Due to “winter diseases”… private schools call on students’ families not to send their sick children to school

Private schools issued instructions to students to stay at home when symptoms of high temperature or cough appear, and called on the students’ families to monitor their children to monitor any health changes in them, especially students with chronic diseases or weak immunity. Meanwhile, educators confirmed that the insistence of some students’ families to send their children to school even in cases of fatigue and illness causes the infection to spread among the rest of the students.

Parents of students in private schools received letters from their children’s schools that said: “As we enter the cold months, we have begun to notice an increase in cases of illness among students, especially symptoms of fever, coughing, and vomiting. Noting that if such symptoms appear in your children, please consult a doctor to see if it is appropriate for him to attend school, for the safety of your child, his classmates, and the educational staff. Also, students who become ill during the school day will be sent to the nurse and must be taken immediately.”

Educators attributed the schools’ sending of warning letters to the students’ families to note the attendance of students with colds and coughs at school, and their contact with his colleagues, which causes the transmission of the infection. They pointed out that the insistence of the students’ families on sending their sick children to schools due to their working conditions and the lack of a companion at home to care for them, in addition to the keenness of some to have their children attend daily so that he is not academically affected by the absence, is what prompted schools to warn against the infected student’s attendance at school, in accordance with their commitment. By ensuring the health and safety of students, not just their education.

While doctors confirmed that prevention plays a crucial role in reducing infection with respiratory diseases “winter diseases”, especially in school environments where children are close to each other, stressing that primary prevention begins with obtaining vaccination against seasonal influenza to protect demand and enhance immunity within the school community, in addition to obligating students to follow preventive measures while they are in schools, to avoid contracting diseases and preventing their spread, especially during this period of the winter season, as climate changes and the noticeable drop in temperatures provide an appropriate environment for the spread of viruses, in addition to Make sure to provide him with a healthy food box to raise the body’s immunity.

The golden rule
Pediatrician Waiya Abdel Nasser said that cases of respiratory diseases peak between December and February, and young children are particularly vulnerable to contracting and spreading germs, which makes it important to know when to keep them at home – not only for their safety but to help prevent transmission of infection to classrooms, so the golden rule is to keep the child at home and not send him to school if he does not feel well enough to enjoy normal activities, or if he could be contagious and in case of doubt, keeping the child at home is the healthiest option in Often, spending a quiet day at home can speed up the improvement process.

Preventive measures
Meanwhile, the family doctor, Muhammad Samir, indicated that preventive measures for school students to avoid contracting diseases and prevent their spread should include: washing hands well with soap and water regularly, especially before eating, after using the toilet, and after blowing the nose, coughing, or sneezing, avoiding touching the eyes, nose, and mouth with a contaminated hand, making sure to use a tissue or the bend of the elbow when coughing or sneezing, cleaning and disinfecting surfaces that are frequently touched, in addition to avoiding close contact with sick students or sharing tools with them. And stay at home when sick until fully recovered.

Proper nutrition
Nutrition specialist, Dr. Fatima Bin Ammar, also pointed out that the school lunch bag has an important role in promoting student health, because preventing common diseases in school-age children requires strengthening the immune system through healthy food and drink, as nutrition plays a major role in strengthening the body’s immunity, pointing to the importance of foods rich in vitamins and minerals, such as vitamin C and vitamin D, and various types of fruits and vegetables, with the necessity of washing hands regularly to reduce exposure to viruses and bacteria, which limits infection that may occur. The immune system is weakened, and children getting enough hours of sleep contribute to the formation of a strong immunity capable of resisting diseases.

School clinic
The Department of Education and Knowledge has confirmed that the health and safety policy applied in all schools obligates each school to establish and manage a clinic within the school, to provide health care services to students, in line with the requirements and standards of the Department, and requires the school to obtain and maintain a health care facility license from the Department of Health to operate its clinic. Schools must also employ a full-time school nurse, who possesses a valid professional health license, and ensure that the school nurse meets the requirements for professional qualifications and performance standards set by the Department of Health, and fully understands and strictly adheres to all standards. The Department of Health, which regulates the administration of medications in schools, indicated that absence for medical reasons falls within the list of justified absences and is permitted for a period of 3 consecutive days and a maximum of 12 days in the school year. The school must be notified via a letter from the guardian, and starting from the fourth day, a sick leave approved by the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi must be submitted.