Parents say they are assured of safety measures against H1N1 flu

Channel NewsAsia - Tuesday, June 16

Parents say they are assured of safety measures against H1N1 flu

SINGAPORE: The number of confirmed H1N1 flu cases in Singapore has been on the rise.

The mid—year school holidays will come to an end on June 28, and so far two students — from a secondary school and a junior college — have been hit by the H1N1 flu virus while away this month.

Bedok North Secondary School, where a 16—year—old infected student had gone to on Wednesday, had all its affected classrooms sanitised. Those in close contact with the student were advised to stay home for next seven days.

And in accordance with the Education Ministry’s guidelines, students must also take their temperatures during school holidays.

Most parents Channel NewsAsia spoke to say they are assured of the many safety measures in place.

One said: "Maybe when the school reopens, they (will have) a temperature—taking area... I think it is okay."

Another said: "From the statistics of what we are told, it (the H1N1 flu) doesn’t seem that deadly."

The third said: "Schools should close only when it’s as serious as SARS. But this poses another problem. Exams are coming up. What can be done?"

The fourth said: "Schools should maintain cleanliness. And kids should be brought home and see the doctor immediately if they show any symptoms."

Separately, Bedok North Secondary School says when school reopens, it will ask parents to give their child’s travel history during the holidays.

As for childcare centres, the Community Development Ministry says it is closely monitoring the situation, and will advise any new measures accordingly.

— CNA/yt

From Yahoo! News; see the source article here.

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WHAT IF... WHAT NEXT?

This is making sure that there is no gap unfilled, no stone unturned… no leaving to chance what can be locked in and controlled!

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05:55 AM May 13, 2009

 

WHAT DO YOU DO IF there's a confirmed case of H1N1 in:
A school
Student will be isolated and treated in hospital. All students and staff will be screened. But no need to close the school and quarantine all staff and students, only those in close contact. Students, parents and teachers should stay alert to flu-like symptoms and inform MOH immediately.

A plane
Those sitting near the traveller or are part of his travelling party will be quarantined. Other passengers will be advised to monitor their health, seek attention if unwell.

A workplace or a hotel
The place will not be closed down. Close contacts of the worker or traveller will be quarantined. Others will be advised to closely monitor their health closely and seek urgent medical attention if unwell.

Childcare centre or dormitory
In scenarios where people are in close proximity, the whole facility may have to be closed and everyone in it quarantined.

"These initial responses will buy us some time to ascertain if indeed the cases are mild ... If the confirmed cases present with serious symptoms, despite not having other illnesses and despite getting prompt attention, then we will have to review our approach."
Mr Khaw Boon Wan

From TODAY, Singapore – Tuesday, 12-May-2009

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Ask the paediatrician: Make hygiene a priority

Make hygiene a priority

Q1
I travel frequently on overseas business trips. With the recent Influenza A (H1N1) outbreak, which can spread from one person to another, I am worried about catching it and spreading it to my children and parents. What precautions can I take?

A
The precautions you can take include care for personal hygiene while you are overseas.

In addition, if you do catch a flu — excluding in high risk situations such as the current flu pandemic, in which case you should consult the necessary authorities — then personal hygiene at home and when you come into contact with family members will help prevent the spread of infection to them.

In some situations, young children and elderly members of your family could be vaccinated.

You can consult your family doctor who would be able to give you specific advise about the risks and benefits of vaccination.

Q2
My sister is very particular about hygiene and ensures that her daughter practises good habits such as washing her hands before meals. But why does my niece still fall ill so easily?

A
It is not uncommon for young children to pick up infections, particularly when they start childcare or nursery. Young children can get up to six infections each year. Most of these infections would be self limiting and last not longer than five to seven days.

The most common would be fever, with runny nose and cough (viral infections).

However, if your niece has more serious infections such as recurrent ear or lung infections (bacteria infections) — which require multiple courses of antibiotics or take a longer time to recover from — then she may need to see a paediatrician.

Q3
My two-year-old cousin is staying with my family. She likes to put things — hair, tissue, toys — she grabs from the floor into her mouth. I am worried about the consequences to her health. Is there anything we can do about this?

A
Young children put things into their mouths as a way to explore the world and it is part of normal childhood development from about six months. As they grow older, they can be taught that certain things are a "no-no".

In general, if tissue or hair is put into a child's mouth, no serious harm is done. The main concerns for a two-year-old putting things in her mouth would be two-fold:
• She might choke or swallow the objects if they are small. Choking is the more dangerous concern, as the small object can get stuck in her windpipe and cause breathing difficulties. If she swallows the object, and it is small and inert, she might pass it out without any harm. However, certain objects are potentially dangerous when swallowed (for example, button batteries) and would need to be removed by a special procedure, commonly done in children between the ages of two and five.

• The risk of falling ill from germs or bacteria is low if a child puts things in her mouth that are found in the home. Not so if it is material from the toilet, dustbin or shoes that have potentially been contaminated by soil and dirt from outside the home.

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Questions were answered by Dr Marion Aw from the Singapore Paediatric Society. The information provided is for your general knowledge only. You should seek professional advice or treatment for your child's condition.

Q1, our question of the week wins a Kirei Kirei gift set worth $60. The winner has been notified.

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From TODAY, Health – Tuesday, 05-May-2009

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