September signals the start of a new academic year. New classes, different teachers and bigger schools. This can be an intimidating time for pupils, as surroundings change and routines are altered from the previous year.
Settling into a new class can be even harder for children who use oxygen. In this article, you can find advice for kids, parents and teachers for getting back to school.
First and foremost, children who use oxygen at school are encouraged to engage in normal schooling activities, including Physical Education, science experiments and attending field trips! A child’s oxygen equipment will enable them to attend school all day, ensuring that they receive the proper education that young people are entitled to.
However, safety should always be a priority; Baywater Healthcare offer training and support to ensure the safe use of oxygen equipment within the school environment. This training can be of use to teachers who are unfamiliar with the dangers of oxygen usage, for schools new to oxygen as they welcome more pupils, or for the peace of mind of parents, knowing that their child is aware of safe practice.
Baywater Healthcare recommend a risk assessment to be carried out at schools before they receive an intake of pupils who use oxygen. This risk assessment will eliminate the likelihood of incidents before they happen. Don’t hesitate to contact your child’s school to discuss what systems they currently have in place.
It is important that there is a clear line of communication between pupil, parent and the school, so any problems or difficulties that may arise can be resolved effectively. Remember, Baywater Healthcare are not able to offer healthcare advice over the phone, we recommend that should you have any concerns regarding your child’s condition while attending school, that you seek the advice of medical professionals.
It is vital that children know that they can live a perfectly happy life when using oxygen, and that their condition doesn’t have to mean that they miss out on having fun with their friends at school!
