Safety & First Aid News 

Allergy Season

Spring has sprung and seasonal allergic rhinitis or spring hay fever is on the rise. Itchy ears and throat, a runny nose, sneezing and watery eyes can all impact your child’s school day. In some cases, the symptoms of hay fever can be so severe that a person can’t sleep or concentrate, and may feel tired or unwell.

If your child suffers from hay fever it is important that you provide the school with an Action Plan for Allergic Reactions (link). These plans are medical documents and must be completed and signed by your child’s treating doctor.  If an antihistamine is prescribed, and you would like to keep a supply in first aid, please ensure it is handed directly to a staff member, clearly labelled and in its original packaging. 

Resources:

• Visit the Melbourne Pollen Count and Forecast website https://www.melbournepollen.com.au/
• Download the Melbourne Pollen Count app managed by the University of Melbourne to stay informed and take the necessary precautions
• Visit the Deakin AirWatch website https://airwatch.deakin.edu.au/ for information about the pollen monitoring sites managed by Deakin University

Emergency Management

As part of Emergency Management procedures, evacuation drills are conducted at least once per term during October to April to either an on-site Shelter-in-Place or off-site evacuation area as specified in the EMP.  When such occurs, parents/community will be informed via Compass as to type of drill and/or location.