Welcome to the June Edition of the Healthy Schools
e-Newsletter
Brought to you by the Regina Area Health Promotion Department Saskatchewan Health Authority
Please share with your administration, teachers, other school staff, and school community council. There is something for everyone!
French resources will be highlighted by 'FR.'
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June 2019 feature topic:
Vaping and E-Cigs
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Vaping and E-Cigs Risks
"E-cigarettes may pose health and safety risks to children. These risks include poisoning, choking, burns, and effects from inhaling second-hand vapour."
- Saskatchewan Prevention Institute
- Some vapes and e-cigs contain nicotine, which can affect behaviour, thinking, memory, focus and can alter brain growth in youth. Too much nicotine at one time can also cause nicotine poisoning.
- Vaping in youth can lead to smoking or using other drugs.
- The long-term safety of inhaling substances in vaping is not known.
- Chemicals used to flavour vape juice have not been tested to see if they are safe to breathe in.
- The effects of second hand vapour are not known.
- Flawed batteries in vaping products can cause fires and explosions.
(Information retrieved from Health Canada)
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Tips for Reducing Vape and E-Cig use in Schools:
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- Implement and enforce tobacco-free school policies and administrative procedures, including all e-cigarettes. Punitive policies generally have been found not to be effective (1). More effective policies have guidance for offering students who smoke or vape support for quitting.
- Offer support to help students quit (2):
- Create a space for open and judgement free dialogue
- Encourage them to be the healthiest version of themselves
- Talk About the Risks
- Encourage them to download quitting apps such as: LIVESTRONG My Quit Coach • Quit Smoking Cessation Nation • Craving to Quit! • QuitNow! • Smoke Free • Kwit • Quit It Lite
- Suggest that they pick a day to quit and get rid of vaping supplies
- Help them understand the symptoms of withdrawal
- Get them to write down meaningful reasons to quit
- Refer them to community resources such as: Medical Professionals • Pharmacists • School Counsellors/Psychologists • Trusted Adults • Community Members-Coaches, Clergy • Heart Association • Lung Association
- Involve students in projects that look into potential harms of e-cig use, strategies to help youth quit, and campaigns to help prevent other students from starting.
- Support the restriction of advertising vapes and e-cigarettes to youth.
References:
1. "Youth and Vaping: What you need to Know" Presentation developed by Marie Bradley (Psychologist) Shannon Bradley (Registered Social Worker) - Prairie Valley School Division
2. "Darling, H, A. Reeder, S. Williams, and R. McGee. (2005). "Is there a relation between school smoking policies and youth cigarette smoking knowledge and behaviors?" Oxford Journals. Vol 21: 1 p.108–115.
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Curriculum Connections and Activity Ideas
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(Info retrieved from Minnesota Department of Health School E-cigarette Toolkit)
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June's School Nutrition Information Poster: Healthy Foods for School Sporting Events
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The Public Health Nutritionists of Saskatchewan have developed a nutrition information poster for each month of the school year. This information can be posted in the school, used in newsletters, as a part of school announcements, posted on the school website or used for Facebook or Twitter posts. Download French and English copies HERE
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Upcoming Community Programs
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Food Literacy Programming in Regina
For a list of programs, classes and resources available in Regina for cooking, baking, gardening, breastfeeding, and more click on the link below:
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Low- to No-Cost Meal and Snack Finder: Food Resources in Regina
Use this Google Map Tool to find out where families can access low- to no-cost meals and snacks in Regina while school is out and all year long.
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Download a copy of the instruction sheet HERE (scroll down to the "Food Asset Map" section). This double-sided one page handout entitled "Regina Meal Finder Instructions June 2019," can be printed off and shared with families and individuals to provide instructions for how to access the map and use it both on a cell phone and computer.
Note: this instruction sheet will be available online by June 21st, if you need it sooner, please contact chelsea.brown@saskhealthauthority.ca
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Free Fluoride Varnish Drop-in Clinic for children ages 5 and under
Why: Fluoride varnish protects teeth from tooth decay
Where: SHA Public Health Offices and Four Directions Health Centre
When: Various Dates and times see poster or link below for details.
No appointment Necessary
For more information contact: 306-766-6331 or visit www.rqhealth.ca/department/health-promotion/dental-health
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Nutrition Information for Parents at the Early Years Family Centre
Come to the Early Years Family Centre, play with your kids, and have any of your infant and child nutrition and feeding questions answered by a Registered Dietitian.
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Professional Development Videos
The Health Promotion Department will be developing short professional development videos or webinars on a variety of health related topics to support professionals in their roles. Fill out this short survey to tell us what topics would be most useful for you.
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Connect with us
The Regina Area Health Promotion Department is here to support your school in health areas including: nutrition, physical activity, positive mental health, body image, and dental health.
If you would like to share success stories or upcoming events related to health in our newsletter please let us know - Click on the 'envelope' symbol below.
Coming up in the August Edition: Supporting Student and Staff Mental Wealth
CLICK HERE to view Last Month's Edition 'Kids are Built to Move'
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