Organizational approach to medication administration in day care

Because young children have numerous infections and other conditions that require medication during the day, medication administration is an issue for every day care program. While all day care programs may not accept responsibility for administration of medication, every program must have a policy about it. Where medications are given in day care, care givers need training to handle their responsibility appropriately. Health professionals have a role in determining when the need for a medication is great enough to warrant the transfer of responsibility from parents to day care personnel and to attempt to adjust regimens to avoid the need for medication in day care, where possible. Health professionals should also help parents and care givers understand when to use medication, including over-the-counter medications, which are so strongly advertised. Safety precautions, intervals, doses, procedures, and techniques for administration of medication in day care are areas of knowledge and skill for which guidelines are available.