Questions and Answers!
Your Training Resource

Healthy Childcare June-July 2003
Volume 6, Issue 4

In Sickness and Health: Sand Sanitation and Safety

What type of sand should be used? New, sterilized "natural sand" or "play sand."

What type of sand toys are best? Plastic toys. Avoid metal (which can rust) or glass toys.

Can children get ringworm from sandboxes? Not likely. Children get ringworm from other children.

Can I sterilize sand and reuse it? No. Contaminated sand should be discarded and replaced with fresh sand.

Safety First: Arts and Crafts the Safe Way

What word should be on the label of children's art supplies? Non-toxic.

Objects smaller than what size are choking hazards for young children? Approximately 1 1/2
inches.

What are ways to make children's art work space safer? Be sure you have proper ventilation, provide protective safety gear, and keep the area clean and free of spills.

What is the number for the poison control center? 1-800-222-1222.

Nutrition Action: Tummy Talk

What signals do a newborn make to show he or she is hungry? Rooting reflex and sucking.

What should you do when an infant begins to turn his head, push food away, and not appear interested in eating? Stop feeding him; he is full.

What words do preschoolers use to describe the feeling of fullness? Big, fat, puffy, etc.

Is it okay if a child does not eat much at lunch, but is very hungry at snack time? Yes. As long as both the meals and snacks are nutritious, it is okay for the child to eat the most food when he is most hungry.

The Medicine Chest : Eye Injury Prevention

If a child gets chemical in the eye, how long should you flush the eye with water? At least 15 minutes, and take immediately to doctor

Should you try to remove a foreign object from the eye, such as a pencil point? No-cover both eyes lightly and get emergency medical treatment.

Why should you cover both eyes if only one is injured? The eyes move together. If the uninjured eye moves to look around, the injured eye also is moving.

How should you remove dust from the eye? Flush the eye with clean cool water or a non- preserved ophthalmic saline solution.

Health & You: Cholesterol Tests

What is cholesterol? A waxy, fat-like substance that your body uses to manufacture hormones, bile acids, and vitamin D.

Which is the "good" cholesterol? High-density lipoproteins (HDL) are known as the "good" cholesterol.

What should my cholesterol level be? The total cholesterol should be less than 200 mg/dl.

Do all foods have cholesterol? No. Many foods that contain fats do not contain cholesterol. Aim for a diet low in saturated fats (meat fats and other solid fats).