SANITARY PRACTICES POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
December 2016
This section contains sanitary practices that must be followed for the following activities:
 Hand Washing for Caregivers and Children
 Use of Disposable Gloves
 Bleach: Water Solutions
 Toy Cleaning
 Sensory Bins
 Water Play
 Care of Pets
 Diaper Changing and Use of Potty Chairs
HAND WASHING
Hand washing is the best way to prevent transmission of most types of infections. Hands, more than any other
part of the body, are in constant contact with the environment and are prone to picking up many types of
organisms.
Microorganisms can be carried on hands to spread infections from person to person. Normal skin flora is
composed of resident and transient organisms. Resident organisms are those that can survive and multiply on
skin and are not easily removed by scrubbing. Transient organisms survive on the skin less than 24 hours and
are easily removed by hand washing. It is these organisms that are most likely to cause infections.
You should wash your hands to protect yourself and the children you care for:
 at the beginning of the day
 before changing a diaper
 after changing a diaper
 after using the toilet
 before handling food
 after contact with body fluids (blood, mucous, vomit, etc.)
 after removing gloves
 after contact with any nasal or oral secretions
 after caring for an ill child
 after sneezing or coughing
 after handling and caring for animals
 If hand washing is impossible, for example, on field trips, an alcohol based wet-wipe may be used.
Children should wash their hands to protect themselves and other children:
 when they arrive at the child care setting
 after diapering and toileting
 before eating or drinking
 after contact with any nasal or oral secretions
 on return from outdoor play
 before communal play
 after handling animals
Hand Wash Sinks
Hand washing sinks must be readily accessible in diapering areas, food handling areas and washrooms. They
must be equipped with hot and cold running water, liquid soap in a dispenser and paper towels.
If sinks and soap dispensers are inaccessible for children, a stable, solid and secure step must be provided.
Shared basins full of water and soap are not an acceptable means of hand washing as more bacteria may be
transmitted to the hands than is removed. If basins are used after painting or other messy activities to remove
visible material, proper hand washing must still be done at the hand wash basin.
Hot water temperature must not exceed 43C (110F) in order to avoid scalding.
A supply of liquid soap in a dispenser is required at all hand washing sinks. Liquid soap in a pump or mounted
dispenser is best because children can dispense the soap easily and the liquid soap is less likely to be
contaminated.
Anti-bacterial soap is not necessary.
To prevent soap on the bottom of the dispenser from providing a medium for bacterial growth the dispenser
must be cleaned before refilling.
Hand Lotion (For care givers only)
Hand lotion should be used to prevent dermatitis, as cracked dry hands can harbour large number of
microorganisms that are difficult to remove. Studies have shown that even antiseptics cannot reduce bacteria
on cracked and dry skin. Hand lotion should be in a dispenser instead of a communal dip-in jar. Containers that
are re-used must be washed before refilling.
Hand lotion should not be used on children unless the medication sheet is signed by a parent.
GLOVE USE
Disposable gloves are not a substitute for hand washing, but they do provide some protection for the
Caregiver.
Fresh gloves are recommended for every diaper change.
Gloves can be useful:
 if a Caregiver has dermatitis, cuts, or open sores on the hands
 if there is a risk of exposure to blood and/or body fluids
 during outbreaks of an enteric/diarrhea disease
Disposable latex or vinyl gloves must never be washed and reused.
Hands must be washed prior to gloving and after removing gloves as bacteria can multiply on the hands in the
warm, moist environment of the glove.
Care must be taken when removing soiled gloves. The outside of the glove may contain microorganisms.
Avoid touching the outside of the glove with your bare hand.
Vinyl and Latex gloves are available for staff to use.
Adequate cleaning and sanitizing in child care settings will aid in the prevention of transmission of infections.
TOY CLEANING
Under the Durham Region Health Department, cleaning and disinfecting are 2 separate processes.
Cleaning: the physical removal of visible dirt and organic matter from objects using detergent, warm water and
friction. The cleaning process requires rinsing surfaces with clean water to remove detergent film. This process
helps to physically remove microorganisms from surfaces but does not kill those that remain.
Cleaning is an important first step in removing disease-causing microorganisms from the day nursery
environment.
Disinfection: a process that destroys (kills) most disease-causing microorganisms on objects or surfaces
using chemical solutions. Chemical disinfectants are grouped into different levels of disinfection depending on
their use. At Gingerbread, we use bleach (5.25% sodium hypochlorite) and water solutions, it is changed daily
and chlorine test strips are used to test the desired strength.
Disinfectant solutions must be labeled and stored out of the reach of children AT ALL TIMES. Bleach should be
in a closed container and in its original bottle.
BLEACH DILUTION LEVELS
 High: For cleaning up blood or body fluids (pee, vomit, poo), we use 10ml of bleach to 90 ml of water
with a contact time of 10 minutes.
 Low: For disinfecting tables, toys and other surfaces, we use 5 ml of bleach to 1 litre of water with a
contact time of 1 minute.
Steps to cleaning and disinfecting
surfaces are as follows.
Steps to cleaning and disinfecting toys
are as follows:
Steps to cleaning and disinfecting
dishes are as follows:
1. Using a clean cloth or paper towel, spray
with soap and water using a friction
movement to remove dirt
1. Clean and sanitize ALL sinks
1. Clean and sanitize all sinks and drain
boards before each use.
2. Using a second clean cloth or paper
towel, spray with clean water to remove
soapy film
2. Fill one sink with hot water and
detergent, using a friction movement to
remove dirt.
2. Don’t wash utensils and prep food in
sinks at the same time.
3. Fill the second sink with hot water
3. Rinse all dishes in separate container
3. Using a third clean cloth or paper towel,
spray on bleach/water solution, let sit for
designated time, and wipe.
4. Fill the third sink with hot water and
bleach using the low level ratio, dip
toys in
4. Wash dishes in hot water with detergent
4. Let the surface air dry
5. Place on a clean drying surface and
allow to air dry.
6. Immerse washed and rinsed dishes in
the bleach water solution (30ml:13.5L)
for one minute
6. Once the toys are dry, they may be put
in their designated spots or storage.
5. Rinse dishes in hot water.
7. Place on drain board to air dry
8. Put dishes away.
TOYS: Toys should be cleaned and disinfected on a weekly basis. Toy washing will be documented in the Toy
Washing Book.
Clean and sanitize toys that have had contact with a child’s mouth on a daily basis using an appropriate
sanitizing solution by using the spray-wipe-spray or immersion technique.
DRESS UP CLOTHES: Launder dress up clothes weekly. In the event of head lice or scabies, dress up
clothes will be laundered and put away until the outbreak has ended.
PLUSH TOYS: Machine wash or dry clean soft, cuddly (plush) toys weekly or more often if required. During an
outbreak, plush toys will be laundered and removed from the play areas.
NATURAL ITEMS:. Natural materials will be used under the nursery school’s discretion. It is the supervisor’s
responsibility to assess each item before it is placed in circulation. Bird nests and other natural items deemed
“germy” will be maintained in clear containers to minimize the risk of infection. Natural Items will be washed or
thrown out weekly. During an outbreak natural items will be thrown out or removed from the play areas.
LARGE TOYS: Clean all larger toys, activity centres and toy storage shelves on a weekly basis.
CARPETING & FLOORING: Carpets must be cleaned to maintain a satisfactory appearance. Vacuum all
carpeted areas daily and steam cleaned twice a year. Floors are swept daily and are cleaned and disinfected
by the maintenance staff at the West Shore Community Centre.
SENSORY AND WATER PLAY TABLES:
Sensory play will be done at a table/tub that is easy to move, clean and disinfect. Tables/tubs will be cleaned
and disinfected when the sensory material is changed.
Children will wash hands before and after play periods.
Food material used in play must be used with discretion.
Cooked food must not be used for sensory play.
Any product that emits dusts or powders will not be used.
Agricultural grade material (corn, hay, bird seed etc.) will be avoided due to possible contamination by
pesticides, or insects.
All food products will be discarded at the end of activity sessions (maximum one week) – not to be repackaged
and stored.
Non-food items in sensory bins must be carefully considered. Avoid any size of item that may be accidentally
swallowed
WATER: Studies involving water play in child care centres have shown that bacteria can survive and be a
potential source of infection. Regular cleaning and sanitizing is necessary to reduce the risk of infection.
Problems can be avoided by following a few guidelines.
 Wash hands of children prior to water play activity.
 Fill individual containers with water from an approved source.
 All toys and articles used in water play must be cleaned and sanitized prior to use and after.
 Empty water from the receptacle after each play session.
 Clean and sanitize after use, allow to air dry
 During an outbreak there will be no use of water play tables.
 Only non-absorbent toys will be used for water play.
SAND: will be discarded once a month.
FOOD: Dry food, playdough, nature items and other materials will be discarded weekly, if the food product
becomes wet, it must be discarded and replaced immediately.
MISCELLANEOUS:
Door telephones, handles and light switches will be cleaned and disinfected weekly.
Door ledges will be cleaned biweekly.
Mirrors will be cleaned when necessary.
Items that cannot be properly cleaned and disinfected are not used for crafts (toilet paper rolls, egg cartons
etc.)
ABSORBANT MATERIALS:
Separate cloths must be used for tables, dish washing and toy washing.
Cloths for wiping tables, washing dishes and toys will be used only once and placed in a laundry basket out of
children’s reach. The laundry basket must be made of non-absorbent material and easy to clean and disinfect.
CLEANING AND SANITIZING THE TOILETING AREA
Item
Clean
Sanitize Frequency
Hand Washing Sinks
Faucets
Surrounding Counters
Toilet Bowls
Toilet Seats & Rims
Flushing Handles
Door Knobs
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Floor
Change Table
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Comments
Daily or when soiled
Sanitize with Bleach
and water solution
Weekly
Daily or when soiled
Cleaned by WSC Staff
Sanitize with Bleach
and water solution
After every diaper change
Sanitize with Bleach
and water solution
POTTY SEATS:
Potty seats are labeled with the child’s name and are only used by that child.
They will be cleaned and disinfected after each use, using the High Level Bleach: Water solution.
Potty seats will be stored in a sanitary manner when not in use.
PETS AND ANIMALS
Pets and other animals are not allowed in areas occupied by children during our program, unless they are a
service animal.
When a Service Animal is on the premises, the children are not permitted to touch, tease, or chase the animal.
The animal is not permitted in the playroom, kitchen or storage areas. The owner is responsible for providing a
copy of the Veterinary Care Statement for Animals Visiting Child Care Centres as proof of the animal’s health.
This will be kept on file for one year and made available to public health unit staff or parents/guardians who
may request to see them.
The staff are required to keep on-going records for visiting animals and keep them on site for one year. These
records are made available to public health unit staff or parents/guardians who may request to see them.
RABIES: Any bite, scratch, or attack by an animal must be reported immediately to Durham Region Health
Department. In order to protect children and staff from infection, Gingerbread Nursery School must report all
animal bites or scratches to the Health Department immediately. This includes scratches or bites that may
have come from the family’s pet(s).