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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Times Advocate, 2004-02-11, Page 66 Exeter Times–Advocate Wednesday, February 11, 2004 Opinion Forum News Rural communities Continued from page 5 ing. Of the 3.5 million cattle slaughtered in Canada each year, approximately 85% are well under the age of 30 months. Cattle under 30 months of age rarely ever exhibit BSE or have the abnormal prions present in their central nervous system. Therefore testing these cattle would be a waste of money and resources that could be spent preventing commonly occurring food safety concerns that present real risks to consumers. Some Canadians question why we don't give in to Japan's demands in order to regain access to their market. Canada is urging other countries to base their trade decisions related to BSE on sound scientif- ic principles. Overreacting by introducing testing that goes way beyond what is necessary based on science would encourage other countries to continue to react in an irrational manner. I'd like to close by thanking Canadians for their continued support for our beef industry during this time of difficulty. By continuing to add an additional meal or two of beef to their family's menu each week, Canadian consumers are supporting not only cattle producers but workers in rural communities right across the country. The rural regions are the back- bone of our nation. Canada needs strong rural com- munities for the health of our nation, from coast to coast. NEIL JAHNKE President, Canadian Cattlemen's Association Enjoy season and be safe Dear Editor: In regards to the letter from Danny L. Smith, I have difficulty understanding the "issue of person- al safety" in regards to the school buses being can- celled. When weather conditions dictate that roads be closed, or buses not be dispatched, it is generally related to a safety issue. Lately in South Huron and Huron County we have had several days where all major roads in the county were closed. Weather con- ditions being very poor and "being the hardest region in which to predict the weather," it surprises me that the schools would remain "open" for those who could make it? Seems rather foolish to put teachers and students in a situation of duress. I mean, COME ON, if the roads are closed, streets impassable and the OPP are laying charges for driving around barricades, why would the school remain open? Why would the county remain open? What responsibility does the school board or companies that remain open have to those who make it to where they are going and can't get home or who are injured or killed in an effort to get there? The feeling that you are obligated to fulfill your commitment to get to work seems to be shallow and not reassuring. Several of my fellow employees were in accidents due to the bad weather and were fortunate to only lose their vehicles and escaped with minor injuries. What is the answer? Who knows, however the proper solution may be in the approach taken by Perth County. When it's that bad and all major roads are closed, shut the county down. Maybe the school boards should revisit the idea of reschedul- ing holidays to the winter months instead of the sum- mer! Not only is the safety and the well-being of our children and grandchildren important, but our fellow employees and neighbours. We live in the snow belt and winter can be a beauti- ful experience, it can sometimes be hard to take, somewhat like the attitudes surrounding this issue. Enjoy the season and be safe. JOHN BIERLING, Crediton. 'No room for mistakes' Dear Editor: My child has received the flu shots faithfully for three years. Your first time getting a flu shot, if you are under the age of nine, you need to receive two and a half doses of the flu vaccine one month apart. Any year after this, you just require one full shot per flu season. I have always had my children vaccinated at the school flu clinic. These vaccines are administered by the nurses from the Huron County Health Unit. I like to accompany my children while they receive their needle to comfort them. I did this this year as well. The problem occurred three weeks after my five- year-old received her flu shot. The Health Unit returned to the school to adminis- ter the second half -shot to the children that required this because it was their first time receiving the vac- cine. My daughter was taken from her classroom to receive this second shot. The Health Unit gave her a second shot although her papers said that she did not require this. They neglected to notice this on the paper that they had in their hands. My daughter also told them that she had already had her flu shot; but, they didn't listen nor did they double check. They gave her the needle any - ways. All they had to do was check the paper. There can be serious reactions to receiving two doses of a vaccine within a close period of time. My daughter was not given two half doses; she was given one full dose and then another half dose. I contacted the Health Unit and they realized what they had done and stated to me that my daughter "should" be okay. I contacted the hospital and my family physician and they informed me that there can be very serious reactions within 48 hours of receiving an accidental dosage. These reactions may include streaking and soreness around the area on the arm. Serious reactions can include swelling of ears, nose, throat, swelling of the heart, lungs and shut down of internal organs. This to me is a very large faux pas on the part of the Health Unit. I took my daughter to see the physician. The doctor examined my daughter and said there was no sign of swelling. Then she informed me that there could be complications three weeks after the needle as this is when the vaccine becomes active. My daughter was fine when I sent her to school that day. I need an answer as to how and why this could have happened. Thank God, I watched my daughter like a hawk for the next four weeks and she has had no reaction. The Health Unit apologized and stated that they had been so overwhelmed that some forms had been mis- placed and others, like my daughter's, somehow got mixed up in the wrong pile. My concern is that they had her form in their hands that said she did not require a second shot; as well, my daughter told them "No." That should have been enough. All they had to do was look at the form or simply make a phone call to me. This is a mistake that could possibly have killed my child. I would really hate to see this happen to another child who may have a fatal reaction to a "mistake." The schools are required under mandate as a facili- ty to provide the place for the Health Unit to hold their clinics, which is fine. But, if they are so over- whelmed in the flu season, then these forms need to be checked and then re -checked before the needle is administered. I have met with the SA council at my daughter's school. They are willing to provide parent volunteers to do the double checking of the forms, provided this is okayed by the Health Unit. I would be more than willing to do this double checking at my daughter's school. I myself will never have my children vaccinat- ed at a school ever again. The public needs to know that this has happened and may have happened in the past but has gone unreported. I understand the situation with the school and the Health Unit being so overwhelmed, but this is an absolute mistake that should never hap- pen. There is no excuse for this. There is no room for these mistakes when it effects the life of my child. TAMMIE MCVEENEY, Exeter. Problem is not safety but staffing Dear Editor: I wish to take issue with several points raised by Mr. Smith in his response to my letter regarding snow days. In his statement, Smith comments on these being "different" times and that students are being bused greater distances than ever before. This really has no relevance to the issue at hand. We are talking about EPS, not out-of-town schools. There are approximately 550 students attending EPS; of these, 60 students are bused from Huron Park directly to the school, and approximately 50 others are bused from other locations, some of which are within walking distance of school. This leaves approximately 440 students residing within the town—within safe walking distance of EPS. The problem, as I see it, is not one of safety or of busing, but one of staffing. Of 21 teachers at the school only four reside in town. The remaining 17, including the principal, live out of town. Therein lies the problem. When a decision is made to close the school, which I understand is a joint -decision finalized by the princi- pal, the teaching staff are under no obligation to make any effort to attend school. This arrangement is costly on two fronts. Firstly, the cost to the students who have lost approximately two weeks of school time. Secondly, the cost to taxpayers, who are asked to come up with $5,000 to $6,000 per day to cover teachers' salaries at EPS, to date $60,000 for January (figures provided by a school board official). In his letter, Smith also refers to parents who have a problem making alternative arrangements for their children as irresponsible; he is obviously out -of -touch with the existing daycare situation and I find his com- ments to be insulting to all working parents. In summary, I believe the following questions deserve an answer: • Why is it necessary to close school on so-called snow -days when over three-quarters of students reside within town and in most cases are capable of making it to school? • Why are teachers and principals, given our geo- graphical area and the nature of the job, not required to live a little closer to their workplace? • Why should taxpayers have to pay the salaries of 21 school teachers, when in fact none of them, with one or two exceptions, have made any effort to get to work. In closing, I would like to say I have three grand- children attending the EPS and safety is a priority for me also; however, many of the closures during January have not been in my view justified. RON COTTRELL, Exeter. Let's eat Whenever it came close to either my birthday or Christmas, my mother would always complain that I am such a difficult person to buy gifts for because I don't collect anything; I bet she's wishing she took that back now. Recently several of my other female friends and I have developed a fascination with kitchen -wear for the day when we leave our homes to be off in the world on our own. All of us have accumulated quite a collection so far — I just picked up 15 new items the other night, though I think they'll be able to make more use of their things than I will. Some of the stuff I have so far is so pointless it just amuses me more than anything. I mean, how many 17 year olds right now can say they own their own mechanical ice cream scoop for when they go to college or university? Chances are with my luck though, I'll end up in a cramped two room resi- dence with no kitchen at all, forcing me to leave all my precious belongings behind. Now here's the big question — can I cook and/or bake? Goodness no. Have I tried? Repeatedly, with limited success. For example, how am I supposed to know that when making a cake, adding extra flour does not counter -act for the extra water you already put in? That's a chemistry thing, not a baking thing, and I was never too good at chemistry. I was given a cookbook for Christmas, but I'm scared to try it. There's not a picture with every- thing, so I have no idea what it's actually supposed to look like, which I suppose could be a plus on my side, that way no one else will know what it's supposed to look like either. I'm probably not the only one my age with this kitchen -illiterate dilemma. Now that just as many women are in the working world as men, no one has really taken the time to learn how to do any- thing if they think they're going to be busy with a career in the future. And I am not saying by any means that it's the women who should go back and learn how to do everything, men are just as encour- aged, I'm all for equal opportunities. My main concern, even with myself, is that in the future family time at dinners will be near extinct. If both parents work during the day it would be easy for them to just pick up some take-out on the way home, but let's be honest here, how many families actually eat take-out at the table together as a fam- ily? I do eventually want to know how to actually make my own meals, but mainly for my own grati- fication in knowing that I can do it by myself. Thankfully, I still have plenty of time to learn until I'm out on my own, and I'll need it. In the mean- time, the collection of items I store in the spare closet at home will continue to grow and I'll keep striving to get my most sought after item — a microwave. kid DEBRA TOONK