Health & Safety

First Aid At School
    
The school subscribes to the Ambulance Service, which covers all students attending the school for free ambulance travel during school hours and while on approved excursions with the school.  This cover is only from school to hospital.  Parents are to make their own arrangements for return from hospital to home.  On occasions when students have accidents at school requiring medical attention, every effort is made to contact parents or others nominated before any child is transported to hospital.  If contact cannot be made, the principal has the authority to seek medical attention as required.

The following diseases are the most common illnesses requiring exclusion from school:

  

Disease	Exclusion Period	Contacts
Chicken Pox	At least 5 days after spots appear	Not excluded
German Measles	At least 4 days after rash appears	Not excluded
Measles	At least 4 days after rash appears	Not excluded
Mumps	Until child has fully recovered and for 9 days after the appearance of the swelling	Not excluded

          
There are other infections which require exclusion (eg Scarlet Fever, Hepatitis) and some which require special treatment before the child may return to school (eg Scabies, Head Lice, Ringworm).

Pediculosis (Head Lice)

Unfortunately, we sometimes have a problem at school with head lice.  Your child could be one of those affected.  Head lice are only pin-size and very difficult to see.  The eggs, however, are white and can be more easily seen.  They are most commonly found attached to the hairs at the back of the neck and behind the ears.

Please examine your child very carefully and regularly.  Head lice multiply within groups of people who are in close contact.  They cause itching of the scalp but are not a serious condition, so do not be alarmed if your child is affected.  Treatment is easy and effective.

Available (without prescription) from your pharmacy are products which kill both the lice and their eggs.  It is important that after using such a preparation as directed, considerable care and time must then be taken to comb the hair with a fine-tooth comb to remove all the dead eggs and lice.  Only when this has been done may the child return to school.  Clothing, hats, towels, pillow slips, combs and other articles that may be contaminated should be dry cleaned or washed (using the hot cycle of a washing machine) to help prevent the problem recurring.

Reinfestation is always possible, hence the importance of regular examination.  A second treatment eight to ten days later also helps to ensure complete elimination.

       
Sun Protection

We are very conscious of the need for protection from the sun in our hot climate.  Parents are urged to ensure their children wear hats.  An appropriate sunscreen lotion is also necessary for extended outdoor activities.  Pump-action containers of sunscreen are available in all classrooms for students' use.


Crossings

Children entering and leaving the school and crossing the streets are to use the marked crossings in Church Street, Bulwer Street and Olive Street.