Excerpt from: Bella Online (click for full article)
Practicing appropriate cleanliness and disinfection habits, and being
aware of food safety rules is important for all children, but even more
for those with disabilities, chronic health conditions or reduced immune
response. School staff, extended family and other caregivers may be
unaware of health and safety issues unless there is a food allergy or
sensitivity, diabetes or other health condition in the family. Studies
have shown that having children in childcare, preschool and primary
grades regularly wash their hands reduces the incidence of absence due
to illness by 30% to 67%. The use of alcohol-based or alcohol-free hand
sanitizers has shown similar effectiveness in high schools and colleges.
Public health officials promote hand washing and flu shots for the
general population to reduce the risk and severity of year flu
epidemics. They have found that there is a greater risk of death from
flu among individuals with developmental disabilities or chronic health
conditions. My son has Down syndrome and Type One Diabetes, so it is
very important to me that those in our community wash their hands and
get flu shots to reduce the risk to him.
I also support food safety education for parents. Babies and vulnerable
children are at greater risk of serious illness from food borne illness
or spoiled food. Families who rely on childcare and school with no one
at home to care for a sick child may feel they have no choice but to
send their son or daughter to daycare or school while they are ill. This
can have a devastating effect on other children.
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