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Scabies
There were a few isolated cases of scabies during the year.
Notification of Infectious Diseases
Head teachers notified the department of 678 cases of suspected infectious
disease occurring in school children.
HEALTH EDUCATION
Sixty-four talks were given by health visitors on a variety of subjects, including
mothercraft and personal hygiene, to classes of school children. Some of the older
children were shown round the infant welfare and dental clinics. In addition, at
secondary schools and at the Southgate Technical College 15 film shows were given
on dental care, food poisoning, water safety, child development, child birth, and
drug addiction.
A meeting of the head teachers was held with the object of finding out what
part the health department staff should play in health education in schools; to
consider the desirability of producing a co-ordinated plan for health education in
schools; and to consider setting up a body to produce a plan and programme. After
much discussion it was agreed that the present arrangement whereby advice is given
by health staff on request should continue. It was also agreed that I should give
head teachers information on drug addiction and subsequently a pamphlet was
prepared and distributed to head teachers of secondary schools, principals of technical
colleges and youth club leaders.
In July head teachers and youth leaders were invited to a showing of the film
Narcotics — The Decision.
IONISING RADIATIONS
Guidance as to the health and safety of those working with potentially dangerous
sources of ionising radiations in schools and colleges is given in the Administrative
Memorandum 1/65 issued by the Secretary of State.
In respect of schools, the approval of the Secretary of State is required before
radioactive sources (other than potassium, uranium and thorium compounds
normally used as a chemical agent) are used. Application on Form I.R.N. (Certificate)
is required when closed sources up to 10 micro-curies each, and up to 30
micro-curies in aggregate, are to be used as set out by the Association for Science
Education and the Nuffield Foundation in their Modern Physics Reports, 1962 and
1964.
As the re-organisation of secondary schools has changed the staffing position
in many schools, the council is in the process of obtaining authority for the use
of radioactive substances in almost all of the re-organised secondary schools in
the borough. As in the past, the level of radioactivity used is extremely low,
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