Health

Noise And Hearing Information

Loud noise can damage the sensitive structures within your inner ear, leading to irreversible hearing loss. It’s important to know that loud noises don’t have to be physically painful to cause hearing damage; the harm is cumulative, similar to how exposure to the sun gradually damages your skin even if you don’t get sunburned. The higher the level of sound and the longer the exposure, the more damage is likely to occur.

How much noise is too much noise?

If you need to raise your voice or shout to carry on a conversation, the noise around you is probably too loud. If your ears are sore or ringing, you may have damaged your hearing. Most of the daily activities won’t harm your hearing, but some activities can start to cause damage after only a short time.

Tips for protecting your hearing

Avoid loud sounds and noise.
If you can’t avoid a loud sound, you should protect your ears with earplugs or earmuffs. Balls of cottonwool or tissue offer little protection.
Sudden, very intense sounds, such as gunshots, are particularly dangerous and can cause immediate, permanent hearing loss.
Use hearing protection such as earplugs at loud music events. Special earplugs can be made for musicians to protect their hearing while preserving the sound quality of the music.
Give your ears frequent rest from noise. Limit your time in very noisy places and take regular breaks in quieter areas.
Set the volume of your portable music player at a moderate level. Don’t turn up the volume of your stereo to try to drown out background noise. As a general rule, set the volume to a level where you can hear someone at arm’s length without them having to shout.

Important Changes To Epipen Administration

If your child has a prescribed Epipen for emergency treatment of Anaphylaxis, please note recent changes to Epipen administration from ASCIA (Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy):

Epipen injection time has changed from 10 seconds to 3 seconds – this is based on research confirming efficacy and delivery of adrenaline through the 3 second delivery.
Removal of the massage step after the injection – this has been found to reduce the risk of tissue irritation.

All EpiPen®s should now be held in place for 3 seconds, regardless of the instructions on the label. However, if they are held for 10 seconds it will not affect the way that the adrenaline works.

To access updated ASCIA Action Plans for Anaphylaxis, ASCIA anaphylaxis e-training courses, the 3 second EpiPen® training video and other resources go to: www.allergy.org.au/anaphylaxis

Year 12 Meningococcal Consent Forms

The Department of Health Vaccine team will be visiting the College on Thursday 29 June to administer Meningococcal Vaccine to Year 12 students. Consent forms were sent home with your child three weeks ago. Please find attached consent form and fact sheet if you have not already received.

It is important signed Consent forms are returned by this Monday 19 June.

Thankyou

Jenny Hill

College Nurse

Reference: Department of Health WA