Enfermería Updates
Fiorella Rodríguez

Lifesaving Skills:

Empowering Our Students Through CPR Training

Life is full of opportunities to learn, live, and experience new things. Sometimes, these
experiences can be challenging, and knowing how to respond in emergencies—such as alerting
the emergency system, fetching an Automated External Defibrillator (AED), or calling an
ambulance—can save lives.


This year, the school infirmary had the privilege of collaborating with students from Flight 2 and

3 of Sports Science in a special workshop. Together, we delved into the basics of CPR
(Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation), equipping our students with essential lifesaving skills.
During the workshop, students learned when and how to perform CPR, how to check if a person
is breathing, and when chest compressions are necessary. Cardiac arrest is a critical and
stressful situation, and being prepared with the right knowledge and skills can make all the
difference.
The hands-on training allowed students to practice the complete CPR procedure from start to
finish. This experience also reinforced important community values such as teamwork, effective
communication, coordination, leadership, and respect for the "patient" they were assisting.


Performing CPR in real-life situations can be complex, especially in sports contexts where these incidents can and do occur. Our goal was to prepare students for such scenarios, providing them with a realistic perspective outside the typical health class environment.
We were thrilled to hear students share their learning experiences and takeaways from the
workshop. Their reflections underscored the importance of being prepared for life's challenges.
At the end of the day, life is about navigating our path and equipping ourselves as best we can
for the future.


We are proud of our students' dedication and their commitment to making a difference.
Together, we are building a safer and more supportive community.

 

 

 

A Day of Energy and Community at Humanitree's Hive and Flight Sports Day


What a day full of energy, adrenaline, sun, and a community committed to winning for
their color and for their house.

On March 12th, we had the opportunity to relive the excitement of a sports day filled with
much anticipation, effort, and happiness as we held it on our new Campus.
Sports are a fundamental pillar in our lives; we all know that we need to move, walk, run,
bike, or engage in any physical activity that allows our bodies to exercise and stay healthy.

I would dare to say that physical education is one of our student's favorite classes;
everyone enjoys being outdoors, competing, and celebrating victories.
This sports day has been particularly special for Humanitree Hive & Flight for two
reasons: we inaugurated our new campus, and we had the joy of seeing Flight's Social
Action students get involved by supporting the infirmary at the first aid station.

Their participation involved being attentive in case someone needed their help, providing
first aid such as taking vital signs, treating wounds, applying bandages if necessary, and
other care as it arose.

At Humanitree, we like to help, get involved in causes that will transcend, and where the
benefit impacts not just one person but many in the long term.
It was very interesting to see how the students showed a positive attitude and a sense of
help and empathy towards those needing care, highlighting many of our values as an
institution, such as respect, generosity, responsibility, teamwork, and communication
skills.

We all need help at some point in our lives, and the satisfaction of participating in social
action tasks is very gratifying both personally and professionally.

Throughout this second part of the school year, Flight’s Social Action students have
worked hand in hand with their coordinator, supporting various departments and
activities in the school.

The infirmary has benefited from their work, good attitude, joy, and leadership, working
on health projects with students from Hive 1 to Hive 4.
It has been a journey of learning and memorable experiences, a time where the older
students share with the younger ones, acting as mentors and role models.
We were impressed by their great work and enthusiasm, and we look forward to what
awaits us in the next school year.

 

Beat the Heat, Not Your Stomach: Understanding Summer Tummy Troubles

Many times we talk about this topic, or we question why our children are getting sick so
often from stomach issues. Did they eat something bad over the weekend? Usually, in
the winter or when the weather is colder, we get sick more frequently from respiratory
viruses. Sometimes we say, “the flu season has started, or here comes the season of
eternal fevers and runny noses.”


There is some truth to all these statements, but something similar also happens in the
summer. During the hot season, we can get sick from viruses, bacterias, etc., which
mainly affect the stomach. And with that, comes gastroenteritis, diarrhea, food
poisoning, and general stomach discomfort.
We have been continuing with the well-being and learning activities led by the infirmary
but, this time we worked with the Hive 1 students. We wanted to show them the reality
of this situation. It was important to know what they already knew about this topic.

Were they aware of what is in the pool’s water? Do they know the difference between
Food poisoning and Stomach Flu? 


And at the end of the session, one of the most valuable achievements was that they
could identify what they can do in order to prevent and protect themselves. 
Viral gastroenteritis and food poisoning from contaminated food are the most common
ailments that children can develop. That is why the students took on the task of
researching these topics, sharing past life situations, and above all raising awareness of
this issue to prevent future infections.
We invite you to read three significant reasons as to why the hot season makes us more
prone to stomach illnesses and related gastrointestinal issue:

 

1.-More time spent in swimming pools:

 
During the summer, we spend more time at the pool, and when it is time to eat, we often
do not think twice about sitting down right after swimming, forgetting to wash our hands with soap and water and then eating. Despite efforts to keep pool water clean, there are
always microorganisms and other substances that can make us sick. 


Did you know? 


- Heat affects the pH of pool water.
- Disinfectant products lose their effectiveness when exposed to prolonged high
temperatures. 
- More time is needed for the filter to try to keep the water as clean as possible. 

When we asked the students what substances or microorganisms can be found in pool
water, most could´t say more than urine.

When we told them that there can be multiple
microorganisms (viruses, bacteria, parasites, etc.), feces, urine, and other substances in
the water, they were shocked. 


Sometimes, these are the reactions we need in life. Learning WHY is always better than
just listening to someone telling us what to do. Therefore, it is very important to always
wash our hands and face with soap and water after leaving the pool, especially if we are
going to eat, and to rinse off the chlorinated water, and anything else that may come
with it, from our skin.

2.- Fresh food in hot weather: 


Perhaps the heat itself makes us want to eat cold and raw foods. It is crucial to know
whether the fresh foods being eaten have been handled correctly and whether they have
been purchased from a reliable source. 

 

Generally, when we get food poisoning from eating contaminated food, symptoms
appear a few hours after ingestion and can last from a few hours to several days. 


Remember to: 


- Wash and disinfect fruits and vegetables. 
- Wash hands frequently with soap and water. 
- Cook foods at the appropriate temperatures. 

- Keep refrigerated foods at the proper temperatures. 
- Check expiration dates.
- Avoid cross-contamination when cooking. 


3.- Heat influences our gastrointestinal system: 

Depending on our habits, diet, lifestyle, and a series of factors, high temperatures can
influence GI immunity and digestive capabilities. High temperatures alter our intestinal
microbiota, and we may experience lower levels of water in our bodies and even
dehydration. Food poisoning and viral gastroenteritis will also affect the digestive
system. 
Don't underestimate these diseases, but luckily they are very easy to prevent.
Stomach Flu (Viral Gastroenteritis)
This is a viral infection that affects the stomach and intestines. It is caused by multiple
viruses such as Norovirus, Rotavirus, Adenovirus and others. 
An ill person can experience symptoms such as: nausea, vomit, low fever, diarrhea,
intestinal cramps, abdominal pain etc. It typically appears within 1 to 3 days after
exposure to the virus.
These viruses can be transmitted very easily by contaminated food or water, close
contact with an infected person or by touching contaminated surfaces.  
Food Poisoning
This is a gastrointestinal infection caused by consuming contaminated food or water.
Many times it is caused due to bacterias, parasites, viruses or toxins. Common
pathogens include Salmonella, Escherichia Coli (E. Coli), Campylobacter, Listeria and
Staphylococcus aureus. 
Symptoms are very similar to stomach flu, but also with fatigue and loss of appetite.
Unlike gastroenteritis, this typically occurs from ingestion of contaminated food/water, poor food handling, improper cooking or cross-contamination. The onset of symptoms can vary; it can be a few hours or a few days. 


Recommendations for both: 

- When you get out of the pool, remember to wash your hands and face.
- When eating seafood, make sure it is fresh and in a safe place.
- Hand washing with soap and water.
- Stay hydrated and rested.
- Eat fresh food and always wash fruit and vegetables.
- Do not self-medicate