The Teesdale Times

Staying Well at School

Thunderstorm Asthma - Be Prepared This Pollen Season

Grass pollen season, which typically runs from October to December each year in Victoria, brings an increase in asthma and hay fever symptoms. It also increases the risk of thunderstorm asthma. For people with asthma or hay fever, especially those who experience wheezing or coughing with their hay fever, thunderstorm asthma can be sudden, serious and even life threatening.

 

Teesdale Primary School will implement a range of measures to keep our school community safe as the risk of thunderstorm asthma increases.

Many of our staff are trained in asthma first aid, and we will monitor the VicEmergency app to receive thunderstorm warnings, and, where appropriate, keep students indoors when weather forecasts identify greater risk.

 

During the season, there are some things you can do to prepare and protect yourself and your family:

· If your child has ever had asthma, talk to your doctor about what you can do to help protect them from the risk of thunderstorm asthma this pollen season, including updating your asthma action plan. Taking an asthma preventer properly and regularly is key to preventing asthma, including thunderstorm asthma.

· If your child has hay fever, see your pharmacist or doctor for a hay fever treatment plan and check if you should have an asthma reliever puffer. These are available from a pharmacy without a prescription.

· If your child has hay fever and experiences wheezing and coughing, it is important to make sure they don’t also have asthma. Speak to your doctor about an asthma action plan.

· Where possible, avoid being outside during thunderstorms from October to December, especially during the wind gusts that come before the storm. Go inside and close your doors and windows. If you have your air conditioning on, turn it to ‘recirculate’.

Protect yourself this pollen season – managing asthma and allergies matters.

 

For more information, speak to your doctor. You can also visit the Better Health Channel website.

Current advice to schools regarding the management of Covid-19:

  • The Department of Health recommends that staff and students who test positive for COVID-19 isolate for a minimum of 5 days and do not attend school until their symptoms resolve. 
  • As of 10 July 2023 schools are no longer required to record student cases of COVID-19 reported by parents or carers in the School COVID-19 Case Management Tool. This change is consistent with changes Department of Health made on 1 July 2023, removing the option for the community to self-report their rapid antigen test (RAT) results.
  • The following link provides further information about how schools manage Covid 19 from the latest update to the School Operations Guide (25 July). 

COVID-19 — School Operations: Advice | education.vic.gov.au

 

Our school has masks for staff, students and visitors if they want to wear them. 

Other Links

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Victoria

Coronavirus Hotline - 1800 675 398

Nurse on Call - Hotline 1300 60 60 24

 

When Students are Unwell

Thank you for keeping students at home when they are unwell. Should students be unwell at school our First Aid Policy states staff may contact parents/carers or an emergency contact person to ask them to collect the student. Our First Aid Policy can be found on our website under Parent Resources.