LAUGHLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Texas--The team at the Laughlin Child Development Center have always had their hands full, charged with the welfare of the base’s youth.
The week of June 1, 2020, Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas, returned to Health Protection Level Bravo, which means operations as normal for the base although still with precautions.
According to Melissa Menchaca, 47th Force Support Squadron child and youth services flight chief, the CDC has always taken cleanliness precautions to ensure a healthy lifestyle for the young ones they oversee.
Even before the outbreak of COVID-19, the caretakers led the children in washing of hands before meals, between activities and such. They sanitized their toys and frequently-touched surfaces after each day, between nap times and anytime an object needs a particularly good scrub.
The cleaning efforts continued with the increasing risk.
“They’re cleaning it with a soapy-water concentrate and then also a Clorox concentrate solution to clean throughout the day,” said Capt. (Dr.) Susan Ching 47th Flying Training Wing public health emergency officer. “In fact, multiple times throughout the day.”
The return to HPCON Bravo eases some restrictions while maintaining proactive protection measures.one aspect of COVID-19 precautions the CDC is continuing is the parents’ ritual of dropping off their children at the entrance of the CDC.
“In order to drop your child off you actually have to do that outside,” Ching said. “Which allows staff members to check the temperatures of the children before coming in.”
Menchaca said she and her team want to be sure the community is in the clear before the CDC removes extra precautions. They stay up to date on the latest health protection news from the 47th Flying Training wing and follow its lead.
“Our mission is to provide quality care for the children of Laughlin so their parents can go out and do the mission, knowing their young ones are in good hands,” said Menchaca.