The health of our students is an important aspect of community life at Blessed Sacrament.
Here are some links, telephone numbers and snack/lunch information that may be useful to you:
H1N1 Information
Useful Health Links
Useful Telephone Numbers
Trans Fat Policy
Peanut-free Snack Ideas
H1N1 Information
Telehealth Ontario: 1-866-797-0000
Toronto Public Health: 416-338-7600
www.toronto.ca/health
H1N1 Clinics - update
The H1N1 and seasonal flu vaccination clinics are open at 5 locations in the GTA with very limited hours. The nearest clinic to the school is the North York Civic Centre at 5100 Yonge Street. The upcoming clincs are:
- Wednesday January 20th: from 4pm to 8pm
- Saturday January 30: from 4am to 8pm
H1N1 shots are also available through some physicians' offices; check with your doctor.
Please call 311 or visit www.toronto.ca/health for the most current schedule information. TeleHealth Ontario is available 24 hours a day/7 days a week at 1-866-797-0000.
H1N1 eligibility
If you have a fever or are sick please wait until you are feeling better before getting vaccinated. For your safety, you will not be eligible to receive the H1N1 vaccine at a Toronto Public Health clinic if you have:
- had a seizure in the past three months
- a neurological/seizure condition that changes frequently
- had a severe reaction to a vaccine in the past
- an allergy to eggs or egg protein
- an allergy to thimerosal, a preservative used in vaccines
- any condition that leads to severe bleeding when they get an injection
- been diagnosed with a neurological condition called Guillain-Barre Syndrome within eight weeks of receiving a vaccine
- had wheezing, chest tightness or breathing difficulties that required hospitalization within one day of receiving a vaccine
Self Care factsheet
the Toronto Public Health has issued a Self-care factsheet to help you take care of yourself if you get the flu
H1N1 factsheet
the Toronto Public Health has issued a Factsheet which is available to provide more information about the H1N1 flu virus.
Any changes with regard to the H1N1 virus will be communicated to the community by the Toronto Public Health and TCDSB; in the meantime, we ask that all families continue to:
- wash hands frequently and thoroughly
- cover coughs and sneezes (with a tissue or into your sleeve or arm)
- stay home if you are ill
- consult a physician if necessary if you have symptoms of influenza (fever, chills, cough, sore throat, headache, muscle aches, vomiting or diarrhea)
- do not share objects that might transmit flu such as utensils, drinking cups, musical instrument mouthpieces, water bottles, etc.
H1N1 Flu Virus
- as of October 19, 2009, the Toronto Public Health released another H1N1 Letter update.
More information about the H1N1 pandemic can be found on the Toronto Public Health website.
The TCDSB also continues to issue notices about the H1N1 virus.
Useful Health Links
- Local children's after hours clinics: here are some children's after hours clinics that are close by -
- After Hours North Toronto Children's Clinic:
2100 Finch Avenue West in Downsview, 416-665-8515
M-F 6:30pm - 9pm
Weekends/holidays 10am - 2pm
- Children's After Hours Clinic
1100 Sheppard Avenue (at Leslie), Suite 100, 416-250-5000
M-F 6pm - 9pm
Weekends/holidays 10am - 2pm
- Family Practice After Hours Clinic
3050 Lawrence Avenue East (at McCowan), 416-269-9266
M-F 5pm - 8:30pm
Weekends/holidays 9am - 6:30pm
- Centenary After Hours Clinic at the Rouge Valley Health Systems Centennary Site
2867 Ellesmere (at Neilson), 416-281-8618
hours vary (please call)
- Health Care Options from the Ontario Ministry of Health: Information about walk-in and after hours clinics, Telehealth Ontario, Health Care Connect and the Community Care Access Centres.
- Medical Services Directory: a searchable database of walk-in and after hours clinics, urgent care centres and family health care providers (alternatives to emergency room visits); enter your postal code and you can find the horus and services available in your community
- Telehealth Ontario: free, confidential telephone service to get health advice or information from a Registered Nurse who can help you decide whether to care for yourself, make an appointment with your doctor, go to a clinic, contact a community service or go to a hospital emergency room. Call 1-866-797-0000.
- Health Care Connect: if you do not have a family doctor, register with Health Care Connect and you will be assigned a Care Connector to help you find family health care in your community. Call 1-800-445-1822.
- Community Care Access Centres: local organizations established by the government of Ontario to provide access to government-funded home and communtiy services and long-term care homes
- Get your Move On: Tips for incorporating physical activity into everyday life.
- Health Canada: obtain a copy of Canada's Food Guide as well as the Canada's Physical Activity Guide to Healthy Active Living from the Federal Health department.
- Healthy Ontario: consumer health information and health services for Ontario.
- Healthy Schools: The Ontario Ministry of Education is committed to making schools a healthier place for students to learn. Good food, daily physical activity and a healthy environment that supports learning and growth are vital to helping students reach their full potential.
- Hospital for Sick Children Family Information Page: an online resource that contains links to health information, support groups and services available for parents and children.
- KozyEpi: a Canadian company that creates handmade pouches for Epipens/Twinjects and puffers for those suffering from anaphylaxis and asthma.
- Sabrina's Law on Anaphylactic protocol (from the TCDSB website)
- Safe Kids Canada: an online resource about your child and seat belts
- Trans Fat: Information about trans fats from the Ontario Ministry of Health.
- Toronto Public Health Nurse: our liaison Public Health Nurse is Tina Meuhlethaler who can also be reached at 416-338-1320.
Useful Telephone Numbers
CarSeat Safety Clinics: 416-808-2222
Dental Emergency Services: 416-485-7121
Immunization Information Line: 416-392-1250
MediVisit DRs' Housecall Service: 416-631-3000
OHIP INFOline: 416-314-5518
Poison Information Line: 416-813-5900
Product Safety Office (Health Canada): 416-973-4705
Telehealth Ontario: 1-866-797-0000
Toronto Public Health: 416-338-7600
Trans Fat Policy from the Ministry of Education
Effective September 18, 2008, the Ontario Ministry of Health announced Bill 8, Healthy Food for Healthy Schools Act, 2008. This bill includes a prohibition on trans fat content in food and beverages (or ingredients used in their preparation) sold in a school must meet the prescribed amounts of trans fat:
- the trans fat content in vegetable oil and soft, spreadable margarine must not exceed 2% for the total fat content
- for all other food, beverages and ingredients, the trans fat content must not exceed 5% of the total fat content
The trans fat limits apply to all food and beverages sold in elementary and secondary schools for school purposes but do not apply to food that students bring from home.
The regulation states that a school principal may designate up to 10 school-wide special event days per year when food and beverages sold in the school would be exempt from the trans fat prohibition.
This is part of the overall plan to develop healthier schools (research has shown that a healthy school environment enhances learning and success in school and provides academic, social, emotional and physical benefits.
The lunch program from Pizza Pizza and Quiznos meet the regulation requirements.
Peanut-free Snack Ideas
Please note that all bulk foods, Nutella, mini size cookies, sandwich Ritz and M and M's products are unsafe.
FRUITS and VEGETABLES:
Fruits (Apples, bananas, grapes, kiwi, mango, melons, oranges, pears, strawberries) and canned fruit
Fruit dips (chocolate pudding, vanilla pudding, yogurt)
Fruit sauces (apple, etc.), individual yogurts and puddings
Fruit leather (roll-ups)
Vegetables (Broccoli, carrots, celery, cucumber, green or red peppers, zucchini)
Vegetable dips (bean dip, cream cheese, guacamole, hummus, sour cream, tomato salsa, tzatziki)
SNACK FOODS:
Arrowroots
Bear Paws
Cheese Dip-its
Cheeto's Cheesies
Christie's Animal Crackers
Christie's Chips Ahoy Chocolate Chip
Christie's Dinosaur cookies
Christie's Fudgee-o's
Christie's Oreos (regular, not mini)
Christie's Pretzels
Christie's Scooby-do's crackers
Dunkeroos
Frito Lays and Hostess Plain/Ruffled Chips
Frito Lays Cheesies
Hot Rod Pepperoni Sticks
Jello
Kellogg's Milkcrunch bars (plain or chocolate)
Kellogg's Pop tarts
Kellogg's Rice Krispies Squares (plain)
Nutragrain Bars (plain fruit flavours)
Pita Pockets
Popcorn
Pringle's Potato Chips
Smart Food
Snackwells
Sun Ripe Fruit Leathers
Teddy Grahams
CRACKERS:
Christie Crispers
Goldfish
Premium Saltines
Rice Cakes
Ritz (original; sandwich Ritz are unsafe)
Snackbread
Triscuits
Vegetable Thins
CEREAL:
Cheerios (regular)
Corn Bran
Corn Flakes
Corn Pops
Fruit Loops
Honeycomb
Raisin Bran
Rice Krispies
Shreddies
Lunch Ideas
Eggs (hard boiled)
Cheese and crackers
Pasta dishes (home-made or beefaroni cans)
Salads (coleslaw, macaroni salad, 3-bean salad, carrot salad, etc)
Pizza buns, mini pizzas or baked cheese sticks
Soups (home-made or alphabet, chicken noodle, cream of celery, tomato)
Sandwichs (filled with egg salad, tuna, ham, chicken, meatballs, hummus, sliced meats, tomato using pita bread, soft flour tortillas, buns, crackers, melba toast, sub buns, rye, pumpernickel, or whole grain bread).
