Healthy Lives Families Update - kooth, vaccine key messages, active children and national smile month!

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Healthy Lives - Banner 1 May 2020 - FINAL

PLEASE FORWARD TO YOUR TEACHING STAFF and PARENT CONTACTS

The Healthy Lives Team Families update contains helpful information and activities for your whole school community

 

This is the FAMILIES newsletter from The Healthy Lives Team. Each Friday we share relevant information, activities and resources to support your ongoing health and wellbeing.

The HEALTHY LIVES TEAM supports schools, pupils and families with everything to do with health and wellbeing. We want to help you to live fitter, healthier and happier lives.

We now have a Healthy Lives Team webpage where you can find out more about the team and access Healthy Schools resources and all our archived newsletters.


kooth

Kooth

Kooth.com is an online mental health & well-being service available to all young people aged 11-25 in Tower Hamlets. All young people can access free, safe support by signing up to the service on the Kooth website. On the website they can access;

  • Helpful online magazine articles 
  • Chat to a member of the Kooth team 
  • Well-being activities 
  • Discussion boards 

If you are a parent and would like more information please email parents@Kooth.com. 

Visit Kooth > 


vaccine

Vaccine key messages 

  • The vaccines are effective against the Delta variant. Two doses of the COVID19 vaccines are highly effective against the Delta variant which is now making up the vast majority of cases in the UK. Don’t delay getting your vaccine to protect yourself and others, and don’t forget your second dose.
  • Two doses are more protective than one dose. Research shows that you must have both doses to gain maximum protection against all existing and emerging variants. Getting your second dose will save lives. This is especially important if you are more at risk.
  • Vaccinated people are far less likely to get COVID with symptoms. Vaccinated people are even more unlikely to get serious COVID19, to be admitted to hospital, or to die from it. Protect yourself and others by getting two doses of the vaccine.
  • The vaccine is breaking the link between cases, hospitalisations and deaths. Every day, the vaccine is preventing new cases which could have resulted in hospitalisations and deaths. The vaccines are safe, effective, and save lives.
  • Getting your vaccine will significantly reduce your risk of dying or becoming seriously ill from COVID19. It will also significantly reduce your chances of getting infected and infecting others. If you are eligible, don’t delay getting your vaccine and get your second dose for maximum protection for yourself and those around you.
  • The vaccine is one of many powerful tools we have against COVID19 but it isn’t a silver bullet. Even if you’ve been vaccinated, you should take a rapid test twice a week and practise hands, face, space, fresh air wherever possible. All of these tools together will save lives.
  • Vaccines aren’t a quick fix. Developing immunity after a vaccination takes three to four weeks, and research shows that you must have both doses to gain maximum protection. Even if you’ve been vaccinated, you should take a rapid test twice a week and practise hands, face, space, fresh air wherever possible. All of these tools combined will save lives.
  • There is growing evidence that vaccinated people are less likely to pass the virus to others. But vaccinated people are far less likely to get COVID with symptoms. If you do become infected with COVID after being vaccinated, there is a chance you could still spread it without knowing. Don’t forget to take a rapid test twice a week to protect those around you.
  • As we all enjoy more freedom, please remember that this is not over. The new dominant Delta variant is at least 40% more transmissible than the previous dominant strain. If you choose to have contact with others, please consider where and who this is with. Being outside is always safer, consider the vulnerability of yourself and others, and whether you and others have had one or two doses of the vaccine.

 


sport

Help more children to be active

Active Recovery Hub have launched a free online resource aimed at schools and families and hosts hundreds of ideas to get children moving. The resources will help more children reach their target of taking part in 60 minutes of physical activity a day. Click on the link below to support children to be more active. 

 Further information >


smile

National Smile Month

It is currently National Smile Month and in Tower Hamlets we are supporting this campaign to create happier, healthier smiles.

Looking after our teeth is really important for our health and well-being. We need strong teeth for daily activities like eating, talking, singing, and smiling!

Tooth decay is damage to a tooth caused by a bacteria in our mouth turning sugar into acid. It is the top cause for non-emergency hospital admission in children aged 5-19 and can cause pain, distress, and time off school. The good news is that tooth decay is often entirely preventable by taking good care of our teeth!

Check out our top tips for healthy teeth below :

  • Brush your teeth for two minutes, last thing at night and at least one other time during the day, with a fluoride toothpaste
  • You only need a pea sized amount of toothpaste, and just a smear for the under 3’s
  • Spit don’t rinse, as this washes the fluoride away
  • Change your toothbrush every 2-3 months
  • Use dental floss or interdental brushes to clean between your teeth once a day
  • Cut down how much and how often you have sugary foods and drinks, especially between meals – Visit change4life website for easy sugar swaps ideas!
  • Visit a dentist regularly! You can find a local dentist on the NHS website.

Change4Life >

Find a dentist >


And remember...

kobe

"The most important thing is to try and inspire people so that they can be great in whatever they want to do."

Kobe Bryant


TH Healthy Schools logo

The Healthy Lives Team

The Healthy Lives Team want to support you with all aspects of health and wellbeing. We will be sending you regular newsletters that will be relevant whether you are at school, work, or at home.

Please feel free to share this email.

We are incredibly proud in Tower Hamlets to have supported schools to gain more Healthy Schools awards than any other borough in London. So please use this newsletter in whatever way suits you best to stay as fit and healthy as possible.

If you're in a school, please share this newsletter using your social media or website using the following share button, or you can click the hyperlink in the top right corner of this email:

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Subscribing to this newsletter

Just to let you know, you're receiving this because you have either opted in to get emails from the council relating to children and education, or you are one of the Healthy Lives team's regular contacts, or you may also have been forwarded this email from your school.

If you or anyone you know would like to sign up to this newsletter, please use the following link. 

Subscribe to the Healthy Lives Families newsletter >

Take care,

The Healthy Lives team at London Borough of Tower Hamlets.


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