School Nursing Newsletter April/May 2017
Every school has its own school nurse. Your nurse has special training in looking after
the health and wellbeing of children. You can make an appointment to see your
School Nurse to talk confidentially about any worries you have about your child’s
health and wellbeing, including issues around behaviour, bedwetting, weight, eating,
sleeping & other issues.
Please contact your school reception to make an appointment. You may also contact
the School Nursing team directly on (01733) 746822
National Smile Month
May 15th – June 15th 2017
National Smile Month is the UK’s largest and longest
running campaign to promote good oral health.
National Smile Month highlights three key messages:
1. Brush your teeth last thing at night and at least
one other time during the day
2. Cut down on how often you have sugary foods
and drinks
3. Visit your dentist regularly, as often as they
recommend.
Top Tips for Children’s Oral Health
- Children over 3 years old should use a toothpaste that
contains a fluoride level of 1350ppm – 1500ppm
- Parents should try and supervise their children’s tooth
brushing until they are about 7 years old
- Use a timer or brush along to a song to ensure that the
children are brushing for the correct amount of time, 3
minutes!
- Use a reward chart to keep track of your children’s
brushing habits and get them actively involved in brushing
their teeth
Medicine Safety
http://www.nationalsmilemonth.org/
Sun Safety Week
8th -14th May
Eight out of ten people are failing to adequately
apply sunscreen before going out in the sun,
according to a survey carried out by the British
Association of Dermatologists.
It’s common knowledge that whilst some sun is
good for us, over exposure to UV is a serious health
risk and the primary cause of skin cancer &
melanoma. Burning as a child can dramatically
increase a person’s risk of developing the disease in
later life.
With children spending a lot of their time at school,
outdoors everyday during peak UV hours (11am3pm), it is very important to ensure that they are
adequately protected and understand the
importance of enjoying the sun safely.
The 5 S’s
Slip a t-shirt on to cover the shoulders
Slap a hat on to protect the head and neck
Slop sunscreen on exposed areas of skin
Also remember Sunglasses and spending time in
the Shade during peak times.
http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/pregnancy-andbaby/Pages/safety-in-the-sun.aspx
School Nursing Newsletter April/May 2017
School Nursing Team (01733) 746822
Medicine Safety
Every day, 15 young children are admitted into hospital because it’s thought they’ve swallowed something
poisonous.
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Swallowing medicines like everyday painkillers that might be kept in a handbag or bedside cabinet is a
common way for children to be poisoned. Don’t leave bags on the floor, and be aware when you visit other
people’s houses for medicines that may be easier to access.
Child resistant tops and blister packs for tablets help to slow children down but they are not childproof.
Hospitals are reporting growing numbers of children accidentally swallowing liquid nicotine from e-cigarette
refills. There is a risk of poisoning from swallowing e-cigarette liquid.
What to do….
- When you give a child medicine, never pretend it’s a treat or a sweet- they may get the wrong idea about other
medicines.
- Put all medicines up & away, out of sight. Make sure all medicines and vitamins are stored out of reach and out
of sight of children.
- In an emergency:
 Don’t make the child sick, or give them anything to eat or drink.
 Get medical help immediately by ringing 111 or 999
 Remember to take the package or bottle to the hospital
Child Accident Prevention Trust http://capt.org.uk
Coping with test and exam worry
Useful Websites
Tests and exams can be a challenging part of school
life for children & young people, and their parents or carers. There are
ways to ease the stress.
To find a local dentist
http://www.nhs.uk/ServiceSearch/Dentist/LocationSearch/3
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Make sure your child eats well. A balanced diet is vital for your child’s
health
Help your child get enough sleep
Talk about nerve. Remind your child that feeling anxious is normal
Don’t add to the pressure, give support and avoid criticism.
Praise effort rather than results
Make time for treats!
Preventing poisoning
http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/P
oisoning/Pages/Prevention.aspx
Finally, remind your child that they are far greater and know much
more than the specific tests assess. Remind them that a single test
only measures how much they remember about the specific
questions and not the wealth of knowledge they have acquired that
was not chosen for the test questions.
Healthy Peterborough
http://www.healthypeterboroug
h.org.uk/
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School Nursing Newsletter April/May 2017
Sunscreen and safety
http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/skin
/Pages/Sunsafe.aspx
School Nursing Team (01733) 746822