Tagged with ' back to school'

Gabriel Ryan, School Health Blog Writer and Contributor

Patience Makes Us Better People

Over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, federal, state, and county health departments, places of work, and schools have increased their focus on mental health and well-being. Resources have expanded through the radio, television, and social media. One example of a collection of resources for students, families and school districts can be found at this County Office of Education website. Their mental health experts have curated emotional well-being resources focused on Managing Anxiety During COVID-19. These resources are a great support as people adjust and adapt at home, at work, and at school as new guidelines, processes and procedures are outlined in our communities across the nation.

There are several aspects of mental health and well-being. One aspect often overlooked is…PATIENCE. Patience is the ability to calm the mind under stress so we can see our way clearly.

The global pandemic experience is different for everyone. Many people seem short tempered, overwhelmed, and busier than ever. Patience seems to have worn thin much more quickly for so many people. This is noticeable in all forms of communication and interaction, in person, on the phone, through media and online platforms. There are several reasons why patience levels are down or missing altogether. The last year and a half has brought forth an abundance of disagreements, hurt, confusion, fear, misunderstanding and the list goes on. There have been continuous changes in policies and procedures related to masking, social distancing, vaccinations, etc., which have contributed to the misunderstandings and frustration. In addition to the changes of rules and mandates, let’s also remember thousands of people stayed away from public places and not experienced the sights and sounds for a long time. People adjusted their day-to-day routines which can create a mix of anxiety and uncertainty about re-integrating in to the newer normal routines.

Many people are able to pick up on these changes quickly and just move about their day but this is not the case for everyone. Some individuals have a difficult time with transitioning from one activity or environment to the next. Changes to the rules and process may increase anxiety and confusion. These can all lead to lack of patience. Are you patient with yourself? What about with others?

I recently noticed when visiting stores and restaurants, I am a bit more sensitive to loud noises and people moving quickly toward me. My glasses fog up while wearing my mask. Between the fog and the mask itself, my vision is obstructed which can be an issue driving a power wheelchair and trying to be careful to not run into anyone or anything. I’m not always clear what the expectations are or what the updated policies require. I noticed feeling slightly on edge, because like many others, I have not frequented too many public places for a while. I’ve had to practice self-patience as I reintegrate into these activities again. Being aware of these feelings has helped me to find ways to adjust and cope. Practicing patience with myself has also increased my level of patience with others. I share this personal experience as just one example. You never know how those around you are handling these circumstances.

We all lose patience occasionally, we become frustrated and upset, confused, etc. It’s a part of life, but too much and too often can be stressful and can affect the people around us as well.

How do we learn and practice patience? What can we do to help ourselves and others?

Well a quick internet search of the word “patience” brings up 492 million results, not super helpful if you are already overwhelmed. A quick two minute video and related article by Mind Tools on How to Be Patient may be a great place to start. The article includes helpful links and brief highlights of the varieties of patience, benefits, and understanding impatience.

Since we do not control all things and people may not always agree with our points of view, by increasing our own practice of patience, we can more easily let go of things outside of our control and live with less stress, anxiety, and frustration.

Watch Gabe's video

As we begin this new academic year, we find ourselves wondering how education is going to look. Unlike last year, most districts have made the decision to go back to in-person learning. The recent rise of the delta variant has created a concern and many states, districts, and schools have begun recommending the use of masks. As we look forward to the 2021-22 academic year, let us look back on the past 18 months.  

In an attempt to keep schools in-person, districts nationwide are updating policies or making recommendations on mask usage for students and staff. Some districts have already mandated the use of masks for all students, faculty, and staff in the buildings, while others have placed the decision of mask use on the shoulders of the parents. In many districts, fully vaccinated faculty and staff have been given the option to wear a mask or not, while other districts have relied heavily on the guidelines of their local Health Departments. Whatever decision your school or district has made, School Health is here to help you keep your students, staff, and communities safe and healthy with a wide selection of masks and PPE.

When it comes to our students and those who interact with them —whether in classroom settings or in therapeutic settings —I always recommend clear masks. Using clear masks allows the mouth to be displayed to those around you and has a lot of great benefits for learners of all ages and abilities. For teachers, it can be helpful for many students to see you smile or watch your mouth move while you are speaking. In my conversations with many Speech-Language Pathologists, they have discussed how much they have relied on clear masks for their in-person therapy sessions. When students are able to see the mouth and all of its movement, they are able to continue with essential developmental processes, while limiting some distraction from a covered face.

Students wearing clear masks can still recognize facial expressions and emotions, express themselves and their emotional state, read lips while someone is speaking, and more. It can also help teachers and staff better communicate with students by eliminating some chance of miscommunication. Another great benefit of using clear masks for students is the sense of normalcy they provide by allowing students to smile at each other, react to peers’ facial expressions, and interact with friends as they are used to doing. By eliminating as many stressors as possible, our students can focus on their learning and social activities without the added emotional and physical stressors of miscommunication or social insecurities.

While we head back into in-person learning across the country, please be aware that masks are already in high demand. The country continues to suffer from shortages in raw materials and personnel available to transport products from location to location. With that in mind, ordering supplies ahead of time and preparing for the colder months now can help ensure you’ll have the supplies you need this cold and flu season, or in case of a COVID-19 outbreak at your facility. When selecting products, it can be difficult to choose what may work best for your students and facility. We are proud to have high-quality PPE products you can trust, and our team is always here to help you find the products to best serve your needs.

We thank you for doing all that you do for our students in these uncertain times!

For many children, school is the primary provider of health care screenings

The pandemic not only hampered learning, but for many disadvantaged students, also limited essential health services.

Though this fall may provide something that feels similar to a typical back-to-school routine, for many, it’s about much more than sitting in a classroom or having lunch with friends. For some children in the United States, school is the only setting where they receive consistent access to health care services - especially for underprivileged and rural households. According to the School-Based Health Alliance, more than 70% of students ages 12 to 18 in schools with clinics receive age-appropriate screenings and care for important childhood issues. Because of this, whether or not they realize it, many school employees serve as frontline healthcare workers.

School nurses often perform screenings to detect key health issues that may prevent children from excelling in the classroom. These include hearing and vision problems, as well as chronic conditions like asthma, scoliosis, or diabetes, and sometimes even dental issues. All of these conditions can create pain or distraction for students who may already be struggling to learn. Teachers are also typically among the first to recognize these challenges in their classroom students - and detection is the first step to creating a better quality of life (and educational environment) for these young students.

Health care commonly starts on campus

When it comes to pediatric and adolescent health services, a reality check is in order. Many primary care providers, including pediatricians, only offer appointments during weekdays, which can be a challenge for working parents. Lack of transportation is also an issue for many U.S. families, and for those in rural areas, doctor’s appointments can require overnight stays and substantial time away from home and school. School-based health centers (SBHCs) are uniquely positioned to provide more comprehensive medical services to school-age youth.  This type of care delivery is on the rise, but still only present in about 2,300 US K-12 campuses, leaving critical care delivery and important screenings to be provided in designated classrooms or small on-campus nurse’s offices.

Below are a few interesting statistics around health care delivery in a school setting:

●The Department of Health and Human Services estimates that 18 million children and adolescents have special health care needs or a chronic illness.

●While only 16% of adolescents receive any sort of mental health services, a startling 70-80% of those services are delivered in a school setting.

●Research has shown that 10% to 25% of childhood injuries (the leading cause of death and disability among children) occur while they are in school. And, acute episodes of chronic conditions such as asthma attacks, epileptic seizures, and cardiac problems can happen at any time, but are often managed by on-campus health professionals.

Protecting respiratory health is key in returning to indoor instruction

Our education system often functions as both a healthcare and social service provider, and staff do their best to make sure no student is slipping through the cracks. The COVID-19 pandemic completely eliminated on-campus learning, and for a substantial period of time, created a barrier not just to education, but to the health and safety of many students. School districts and state programs did their best to get meals to students who needed them - but healthcare provision was essentially halted. Now that students are returning to the classroom for the upcoming school year, school systems must do everything in their power to resume health services that protect quality of life for students and allow for optimum education delivery.

For rural and underprivileged populations, respiratory problems go beyond COVID complications. Studies have shown that complicating factors like wildfire seasons (in rural areas) and air pollution (typically higher in lower-income neighborhoods) can dramatically reduce lung health and immune functions. These challenges existed pre-pandemic, but as we return to traditional in-person learning settings, educational settings and school-based healthcare delivery must both consider the ongoing need for safe indoor air quality. This is especially a concern for smaller spaces where airborne pathogen transmission can more easily occur between students, staff, or healthcare professionals.  

Between COVID, allergy/flu seasons, and ever-present airborne pollutants, providing students and staff with pure, clean air is an important step in delivering safe and effective care in the school setting. To help, take advantage of products like the Celios G200 Advanced Air Purifier - equipped with one of the few filters on the market capable of capturing the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

Educators and their partners share a responsibility to do all we can to protect our students. As a nation, it’s our responsibility to recognize the invaluable role that our education system plays in keeping children safe. The ability to safely participate in an in-person learning environment is about far more than just academic success - for a large percentage of our country’s youth, it is quite literally the foundation for their health and well-being.