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All hands on deck in fight against flu
17/08/2009
Pupils returning to school today are set to learn about the importance of good hand washing practice in relation to the current H1N1 outbreak.
The Scottish Government's National Hand Hygiene Campaign pack is being sent to every nursery and primary school in time for the start of the new term.
The pack is intended to help encourage children to develop a lifelong habit of regular handwashing. In addition to this, the pack will also contain information for pupils on the proper use of tissues and the importance of covering coughs and sneezes.
At the start of the new term parents will also receive a joint letter from the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing and the Cabinet Secretary for Education reassuring them about the reopening of schools during the pandemic.
Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon said:
"Our main priority continues to be how best we can protect the health and wellbeing of the public, including children and young people, during the H1N1 outbreak.
"Schools have reopened as planned and people should remember that the vast majority of those who contract H1N1 will experience relatively mild symptoms and make a full recovery.
"However, the spread of H1N1 in Scotland has made good hand hygiene even more important and we are reinforcing this in schools and nurseries by issuing these information packs.
"The latest figures for Scotland also show that, while the virus continues to circulate, the rates remain relatively low."
Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning Fiona Hyslop said:
"I understand the concerns that many pupils, parents and teachers will have over the current H1N1 outbreak, however I can reassure you that we expect schools right across the country to reopen as normal this week.
"At the start of a new school term it's important that we get the message of hand hygiene across and embed a firm understanding in our youngest pupils of the difference that this can make.
"The packs are being distributed to every nursery and primary in Scotland and I'm sure young pupils across Scotland will benefit from taking on board this advice."
To mark the first day of the new term the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing Nicola Sturgeon and the Cabinet Secretary for Education Fiona Hyslop today visited Eastfield Primary School in Cumbernauld. Alongside pupils and public health nurse Sandra Rae the Ministers took part in a hand hygiene demonstration.
The pack being sent to all schools provides a number of useful materials to support staff in developing entertaining handwashing related activities for children. The pack was originally developed with the help of Learning and Teaching Scotland (LTS) and contains a short DVD featuring a cartoon character called Handy, some posters and stickers of Handy and a range of Handy activity materials.
People who are worried about flu like symptoms should continue to contact their GP for advice, or NHS 24 on 08454 24 24 24.