A change in daily routine, lack of sleep, stress, fatigue, cell phone use, and simple distractions are some things parents experience and can be contributing factors as to why children have been left unknowingly in vehicles.

Facts about heatstroke:

• It only takes a car 10 minutes to heat up 20 degrees and become deadly.
• Even with a window cracked, the temperature inside a vehicle can cause heatstroke.
• The body temperature of a child increases 3 to 5 times faster than an adult’s body.

Prevention tips:

• Never leave your child alone in a car and call 911 if you see any child locked in a car.
• Make a habit of checking the front and back seat of the car before you walk away.
• Be especially mindful during hectic or busy times, schedule or route changes, and periods of emotional stress or chaos.
• Create reminders by putting something in the back seat that you will need at work, school or home such as a briefcase, purse, cell phone or your left shoe.
• Keep a stuffed animal in the baby’s car seat and place it on the front seat as a reminder when the baby is in the back seat.
• Set a calendar reminder on your electronic device to make sure you dropped your child off at child care.
• Make it a routine to always notify your child’s child care provider in advance if your child is going to be late or absent; ask them to contact you if your child hasn’t arrived as scheduled.

During the 2018 legislative session, a new law was passed that requires child care facilities, family day care homes and large family child care homes to provide parents, during the months of April and September each year, with information regarding the potential for distracted adults to fail to drop off a child at the facility/home and instead leave them in the adult’s vehicle upon arrival at the adult’s destination

My signature below verifies receipt of the Distracted Adult brochure:

What is the influenza (flu) virus?
Influenza (“the flu”) is caused by a virus which infects the nose, throat, and lungs. According to the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the flu is more dangerous than the common cold for children. Unlike the common cold, the flu can cause severe illness and life threatening complications in many people. Children under 5 who have the flu commonly need medical care. Severe flu complications are most common in children younger than 2 years old. Flu season can begin as early as October and last as late as May.

How can I tell if my child has a cold, or the flu?
Most people with the flu feel tired and have fever, headache, dry cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, and sore muscles. Some people, especially children may also have stomach problems and diarrhea. Because the flu and colds have similar symptoms, it can be difficult to tell the difference between them based on symptoms alone. In general, the flu is worse than the common cold, and symptoms such as fever, body aches, extreme tiredness, and dry cough are more common and intense. People with colds are more likely to have a runny or stuffy nose. Colds generally do not result in serious health problems, such as pneumonia, bacterial infections, or hospitalizations

What should I do if my child gets sick?
Consult your doctor and make sure your child gets plenty of rest and drinks a lot of fluids. Never give aspirin or medicine that has aspirin in it to children or teenagers who may have the flu.

Call or take your child to a doctor right away if your child:

• Has a high fever or fever that lasts a long time.
• Has trouble breathing or breathes fast.
• Has skin that looks blue
• Is not drinking enough.

How can I protect my child from the flu?
A flu vaccine is the best way to protect against the flu. Because the flu virus changes year to year, annual vaccination against the flu is recommended. The CDC recommends that all children from the ages of 6 months up to their 19th birthday receive a flu vaccine every fall or winter (children receiving a vaccine for the first time require two doses). You also can protect your child by receiving a flu vaccine yourself.

What can I do to prevent the spread of germs?
The main way that the flu spreads is in respiratory droplets from coughing and sneezing. This can happen when droplets from a cough or sneeze of an infected person are propelled through the air and infect someone nearby. Though much less frequent, the flu may also spread through indirect contact with contaminated hands and articles soiled with nose and throat secretions.

To prevent the spread of germs:

• Wash hands often with soap and water.
• Cover mouth/nose during coughs and sneezes. If you don’t have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve, not your hands.
• Limit contact with people who show signs of illness.
• Keep hands away from the face. Germs are often spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose, or mouth.

When should my child stay home from child care?
A person may be contagious and able to spread the virus from 1 day before showing symptoms to up to 5 days after getting sick. The time frame could be longer in children and in people who don’t fight disease well (people with weakened immune systems). When sick, your child should stay at home to rest and to avoid giving the flu to other children and should not return to child care or other group settings until his or her temperature has been normal and has been sign and symptom free for a period of 24 hours.

For additional helpful information about the dangers of the flu and how to protect your child, visit: http://www.cdc.gov/flu/ or http://www.immunizeflorida.org/

During the 2009 legislative session, a new law was passed that requires child care facilities, family day care homes and large family child care homes provide parents with information detailing the causes, symptoms, and transmission of the influenza virus (the flu) every year during August and September

My signature below verifies receipt of the brochure on Influenza Virus, The Flu, A Guide to Parents:

Pursuant to s. 39.604, Florida Statutes, a child from birth to the age of school entry, who is under court ordered protective supervision or in out-of-home care and is enrolled in an early education or child care program must attend the program 5 days a week unless the court grants an exemption.

A child enrolled in an early education or child care program who meets the requirements of this act may not be withdrawn from the program without prior written approval of the Department or community-based care lead agency. If a child covered by this act is absent, the program shall report any unexcused absence or seven excused absences to the Department or the community based care lead agency by the end of the business day following the unexcused absence or seventh consecutive excused absence.

Educational stability and transition are key components of this act to minimize disruptions, secure attachments and maintain stable relationships with supportive caregivers of children from birth to school age. Successful partnerships are imperative to ensure that these attachments are not disrupted due to placement in out-of-home care or subsequent changes in out-of-home placement.

A child must be allowed to remain in the child care or early education setting that he/she attended before entry into out-of-home care, unless the program is not in the best interest of the child. If a child from birth to school-age leaves a child care or early education program, a transition plan needs to be developed that involves cooperation and sharing of information among all persons involved, respects the child’s developmental stage and associated psychological needs, and allows for a gradual transition from one setting to another.

This law provides priority for child care services for specified children who are at risk of abuse, neglect, or abandonment. These children are also known as Protective Services children.

Rilya Wilson Act Requirements:

• Protective services children MUST be enrolled to participate 5 days per week.
• Protective services children MAY NOT be withdrawn without prior written approval from the Department of Children and Families (DCF) or Community Based Care (CBC).
• If a Protective Services child has 7 consecutive excuses or any unexcused absence, the child care provider MUST notify the appropriate community based care staff.
• The Department and child care providers MUST follow local protocols set up by the CBC to ensure continuity.
• If it is not in the best interest of the child to remain at the child care or early education program, the caregiver MUST work with the Case Manager, Guardian Ad Litem, child care and educational staff, and educational surrogate, if one has been appointed, to determine the best setting for the child.

Community-Based Care Lead Agencies Contact Information:
http://www.dcf.state.fl.us/programs/cbc/docs/leadagencycontacts.pdf

** If you have concerns regarding any child that you may care for, please contact the Florida Abuse Hotline at 1-800-96-ABUSE**

My signature below verifies receipt on the Rilya Wilson Act from the Department of Children and Families: