Early childhood Center

In Quebec, the Ministry of the Family requires certain conditions to ensure that every child is safe in a healthy and safe environment.

Anyone working or wanting to work with young children is required to complete an 8 hour general first aid training. This training should be adapted for early childhood and should include a section on severe allergic reactions of the anaphylactic type. Each certification issued is valid for a maximum period of 3 years.

New certification requirements

Whether you are an occasional educator, assistant educator or replacement, it is your responsibility to ensure that the certification you hold has not been acquired for more than three years, in accordance with the new requirements issued as of April 1, 2016, which specify that:

• The minimum duration of the training is 8h
• It is suitable for early childhood
• It includes a section on anaphylactic reactions

These conditions are valid for the following environments:

• Nursery
• Home childcare
• Preschool Childcare
• School care service
• Early childhood Center
• Crèche
• Holiday camps
• Etc.

The laws governing the use of epinephrine in cases of anaphylactic reactions are governed by the provincial government in Quebec. The Regulation respecting the professional activities that may be performed in the context of pre-hospital emergency services and care states that:

In the absence of a first responder or an ambulance technician, any person may administer:

• Adrenaline during a severe allergic reaction of the anaphylactic type using an auto-injector device.

In the absence of a first responder or paramedic technician, any person who has received adrenaline training, approved by the regional or national medical director of prehospital emergency services, may administer adrenaline to a person using an auto-injector device, during a severe allergic reaction of the anaphylactic type.

In a childcare center and childcare centers, the Quebec Ministry of the Family allows children to have access to the medication prescribed by a doctor. However, the administration of such prescribed medications is regulated. Prescription drugs must be clearly labeled and stored out of the reach of children, away from food, toxic products and household cleaners. The day care center permit holder must lock this storage.

In order to ensure the best care and a good child’s safety, the Ministry of the Family requires a very tight management from the CPEs and daycares. The childcare worker can therefore administer any medication to a child with a medical prescription and a written authorization from a parent. However, the Educational Childcare Regulations allow the administration of certain non-prescribed drugs with the written consent of a parent:

• The acetaminophen
  • Tempra
  • Atasol
  • Tylenol
  • Etc.
• Nasal saline solutions
• Moisturizing oral solutions
  • Pedialyte
  • Gastrolyte
  • Lytren
  • Etc.
• Cream for diaper rash
• Solar cream
• Lubricating gel for single use
• Moisturizer
• Lip balm
• Calamine lotion

In an emergency health situation, Article 2 of the Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms applies: The protection of the life and physical integrity of the person requires that, when his life is in danger, everyone present helps him and provides him with the necessary care.

According to the Professional Code, it should be noted that, despite any irreconcilable provision, a person acting in the context of the activities of an intermediate or family-type resource or as part of a home support program provided by an institution that operates a local community service center, school or other temporary substitute living environment for children may administer prescribed, ready-to-administer, oral, topical, transdermal, ophthalmic, otic, rectal or inhalation medications as well as insulin subcutaneously.

The administration of epinephrine is not mentioned, the intervener in school can administer it only under the following conditions:

• The person is known to be allergic
• The medication is prescribed
• Recognized training is successful