Making teeth matter with the music
makers
By Norma Van Arendonk, Oral
Health Promoter, Community
Health 4 Kids.
For the past three years the
BOPDHB has celebrated
World Oral Health Day
by inviting local Early
Childhood Centres to
complete a challenge
aimed at raising awareness
of good oral health in the
community, particularly for
our children.
This year Tauranga based children
entertainers, the DooDahs, created
a fabulous oral health song and
media clip titled "My Teeth Matter".
It promotes the importance of
encouraging young children to brush
their teeth twice a day, getting regular
dental checks as well as eating healthy
snacks and drink.
The DooDahs live in performance.
The DooDahs filmed the song in a local
Early Childhood Centre and have offered to
do a live performance for this year’s winners
of the BOPDHB Oral Health Challenge (yet
to be announced).
The DooDahs feature our very own Graphic
Artist Tracey McDonald on vocals and
guitar.
Feedback on Kids PLAY has been very positive. Comments
include:
Kids PLAY (Paediatric Learning And You) is an exciting new
online learning initiative for health professionals who work
with children. It offers a series of paediatric related education
courses and is accessible through Midland Learning within the
Communities and Connections site.
Currently there are three courses available.
Deteriorating Infant and Child
This course, utilises the ABCDEFG assessment process. This
supports health professionals to recognise early and late warning
signs of clinical deterioration. It also supports their ability to
develop a systematic approach to assessment thereby ensuring
interventions and escalation of concerns are timely.
Paracetamol use in Children.
This course highlights the risks related to paracetamol overdosing
and incorrect use of paracetamol in fever management.
“It is a fantastic resource for everyone”, Jo Cole, SMO ED,
Tauranga Hospital.
“I thought it (Deteriorating Infant and Child) was great, easy to
navigate around with good topics which are very valid to our area
and good revision”, Anita Collier RN, Whakatāne Children’s Ward.
“I like the concept because it means you can access professional
development in your time and at your own pace, which will
work well around shift work”, Rachel Fryett, New Graduate RN
Tauranga Children’s Ward.
Future courses are currently under development with the plan to
grow a library of paediatric resources.
If you would like to know more about this site, please contact
Wendy Tustin-Payne, Paediatric Nurse Educator on 8134 or email
[email protected].
HEEADSSS assessment
This course covers the adolescent assessment tool and provides
guidance on how to communicate with young people about critical
aspects of their life, while providing direction on important points
such as consent and confidentiality.
25