Teaching Staff Get Preventative Leave to Avoid Harmful Viruses

Our son's integration aide from last year is not with him again this year, which is a disappointment because we all worked so well together. But yesterday I discovered it's because she's out on preventative leave due to pregnancy. That may signal bad news to some people, but because Quebec has a special program that allows women to take leave to avoid environmental hazards including exposure to potentially harmful viruses, many teachers and support staff here take this leave. It keeps those growing babies extra safe! Here's more about it:

Fifth disease is also known as the "slapped cheek" disease because of the rash that develops on the faces on infected people. It is a highly contagious illness, caused by human parvovirus B19 and most often seen in younger children. While fifth disease is a very mild illness for most children and adults, if a pregnant woman gets the infection it can cause complications for her unborn baby. The infection can create severe anemia in the fetus, causing miscarriage or stillbirth.


Because the disease is common in children, pregnant women working in childcare facilities, preschools or primary schools are at elevated risk for exposure to the virus. There is no vaccine for fifth disease, and really no method of prevention other than avoidance of infected people and a good hand washing regime. A unique program in Quebec offers protection for the unborn babies of women who do not have immunities built up against fifth disease infection.


Preventive reassignment or leave


Quebec offers the only government-run North American program that allows women paid leave during pregnancy or breastfeeding for preventative reasons. The program receives almost 130 requests each week from around the province. Of those requests, 9 percent come from teachers at the preschool and primary levels.

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Photo: Brent Allison (@sxc.hu)

Do Your Kids Wear Too Many Silly Bandz?

Silly Bandz warning not a hoax

Those of us who spend a good deal of time on the internet tend to be wary of all the warnings that get passed around by email or through social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter. Many times the messages are out of date or ill-informed, though the intention of the original poster was to help. Sometimes, the original poster intentionally created a hoax. In the case of the current warnings about Silly Bandz injuries, the warnings are authentic. This is not a hoax.

What are Silly Bandz?

Silly Bandz are silicone bands that come in a variety of different colours and shapes. The original bands are worn around the wrist as bracelets, but there are now Silly Ringz, as well as Silly Necklaces and Silly Bandz Carabinerz that allow kids to show off their collections.

Silly Bandz are a huge fashion fad with kids, and according to the product's official blog they are a hit with certain professional athletes too. They are now so popular that Canadian teen sensation Justin Bieber has teamed up with the manufacturer. A new Justin Bieber theme pack is currently available for pre-order on the BCP Imports web site.

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