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6.
Health of School Children under Bombardment
In the early part of 1941, a survey was made to ascertain the
effect on children of heavy bombing and other factors arising from the
War. Head Teachers and their Staffs were interviewed by the Medical
Officer and the matter was freely discussed. It was found that only
1% of the children were frequenting Public Shelters and that a further
1% were sleeping in outdoor Anderson Shelters. The remainder were
sleeping in their own homes, although not necessarily in their own beds.
The ground floors were naturally preferred to upper storeys, and some
form of blast protection had in most cases been provided.
As far as could be ascertained, the children showed few signs of
mental or physical stress or psychological disturbance, except, of
course, in the case of children who had sustained some personal loss.
On the sounding of an "alert" while the children were in school, there
was not the least suggestion of fear. Indeed, it became a routine matter
on such occasions for the children to file in orderly fashion into the
air raid shelter, and there to continue their lessons until the "all
clear".
In spite of the increased cost of living, nutrition among school
children has shown no deterioration. In fact, as the figures for the
provision of meals on payment show, there is now more remunerative employment
in this district as a result of war work.
The Incidence of Pediculosis and Scabies
An attempt was made, in the early part of 1941, to ascertain the
trend of lice infestation in the Borough and a questionnaire was sent
out to all the Council's Health Officers, including School Medical
Officers and Nurses who are in a good position to express an opinion
on this matter.
The conclusions arrived at, were that there appears to have been
no gross increase in lice infestation among the school population. In
fact, 74% of the returns pointed either to the position being unchanged
or to an actual decrease in this condition. In spite of this favourable
indication, however, a cautious attitude has been maintained. It is
obvious that shelter life and lowered habits of cleanliness and personal
hygiene resulting from air raids, all favour an increase in lice infestation.
Further* many mothers are now going out to work and it is likely
that many school children may not be getting their customary care and
attention. From a consideration of these facts, it would be prudent to
assume that there probably has been a slight increase in verminous cases
among school children in this district since the outbreak of the War.
The Local Authority are taking all possible preventive and curative
action possible in dealing in the lice infestation.
During 1940 there was a definite increase in the incidence of
scabies, the increase being more marked at the beginning than at the end
of the year. The condition was noted in many cases among children who
have returned from Reception Areas. The spread of this condition is also
favoured by the lowered standard of cleanliness and the gregariousness
engendered by air raid conditions.
Children suffering from scabies were referred to Minor Ailments
Clinics both for diagnosis and treatment, in most cases, by the benzyl
benzoate method. Following-up of such cases was in every case carried
out, both in school and in the home, to ensure, as far as possible, that
all members of an affected household obtained treatment.