. We have a mattress suitable for tamariki to lie on, that is fitted with waterproof coverings, has clean bedding, an appropriate container for vomit or contaminated material and a spill kit. Someone will always be with the tamaiti until their whānau arrive. Once the tamaiti has gone home, everything is hygienically cleaned and supplies replenished ready for the next time they are needed.
• There are specific actions to be taken for different diseases. We follow the ones set out in Schedule 1 of the Licensing Criteria. (This can be located in the main entrance of the Centre)
• If a tamaiti or kaiako is unwell, or have been vomiting and/or had diarrhoea, they should not be attending our Centre. If they become unwell while at the Centre, we will isolate them immediately and arrange for them to go home as soon as possible.
• All kaiako have a current 1st Aid Certificate, which is kept up to date and meets regulation requirements. We pay for kaiako to complete their 1 st Aid Training every 2 years. We will always maintain legal requirements of 1 adult present at all times for every 25 tamariki attending that holds a current 1 st Aid qualification. In the case of an emergency, such as those described in HS121, the required ratio of a 1 st Aid qualified adult may be temporarily reduced to 1 adult to every 50 tamariki for the duration of that situation.
• We follow the guidelines from the Ministry of Health & the Ministry of Education during pandemics.
• We use every day preventative practices such as: handwashing routines, cleaning and sanitising schedules, deep clean during outbreaks, and hygienic laundering routines.

Regular reminders for whānau:

• Whānau should keep their tamaiti home when they are sick.
• Whānau are expected to collect their tamaiti without delay if they become unwell.
• If tamariki have been vomiting and/or had diarrhoea they should not attend the Centre until 48 hours after all symptoms have stopped.
• Tamariki should not attend the Centre if advised not to by a healthcare provider or public health service.

Communication and Consultation:

We invite you to discuss any concerns you may have about the health and wellbeing of your tamaiti at any time. If you are worried that your tamaiti may be unwell, please share this information with us when you arrive at the Centre. This means that we can be vigilant and alert to any changes in behaviour or signs of illness, and can respond to the needs of your tamaiti promptly. If we have any concerns about the health and wellbeing of your tamaiti while they are in our care, we will discuss this with you as soon as possible. Whānau and kaiako share the responsibility for creating a healthy Centre environment, which will protect and nurture tamariki. Our Centre will contact the National Public Health Service to seek expert advice as needed.

Resolution of conflict:

If there is disagreement regarding the need for a tamaiti to stay away due to illnesses, we will follow the advice of the National Public Health Service. If this differs from advice given by your healthcare provider, you will need to provide a medical certificate to state that your tamaiti is not contagious and is well enough to be in the Centre.

Kaiako responsibilities:

• Contact whānau if there are concerns about the health of a tamaiti.
• Administer first aid as required.
• Care for the tamaiti in the isolation area until collected.
• Ensure tamariki are comfortable and emotionally supported.
• If concerned that a tamaiti may be unwell, kaiako will inform whānau detailing any changes in behaviour, symptoms, temperature recordings, food & drink consumption, and any authorised medication given.
• Provide authorised medication, documenting date, dosage, and time of administration as per our Administering Medicine policy.
• Seek medical help if a tamaiti becomes more unwell.
• Recommend the whānau consult their healthcare provider if appropriate.
• Keep up to date with current health guidelines.
• All whānau may need to be told if a tamaiti attending our Centre develops an infectious illness. We will provide information around the illness with support from the National Public Health Service.

Whānau responsibilities:

• If you are worried about the health of your tamaiti, seek advice from your healthcare provider.
• Discuss concerns about the health of your tamaiti with kaiako.
• Let kaiako know if you have given medicine to your tamaiti during the night or prior to arriving at the Centre.
• Provide written authority for any medication required while the tamaiti is at the Centre. Provide the name of the medicine, the dose and the time it is to be given.
• Collect tamariki ASAP (within one hour) if unwell at the Centre.
• Allow your tamaiti time to recover before returning to the Centre.
• If tamariki experience vomiting or diarrhoea they should not attend the Centre until at least 48 hours after all symptoms have stopped.

Tamariki should stay home when they are generally unwell, such as when they:

• Show little interest in play or activities
• Have low energy and need extended rest or sleep
• Are unusually irritable, in pain or cry easily
• Are clingy and constantly seek comfort
• Have a fever
• A hacking cough which is unusual for the tamaiti
• A green runny nose which indicates the tamaiti may have an infection

Injury Prevention:

• All kaiako take account of injury prevention in the layout, daily activities and rules in our Centre.
• Kaiako support tamariki to develop awareness of health, safety and self-care through talking about body awareness, encouraging tamariki to tell a kaiako about injuries or discomfort, and modelling hygiene practices.
• Daily playground checks are completed by kaiako before the Centre opens each morning.
• Our Team Leaders (or Person Responsible) check the Centre monthly for hazards.
• During the Induction process, all kaiako are trained in hazard identification to minimise risk to themselves and others.
• All kaiako are trained to notify maintenance needs to the Manager. The Manager acts promptly on dangerous or urgent repair work and programmes in other maintenance work. Maintenance work is recorded.
• The hazard management approach we take is to eliminate, isolate or minimise hazards in the Centre.
• Our hazards and accident records are analysed monthly. The Manager implements any required actions or improvements identified through this process. Findings from the monthly analysis are shared at Team Meetings, where all kaiako are invited to contribute suggestions, feedback, and further recommendations to enhance safety and practice.
• A kaiako is appointed to take care of animals at the Centre.

Tamaiti (Child) Injury:

Injuries, illnesses and incidents are part of the early childhood experiences, most of the time providing basic first aid and keeping whānau informed of the event and what actions we have taken will be sufficient. However, if a tamaiti becomes seriously injured or ill, we will act quickly to get medical help.

Serious injury is not defined by a fixed list, but typically refers to any injury that:

• Requires resuscitation
• Leads to hospital admission for more than 24 hours
• Involves a broken bone or suspected fracture
• Causes dislocation of a major joint (for example, shoulder, knee, hip, or elbow)
• Results in loss of consciousness
• Triggers severe breathing difficulties, including asphyxia
• Penetrates the eye or causes a chemical or hot metal burn to the eye
• Involves a head injury, especially if the tamaiti loses consciousness or becomes disoriented
• Causes a burn
• Leads to excessive or uncontrollable bleeding
• Leaves the tamaiti unresponsive or struggling to speak
• Causes convulsions, seizures or fainting.

Serious illness isn’t defined by a fixed list, but includes any condition that:

• Produces a prolonged high fever, particularly if accompanied by a rash
• Triggers an anaphylactic reaction
• Results from ingesting toxic substances or foreign objects.

Accident Procedures:

• Tamariki will receive immediate medical assistance. A first aid trained kaiako will assess the severity of the injury, based on information derived from witnesses of the incident, knowledge of the tamaiti and their medical history, and on the appearance and response of the tamaiti. The kaiako will provide the necessary first aid that does not require further or more specialized medical treatment. First aid treatment would typically consist of cold cloths, ice packs or arnica cream and/or plasters applied.
• If the injury needs urgent medical attention, an ambulance will be called as well as their whānau.
• If a tamaiti needs to go to a doctor, the parents will be informed immediately and asked to collect their tamaiti and get them checked by a doctor or health professional.
• If it is a head injury, an ice pack wrapped in a towel will be held on the head of the tamaiti for up to 20 minutes. Any head injury will be treated seriously – even suspected ones – and kaiako will be vigilant in observing signs of concussion. All bumps and knocks to the head will be recorded and communicated to the whānau at the time so they are aware of it before they pick up their tamaiti. If the tamaiti shows signs of concussion, the whānau will be asked to pick them up and advised to seek medical advice.
• If it is a burn, the injured area will be put under cold running water immediately for at least 20 minutes. Medical help will be sought and the whānau will be notified immediately.
• In the event that whānau cannot be contacted, the Manager or senior kaiako (with a full drivers licence) will take the tamaiti to the nearest Medical Centre (probably Anglesea Street) and remain with them until their whānau arrive. If necessary 2 kaiako may need to go, one to drive and one to sit in the back of the car with the tamaiti. One of our spare car seats will be used to ensure the safety of the tamaiti.
• There will always be adequate kaiako to care for remaining tamariki at the Centre.
• In all cases, incidents will be recorded in the Incident Register by a permanent kaiako and a copy is given to whānau the same day as the incident so they can take it with them to the doctor or health professional.
• If a serious injury has occurred, a full and thorough investigation will be carried out by the Centre Manager and relevant Team Leader. This will be documented on our Investigation Report and shared with whānau and the MOE.
• If there is serious harm, i.e a notifiable event, the Manager must report the incident to Work Safe as soon as possible and send a completed accident form within 7 days.
• The Team Leaders ensure the accident/illness/incident register is completed.

Tamaiti Illness: (We follow the guidance from the Infectious Illnesses poster – HealthEd)

• Tamariki with any kind of contagious illness need to stay home until they are better. If they have lingering symptoms, you may need to provide a medical certificate to prove that they are no longer contagious and can return to the Centre.
• Sick tamariki with communicable diseases will be isolated to stop the spread of infection. Whānau will be asked to collect them.
• The Ministry of Health is informed of notifiable diseases. Kaiako and whānau are informed of health warnings and how to recognise signs of any illnesses for which we receive Ministry notifications.
• If a tamaiti has been prescribed antibiotics by a Doctor, whānau must bring a medical certificate to say that their tamaiti is not contagious and is well enough to be in the Centre (if they return within 24 hours). Otherwise, parents need to keep their tamaiti home for 24 hours from their first dose of antibiotics.
• If your tamaiti has had any medication (including Paracetamol) prior to attending our Centre in the morning, please make sure our kaiako are aware of this.

Vomiting and Diarrhoea:

• If a tamaiti has vomiting or diarrhoea whilst they are attending the Centre, the whānau will be contacted, and requested to pick them up within one hour.
• As in the Ministry of Health Guidelines, any person needs to be clear of vomiting and diarrhoea for 48 hours before returning to the Centre.
• If tamariki arrive at the Centre after having diarrhoea and/or vomiting overnight the whānau will be asked to take them straight home.
• In the event of a vomiting & diarrhoea outbreak, whānau will be notified.
• In the case of diarrhoea caused by antibiotics, a medical certificate may be required by Management stating that the tamaiti does not have a contagious illness, prior to them returning to the Centre.

High Temperature:

• In the case of tamariki having a temperature over 38oc, they will have any excess clothes removed and the whānau will be contacted and required to collect their tamaiti within half an hour. If the temperature increases before the whānau arrives, they will be tepid sponged and given an ice block to help reduce the temperature.
• In a situation where kaiako have made every effort but they are unable to contact the whānau or the emergency contact for the tamaiti, the most senior kaiako will decide if the tamaiti requires immediate medical attention. If this situation arises, the ‘Details Form’ will be printed from Discover and will accompany the tamaiti to a Medical Centre. If possible – the kaiako will be a person responsible.
• If we are able to contact the whānau, but they are unable to arrive at the Centre within a reasonable timeframe due to unforeseen circumstances, we will seek immediate medical attention following the same processes as above.
• If a tamaiti is sent home with a temperature of 38°C or higher, we ask that they remain at home until they have been fever-free for at least 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication (Pamol, Ibuprofen, etc), and are well enough to comfortably participate in activities and engage with others. This helps support the wellbeing of the unwell tamaiti and reduces the spread of illness within the Centre.

Eye Discharge:

• If any person has discharge from the eye, they will be sent home.
• Any person returning to the Centre after a suspected case of conjunctivitis must have no discharge visible in the eye AND have been on medication for 24 hours. Please note that conjunctivitis is extremely contagious and is transmitted by the discharge.
• If the eye discharge is not the result of conjunctivitis and you want your tamaiti to return to the Centre with eye discharge, then a medical certificate will be required.

Rash:

• In the case of tamariki having an unidentified rash, kaiako may ask the whānau to have their tamariki checked by a Doctor to ensure that the rash is not contagious.
• A medical certificate may be required stating that the tamaiti does not have a contagious illness prior to returning to the Centre.

Head Lice:

• If a tamaiti is found to have head lice the whānau will be phoned and asked to take them out of the Centre for treatment. Tamariki are not permitted return to the Centre if there are any head lice or eggs remaining in the hair.
• Should there be a case of Head Lice in the Centre, all whānau will be informed and requested to check and treat the hair of their tamaiti if necessary, with an effective head lice shampoo and comb.
• Kaiako will also check the hair of the tamariki if they suspect head lice, or if there has been a case in the Centre.

Allergic Reactions:

• For tamariki with known allergies, a Health Plan will be completed on enrolment with all relevant information including details of medications and how these are to be administered.
• In the case of a tamaiti having a severe allergic reaction to a new food/substance, insect, etc. kaiako will:
  – Keep the tamaiti as calm as possible.
  – Phone an ambulance.
  – Take the tamaiti to a Medical Centre with any relevant enrolment information if that will be quicker than waiting for an ambulance.
  – Phone whānau or emergency contact.
  – Remain with the tamaiti until whānau arrives.

A record is kept of all injuries, illnesses and incidents that occur in the Centre. Records include:

• the child’s name
• the date, time and description of the injury, illness or incident
• actions taken and by whom; and
• evidence that whānau have been informed.

When a serious injury, illness, or incident occurs, an Incident Investigation Report is completed. This includes a thorough review of contributing factors and the implementation of any necessary changes to our environment or practice to prevent recurrence.

Surgery & General Anaesthetic:

• If a tamaiti has surgery of any kind and goes under a general anaesthetic, they are required to stay at home for the timeframe recommended by their surgeon. If a tamaiti returns to the Centre earlier than expected after surgery and a general anaesthetic, they will need a medical certificate to say that it is ok for them to be back in the Centre.

Kaiako Illness and Accidents:

• Kaiako with contagious illnesses must take sick leave or LWOP if they have used all of their allocated sick leave.
• Kaiako accidents and injuries are also recorded and procedures followed as for tamariki, with their Emergency Contact notified if the incident is serious.
• If a kaiako has had an accident and it results in an ACC claim – the Centre Manager will seek clearance and develop a return to work plan based on the guidance of ACC in a relationship with the kaiako.

If we are ever unsure of what to do, we will call the Healthline on 0800 611 116 immediately.

We recognise that being asked to collect your tamaiti can be disruptive for whānau. However, we make this decision carefully and only when we genuinely believe a tamaiti is unwell. These decisions are made in the best interests of the unwell tamaiti, while also helping to protect the health of all tamariki and kaiako in our Centre by reducing the spread of illnesses.

Alignment with Other Policies

This policy aligns with the Tamaiti Protection Policy, Emergency Response Policy, Health and Safety in Employment Policy, Medicine Administration Policy, Excursions Policy, Personnel Policy, and our Philosophy ensuring a safe environment for everyone in the Centre.

Implementation

Clear procedures have been developed and kaiako are trained to follow them.

Review

This policy is reviewed annually (or when there is a significant change in the area of the policy topic), with input from kaiako, and whānau feedback is welcomed as part of our commitment to continuous improvement.

Authorised: Manager
Date: May 2026
Review Date: May 2028
Consultation Undertaken: Management/Staff/Whānau/MOE