Wednesday, July 12, 2006

Nose-Blowing Lessons in Scotland

This is real. The Herald (UK) reported yesterday that Scotland will be giving lessons in preparation for the next flu pandemic, whenever it comes.

It's not to be sneezed at. Parents of nursery and primary pupils across Scotland are to be advised how to teach their children how to blow their nose properly as part of measures to combat a predicted flu pandemic.

A new leaflet jointly published on the websites of NHS Scotland and the Scottish Executive includes advice on the use of tissues and washing hands, after the World Health Organisation (WHO) predicted a major outbreak of influenza, which occurs every few decades.

What will the pupils learn?

The leaflet tells parents to encourage their children to wash their hands using soap and water and to cover their mouth when coughing or sneezing. Families are also advised to teach children to use a paper tissue when coughing or sneezing and to throw it away quickly into bins.

The leaflet does acknowledge that these instructions are useful anytime.

Still, we can only hope that Scotland's aggressive push for prevention will spread to our shores as well--before the pandemic strikes.

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