Group A Strep - What you need to know (UKHSA)

Further to our email yesterday, please find two links below for information from the UKHSA (Health Security Agency) on scarlet fever and invasive Group A strep.

The latest data from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) shows that scarlet fever cases continue to remain higher than we would typically see at this time of year.

Group A Strep - What you need to know

Healthy Living Survey (Southampton City Council)

Southampton City Council are conducting a survey to understand healthy living and how food, diet or amount of physical activity are impacting people’s health, particularly since COVID-19. If you are 18 or over, we would like to hear your views. 

The results from this survey will help us build a campaign to support people to lead healthier lifestyles in the long term. The survey will take approximately 15 minutes to complete, and you will have the opportunity to be entered into a prize draw for a £100 voucher*. The deadline for responses is Wednesday 8 December.

_{Please note that this survey includes questions about your perceptions of, and experiences with, food, weight, mental health, and alcohol. Please do not continue with this survey if you are not comfortable with reading or answering questions on these topics. We are conducting a survey to understand healthy living and how food, diet or amount of physical activity. are impacting people’s health, particularly since COVID-19. Thank you in advance for your time}

 

Screen Savers: Looking after your eyes, body and mind when using screens (Beacon House)

We are spending more time online than ever before, possibly sitting and working with poor posture as we use makeshift desks and chairs. There is a tendency to take fewer breaks and less exercise and this is affecting our physical well-being.

Beacon House the specialist, therapeutic service for young people, families and adults has produced a series of six posters outlining ways to keep safe and alert when working at home, whether children or adults.

These can be accessed by clicking on the following link:

Screens and seating

Hand Washing Science Experiment Results

Below are the results of a Science experiment we started before the closure with the children. Four different pupils (..they will remember who they are!) were asked to put their hands on different slices of bread which were then labelled and sealed. Before they touched the bread, one was asked to wash their hands with soap and water, another with hand sanitiser*, another to put their hands on a laptop keyboard and the last to not wash their hands at all before touching the bread. We weren't sure what exactly was going to happen but the children all knew that using soap and water was really important. Looking at the results below - three weeks later - they were proved absolutely right! I would have loved to carry the experiment on for a few more days but it was becoming a health hazard and rather unpleasant as you can see...!

*Added a note from our Science minded deputy who points out that the poor performance of the sanitiser was due to the moisture and you shouldn't be put off using it! Agreed!

There's another great 'washing hands' experiment you can do here.

NHS Advice on Childhood Illnesses

Please visit the following websites for more information:

http://www.what0-18.nhs.uk/parents-and-carers/should-your-child-go-school-today/

http://www.what0-18.nhs.uk/parents-and-carers/worried-your-child-unwell/

This information is a guide and has been checked by health professionals, however if you are unsure about your child’s wellbeing we recommend you contact your pharmacy or GP to check

Defibrillator Training...

Last Friday afternoon, staff were trained in the use of the AED/Defibrillator in school which, apart from being both essential and worthwhile, was also really interesting. Obviously, we hope that we never have to use them but we're now comforted in the knowledge that we know what to do if the time comes.

Studybugs: Improving communication, health and attendance

We’re pleased to announce that Bitterne Manor is introducing a new, more efficient and secure system for reporting your child’s absence due to illness, called Studybugs.

If you haven’t already, please get the free Studybugs app, or register on the Studybugs website, and use it to tell us whenever your child’s ill and unable to attend school.

Get the app or register now (https://studybugs.com/about/parents)

Thank you!

Top 3 reasons to use Studybugs:

1. It helps us know sooner if your child is unaccounted for.

2. It’s quick and easy to register and use and automatically reminds you to keep us posted.

3. You’ll be helping the NHS and other public health organisations improve children’s health. (https://studybugs.com/about/schools)

Thanks To Your Generosity...!

Thanks to your generosity, we have now received our school AED (automated external defibrillator). We need to do some training before it can be safely deployed and, of course, we hope that the day doesn't come when it is needed. If that time should come, we'll be in a good position to help save someone. We'll update on our training shortly. In the meantime, thanks to all of you who supported this project!

'AED' Fundraising Support

An AED is a machine used to give an electric shock when a person is in cardiac arrest, i.e. when the heart stops beating normally. Cardiac arrest can affect people of any age and without warning. If this happens, swift action in the form of CPR and prompt defibrillation can help save a person’s life. 
Currently there is no legal requirement for defibrillators to be kept in primary schools but if they are used within the first few minutes of a cardiac arrest they can give people a 70% chance of survival. There is no question that the number of deaths from cardiac arrest could be dramatically reduced if all schools were defibrillator protected.

That is why we are hoping to raise funds in order to purchase an AED for Bitterne Manor, to help protect the students, staff, and visiting parents and grandparents.

We are challenging all students in KS1 to take part in a ‘Healthy Lifestyle’ Fundraising Event on Wednesday 8th November (please ensure PE kits are in school). We want to utilise student enterprise to help raise the funds to purchase an AED for school. 
Physical Challenge – each class will take part in completing laps of an obstacle circuit that involves climbing over numerous obstacles. How many laps can we complete? You will find a sponsorship form attached to this letter, please get as many sponsors as possible and then return your form along with monies collected to the school office by Friday 17th November. 

Thank you in advance for your support!

Study Bugs

We are pleased to announce that we have agreed to participate in an NHS public health project called ‘Inspire’, which aims to improve treatment of asthma in children.

We need your help though! The project uses a free absence-reporting app called Studybugs. Whether or not your child suffers from asthma, please could you download the app, or register on the Studybugs website, and use it to tell us whenever your child’s ill and unable to attend school.

You can read more about the Inspire project at https://everychildisdifferent.org/inspire, As well as helping improve treatment of asthma, Studybugs also helps us track what illnesses are going around and is a convenient, efficient and secure method for reporting absence – so it should make life a little bit easier all around.