The Wyndham Way

Healthy Community

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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.

 

Wyndham Central College 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. 

 

Get up to date on HPV vaccination

Background

The HPV vaccine protects against nine types of HPV that cause most cervical cancers, other HPV related cancers and genital warts.

The vaccine is free and recommended for Australians of all genders aged 12 to 25 through the National Immunisation Program and is usually given to children aged 12 to 13 through the Secondary School Immunisation Program.

However, many Victorians have missed out on the HPV vaccine putting them at higher risk of developing cervical cancer, other HPV-related cancers and genital warts. In fact, one in seven 15-year-olds have missed out on getting the HPV vaccine in school, increasing their risk of these diseases in the future.

People aged 25 and under who have missed out on the HPV vaccine are encouraged to catch up for free at their doctor, local council immunisation service or some pharmacies.

 

Get up to date on HPV vaccination

Did your child miss out on the HPV vaccine at school?

The HPV vaccine is provided for free to children aged 12 to 13 through school-based programs and protects against nine types of HPV which cause most cervical cancers, other HPV-related cancers and genital warts.

It’s important for Australians aged 25 and under who have missed the vaccine in school to catch up as soon as possible. You can book in for a free catch up through your doctor, local council immunisation provider and some pharmacies.

Find out more about the HPV vaccine and how to catch up at hpvvaccine.org.au

Whooping Cough

Whooping cough Whooping cough cases are continuing to increase across Victoria, particularly among school-aged children. Whooping cough is a very contagious infection, mostly spread through coughing or sneezing. 

 

Symptoms include:

· blocked or runny nose

· tiredness

· mild fever

· severe bouts of coughing, often followed by a ‘whooping’ sound on breathing

 

Whooping cough can lead to life threatening infections in babies.

If your child is unwell, they should not attend school. Please see a doctor if you or your child develops whooping cough symptoms. Early diagnosis and treatment will help reduce the spread of the infection.

 

To reduce the spread of infection and to protect others within the school community, students diagnosed with whooping cough are recommended not to attend school for 21 days after their cough was first present, or until they have taken a full course of antibiotics prescribed by a doctor (usually a 5-day course).

 

If your child is diagnosed with whooping cough, please contact the school to let us know.

I hope we can work together to protect the whole school community by following the recommended advice.

 

Vaccination is the best way to reduce the risk of whooping cough. The Department of Health recommends staying up to date with immunisations, including booster doses. A free booster dose of the pertussis vaccine is covered under the national immunisation program for students aged 12 to 13. If you are unsure about your child’s vaccination status for whooping cough, please discuss with an immunisation provider, such as your doctor.

 

I really appreciate your support in keeping our students safe and well.

Stay well this spring

Symptoms of influenza (flu) can hit very quickly and may last several weeks.  Vaccination is the best way to protect yourself and others from getting the flu.

 

Keeping our school community well

Parents, carers and students are encouraged to practice prevention measures, including:

.    washing and sanitising hands regularly

.    avoiding touching eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands

.    covering nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing

.    staying home if unwell and consulting a general practitioner (GP) or Nurse-on-call as            required

.   staying up to date with flue and COVID-19 vaccinations

 

Flu vaccinations

Flu vaccinations can be booked through GP's and pharmacies, many of which can also provide COVID-19 vaccinations.  Flu vaccination is recommended for everyone aged 6 months and over.

Some people are more at risk of complications from flu and are eligible for free vaccination as part of the National Immunisation Program.

 

COVID-19 booster

The 2024 COVID-19 booster dose is available for everyone aged 18 and above.

Getting your booster dose remains the best way to prevent severe illness or hospitalisation, especially in people over 65 and those at higher risk of severe illness. 

Children aged between 5 and 17 years who are at risk of severe illness can also receive a 2024 booster dose.

You can get your next dose at your local pharmacy or GP.

Staying COVID Safe

Reducing community transmission of COVID in Victoria.

 

You can help us keep our school as safe as possible by taking 2 important steps:

 

1. Ensure your COVID vaccinations are up to date. Information on how and where to get vaccinated is available on the Get vaccinated webpage.

 

2. If your child shows symptoms of COVID, please ensure they stay home and get tested. The easiest way to test is to use a Rapid Antigen Test (RAT).

 

If your child has symptoms but tests negative, please ensure they stay home until they no longer have symptoms.

 

If the RAT test result is positive, please ensure they say home for at least 5 days and until there are no more symptoms.

 

Thank you for your support – these steps will help us all stay well.

 

Vaping

Smoking and Vaping is banned in and around schools

The Tobacco Act 1987 bans smoking or vaping on school premises or within 4 metres of any pedestrian access point to school premises. The smoking and vaping ban applies to:

  • anyone present on school premises during and outside of school hours including students, teachers, and school visitors
  • all activities that take place on school premises.

Smoking and vaping are also not permitted during school events and excursions held off school premises.

 

Smoking is burning something to breathe smoke into the lungs, such as a cigarette. Vaping is breathing in vapor from heated liquid.

Both smoking and vaping involve breathing in chemicals that can harm your health.

 

How vaping affects your child's body

Vaping can cause significant harm to your child’s body:

  • Short-term it can cause vomiting, nausea, coughing, shortness of breath, mouth irritation and asthma
  • Long-term it can cause lung damage, heart disease and cancers.

E-cigarettes are still being studied, but most experts think it is likely vaping will cause lung and mouth cancers.

Nicotine is a poison that can make people sick if swallowed and has been linked to the deaths of small children.

Exposing children and teens to nicotine can harm their brain development and lead to higher risk of dependence. Children and teens who use e-cigarettes are more than three times more likely to move onto smoking cigarettes.

E-cigarettes can also explode and catch fire.

 

Talking to your child or teen about smoking and vaping

As a parent or carer, you have an important role in protecting your child from smoking and vaping. Parent views on smoking and vaping can influence their children’s behaviours. The most important thing you can do is to talk to your child or teen about smoking, vaping and other drugs.