Latest news with #studenthealth
Khaleej Times
a day ago
- General
- Khaleej Times
UAE: Some schools ban trolley bags for students; here's why
Several schools across the UAE are advising parents not to send their children with trolley bags for the upcoming academic year, citing health, safety, and practical concerns. Even as families are yet to begin their back-to-school shopping amid the summer break, some parents have received circulars urging them to reconsider their bag choices. Recommended For You Educators and healthcare professionals are urging parents to prioritise safety and smart habits over convenience or trends when choosing a school bag. Stay up to date with the latest news. Follow KT on WhatsApp Channels. This isn't the first time schools have addressed school bag concerns. In August last year, Abu Dhabi authorities reminded institutions that a student's backpack should not exceed 20 per cent of their body weight. Since then, a growing number of schools across the Emirates have moved to implement lighter bag policies and age-specific weight guidelines to minimise the physical strain on students. Safety before convenience At the heart of this shift is a focus on student wellbeing. 'The removal of trolley bags across Woodlem Schools is a student-centered initiative aimed primarily at safeguarding students' health and wellbeing," said Noufal Ahmed, managing director at Woodlem Education. He cited multiple issues with trolley bags, including physical strain from dragging them, tripping hazards on stairs, and excessive noise. "Trolley bags also contribute to congestion and clutter in classrooms, increasing the risk of tripping inside the classroom, too," he added. To ease the burden, Woodlem Schools are reinforcing their BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) policy and e-learning platforms to reduce reliance on heavy textbooks. With lockers available on campus, students are encouraged to bring only the essentials in lightweight, ergonomic backpacks. Meanwhile, Shining Star International School in Abu Dhabi takes a more age-specific approach. 'We recommend that students in Foundation Stage and Upper Primary use trolley bags, as their shoulders are still developing and carrying heavy loads could strain their spine and body. "For middle and senior school students, backpacks are more suitable. We advise students to pack their bags according to the timetable to keep the overall weight below eight for older students," she explained. Injury risks Healthcare experts across the UAE are backing schools' concerns, warning that trolley bags aren't as safe as many assume. 'While trolley bags may reduce direct pressure on the back, they are not necessarily safe. Tripping hazards are a major concern. Manoeuvring trolley bags in such settings can also lead to wrist and shoulder strain. In many cases, children end up carrying trolley bags up steps or over curbs, defeating the purpose and increasing injury risk," explained Dr Amr El Zawahry, Consultant Pediatrician at Medcare Royal Specialty Hospital. He emphasised that the solution lies not just in choosing the right type of ergonomically appropriate bag, but also in reducing what goes inside — by using lockers, digital textbooks, or lighter materials. Dr Maleeha Rafiq, consultant paediatrics at NMC Royal Hospital, added that poor usage of trolley bags could result in a range of musculoskeletal issues. She advises that parents and schools not only focus on the type of bag, but also on how it's used, how much it carries, and how it fits the child's daily school environment. 'Children often use them incorrectly, which can lead to uneven muscle strain, altered walking patterns, and even spinal misalignment,' she said. "Trolley bags can easily trip other students... and the larger size makes them harder to store neatly in classrooms or buses. Besides, the wheels can be noisy and disruptive, and the larger size of trolley bags makes them harder to store neatly in classrooms or buses," she added. nandini@ Nandini Sircar has a penchant for education, space, and women's narratives. She views the world through a prism of learning: whether it's the earthly pursuit of wisdom or the unearthly mysteries of space. In her written universe, women and children take centre stage.
Reuters
07-07-2025
- Climate
- Reuters
Students shelter in libraries as heatwave hits eastern China
BEIJING, July 7 (Reuters) - Universities in eastern China scrambled to upgrade their dorms with air conditioning, and one let students sleep in cooler libraries, after near record temperatures raised concerns about the health of students and staff. One student at Qingdao University in Shandong suffered from heat stroke, and the school would upgrade its student accommodation over the summer break, Jimu News, an arm of state-run Hubei Daily, reported. One member of staff there died on Sunday morning after showing signs of "physical distress", the university said, without saying whether that was linked to the heatwave. The staff member was a dormitory supervisor, Jimu News said. A total of 28 locations across central Henan and eastern Shandong provinces issued their most severe alerts for extreme heat on Monday. Parts of the coastal city of Qingdao saw temperatures soar to 40.5 degrees Celsius (104.9 degrees Fahrenheit) over the weekend, just 0.5C below the highest recorded there since records began in 1961, according to the official Qingdao Daily. Qingdao University, which did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Reuters, was one of at least six colleges in Shandong to announce plans to upgrade student accommodation in recent days. Yantai Nanshan University, also in Shandong, said on Monday it would let students stay overnight in libraries as it prepared to work on the student halls. Video footage posted by Jimu News showed scores of students sitting on the floor in air-conditioned supermarkets to escape the heat. The heatwave has piled pressure onto China's power grid. The national electricity load surged to a record 1.47 billion kilowatts on Friday as demand for air conditioning spiked, according to state broadcaster CCTV. The announcements will fuel concerns over Chinese institutions' preparedness for extreme weather events, which scientists say are exacerbated by global warming. In 2022, China was hit by the worst heatwaves since 1961, with many parts enduring a 79-day hot spell from mid-June to late August. According a 2023 report published in the medical journal The Lancet, there were about 50,900 heatwave-related deaths in China that year. No official death toll was disclosed at the time. China does not provide regular tallies of heat-related deaths.
Associated Press
13-06-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Camfil IAQ Specialists Highlight the Need to Rethink Air Filter Procurement in Schools
06/12/2025, Riverdale, NJ // KISS PR Brand Story PressWire // Poor indoor air quality has been shown to negatively impact cognitive function, student performance, attendance, and overall health. Many schools across the country are unintentionally compromising indoor air quality due to outdated procurement policies that prioritize the cheapest filters instead of long-term performance and sustainability. Despite the efforts of administrators to safeguard student and staff well-being, many schools continue to struggle with this issue. Camfil, a global leader in clean air solutions, provides insight into one of the major factors impacting air quality, student health, and operational efficiency in schools in a recently released YouTube video. 'Schools often buy the cheapest filters that meet the minimum MERV requirement,' explains Mark Davidson, Camfil's Manager of Marketing and Technical Materials, 'While that appears to save money upfront, it can backfire, reducing ventilation, raising energy costs, and sometimes collapsing, allowing dirty air to bypass entirely. This forces districts to replace filters more frequently, driving up operational costs and straining maintenance department budgets.' Camfil advocates for a performance-based approach to air filter procurement, emphasizing the benefits of investing in high-performance, long-lasting air filters. These premium filters, though initially more expensive, outperform economy-grade filters and last twice, three times, or four times as long. The results of upgrading air filters for school districts include: Camfil is calling for schools to rethink their air filter procurement strategies, emphasizing that better filters are not just about financial savings but about safeguarding the health and future of students, staff, and the planet. 'Switching to superior air filters isn't just a financial investment; it's an investment in the well-being and potential of the next generation,' says Davidson, 'When schools prioritize long-term performance and lower operating costs over short-term savings, everyone wins.' To learn more about the role of filter procurement in student wellbeing, watch the full video here. About Camfil The Camfil Group is headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden, and has 29 manufacturing sites, six R&D centers, local sales offices in 35+ countries, and 5,700 employees and growing. We proudly serve and support customers in a wide variety of industries and communities across the world. To discover how Camfil USA can help you to protect people, processes, and the environment, visit us at For media inquiries, please contact: Lynne Laake Camfil USA Air Filters Phone: 888-599-6620 Email: [email protected] Source published by Submit Press Release >> Camfil IAQ Specialists Highlight the Need to Rethink Air Filter Procurement in Schools
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Student saved by USD 428 staff after swallowing a pop lid
Jun. 10—When an Eisenhower Elementary student accidentally swallowed the small metal circle from his pop can lid, three staff members saw his distress and went into action. At the June 9 USD 428 Board of Education meeting, Kelsey Strickland, Abigail Jonas and Cyleigh Unruh received the district R.O.S.E. award, Recognizing Outstanding Support of Education. School Board President Jacquie Disque read the description of what happened one month earlier. During lunchtime on Friday, May 9, a student was showing signs of distress and music teacher Kelsey Strickland immediately came to his aid. "She determined that the student accidentally swallowed the lid of a pop can, which was lodged in the student's throat." Strickland then ran to get assistance from Cyleigh Unruh, the school nurse, and Abigail Jonas, the principal. They tended to the student, kept him calm, and made sure he got immediate medical attention. "The student was taken to the emergency room and, upon evaluation, required a surgical procedure to remove the pop can lid from their esophagus. Thanks to the quick thinking and actions of these district staff, the student received prompt medical care and has made a complete recovery without any serious injuries." Board member Aaron Emerson joined Superintendent Khris Thexton in presenting the award, revealing the fact that the student in distress was his son. The metal disc from the pop can has been framed and his son no longer drinks sodas from "pop tops," Emerson said. "We're glad you were there," Disque told the staff members.
Times of Oman
04-06-2025
- General
- Times of Oman
Agreement signed on health-promoting schools initiative
Musca t: - The Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Health, and Al Jisr Foundation for Charitable Works today signed a cooperation agreement to support the "Health-Promoting Schools" initiative. The initiative aims to provide a safe and health-enhancing educational environment that enables students to improve their academic performance, acquire essential life skills, and integrate into society. The agreement was signed by Dr. Abdullah bin Khamis Ambusaidi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Education for Education; Sulaiman bin Nasser Al Hiji, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Health for Administrative and Financial Affairs; and Dina Al Khalili, Director General of Al Jisr Foundation for Charitable Works. Dr. Abdullah bin Khamis Ambusaidi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Education for Education, stated that this five-year initiative holds significant importance in enhancing students' health environment, serving as a key tool that positively impacts their academic achievement. He added that the total number of schools participating in the initiative since its launch has reached 566 across various educational directorates in the governorates. These schools implement the initiative's programs in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Al Jisr Foundation for Charitable Works. For his part, Sulaiman bin Nasser Al Hiji, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Health for Administrative and Financial Affairs, emphasized that this initiative stems from a strategic partnership to serve the public good, particularly by promoting health in school environments. This will be achieved through improving students' learning conditions, enhancing their academic performance, preventing diseases, reducing absenteeism, supporting their mental well-being, and instilling lasting healthy habits—enabling them to focus, engage, and learn more effectively. Dina Al Khalili, Director General of Al Jisr Foundation for Charitable Works, stated that this strategic partnership reflects the convergence of health and education efforts, realizing a shared vision to provide a healthy school environment that enhances students' academic success and develops their essential life skills. She reaffirmed the foundation's commitment to creating a sustainable impact for students and society. Al Jisr Foundation will fund sustainable projects for three schools that have achieved the highest gold-level rating in the "Health-Promoting Schools" initiative over five years. Additionally, the foundation will oversee the initiative's implementation and collaborate with specialized teams from the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Health to develop a visual identity and an operational guide for the initiative. Efforts are also underway to prepare an electronic platform, which will be launched at a later stage.
