Teach Covid protocol to kids: Experts

Need for students, parents and staff of educational institutions to exercise maximum caution is emphasised

Hyderabad: With schools all set to open in the State from September 1, the need for students, parents and also the staff of educational institutions to exercise maximum caution and take proactive steps adhering to Covid-19 protocols is being stressed upon.

Sharing two simple steps for parents to ensure their children’s health, Dr Anjul Dayal, senior pediatrician, Continental Hospitals says: “First teach your child the importance of masks and that, unless the teacher permits them, they should not take off the mask. Secondly, parents can give the kids a small sanitiser bottle, and ask them to use it after every period. Also, make sure that the child doesn’t attend the school if there is anyone sick at home.”

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The pediatrician further adds that the schools also should take steps to ensure everyone’s safety.

“I would recommend that the entire staff of the schools – teaching and non-teaching – be vaccinated. Ensure that once the student reaches their classroom, they do not leave it until the end of day. Teach them in well ventilated rooms. Also, teachers can start their class by asking the students to sanitise their hands. Strictly no assemblies or sports periods,” advises Dr. Dayal.

Sharing a few tips about the well-being of children while they are in the school bus, Dr Sivaranjani Santosh, consultant pediatrician, Magna Centres, says: “Commuting will be a tricky part. The school administration should ensure that the bus functions with only 50 per cent capacity. Also, rather than closing the windows, they can use a mesh so that the bus is well-ventilated, and at the same time, the child cannot put his/her arm out.”

Since the second wave started tapering down, several posts on social media have been forewarning about the risks of Covid cases among children during a possible third wave.

Putting the rumours to rest, Dr Sivaranjani shares: “If the virus doesn’t behave differently from how it did during the second wave, the likelihood of serious Covid illness among kids is less likely even during the third wave. We have to understand that during the second wave, we saw few cases of Covid in children. I do not see the scenario changing during the third wave. It is also important to note that children have been much more compliant than the adults as far as adherence to Covid appropriate behaviour is concerned.”

While strict adherence to Covid appropriate behaviour will help ward off the risks, doctors advise that early diagnosis and treatment will ensure recovery, be it Covid-19 or any other illness.

HHF volunteers to help schools take precautionary measures

Hyderabad: With schools in Hyderabad set to open in the coming days, Helping Hand Foundation (HHF), a voluntary organisation involved in the field of health, has offered its services on not-for-profit-basis to facilitate schools take-up Covid precautionary measures.

The HHF in a press release said that they have come up with a plan to extend support to schools, in order to help them screen, triage, isolate, treat, and monitor students’ health and to prevent and control the spread of Covid and other seasonal diseases. The HHF is willing to offer setting up a triaging system, provide nursing assistance, counsellors, doctors to screen, isolate, treat and monitor students.

Interested schools can contact: 9603540864, 9704764974.

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