Coronavirus Updates:
Infants and coronavirus
The use of face masks in babies and young children (under the age of 3)
Face masks must NOT be put on babies and young children (under the age of 3) in an effort to protect them from coronavirus. Wearing a face mask in this age group can put babies and children at serious risk of harm or death:
- Babies and young children have smaller airways so breathing through a mask is harder for them.
- Masks could increase the risk of suffocation because they are harder to breathe through.
- Babies are unable to remove the mask should they have trouble breathing.
- Infants could be at risk of becoming tangled, especially if they try to remove a mask, potentially causing serious injury.
- Older infants or young toddlers are not likely to keep the mask on and will touch their face more to try and remove it.
Unfortunately there are masks on the market that should not be used (see below). The Lullaby Trust reinforces this advice
Warning: free school meals scam
We’ve been made aware of a scam about free school meals. Some families have been sent an email asking for them to send their bank details to ‘make sure they are supported’.
Dorset Council will never ask for your details: please ignore any emails like this and report as spam. Dorset Council are working with schools to make sure all children who’d normally get a free school meal do so, whether they’re in school or not. Schools, or in some cases the Council themselves, will be in touch with you to confirm your arrangements.
Resources of parents and carers
Check out the Dorset Council Schools and Family page. It has useful information for parents and carers on caring arrangements for children, school information during the coronavirus pandemic, school transport, SEND families: special schools and services and lots more.
They have also gathered some resources to help you and your children during the coming weeks including activities, arts, crafts and games.
Responding to CSA during COVID-19
Victims of child sexual abuse and exploitation are potentially on lockdown with their abusers at this time. Organisations and members of the community need to be vigilant to these concerns and be able to respond if necessary.
The PDSCP have run a campaign #TellSomeone if you feel unsafe and details are on our PDSCP website. There are also national campaigns running and the details and posters are attached.
