As the summer holidays come to an end and children settle in to the autumn term, the Public Health Agency (PHA) is reminding parents about the importance of good hygiene – both in school and at home. Schools can be a common breeding ground for germs and bugs. Make sure your child is taking the necessary precautions to reduce the risk of picking up or spreading germs to others as they start the new school term. Parents and schools can help reduce the spread of germs by encouraging children to practise good personal hygiene by:

The Public Health Agency (PHA) has launched a new initiative to work with employers to promote better health at work. Three organisations have been chosen to deliver the Workplace Health and Wellbeing Service, which will engage small, medium and large businesses to commit to improve the health, wellbeing and safety of employees within the workplace.

As the new school year approaches, it can be difficult to think up healthy lunch and snack ideas for the children’s packed lunch, so the Public Health Agency (PHA) has some handy advice and tips on choosing a healthier option for the best start to the school year. The main message is to steer clear of sugary drinks and snacks high in added fat, salt and sugars and to remember that children only need kid-sized portions.

With thousands of young people due to receive their exam results, the Public Health Agency (PHA) is encouraging parents to talk to their children about the risks associated with drinking alcohol and taking drugs. Many teenagers will go out with friends when they get exam results, whether they are celebrating or commiserating. Both scenarios can lead to excessive drinking or drug taking, so there’s an important role for parents to talk to their children about the risks.

Strokes claim the lives of around 1,000 people in Northern Ireland every year. It is the third most common cause of death and the greatest cause of adult disability, so the Public Health Agency (PHA) is reminding people of the a range of signs and symptoms of stroke. Dr Brid Farrell, Assistant Director of Service Development at the PHA, said: “Stroke is an attack on the brain. It happens when the blood supply to part of the brain is cut off and brain cells are damaged or die.

The Public Health Agency (PHA) is reminding all people aged 70 years old that they are still able to receive the shingles vaccine. The vaccine will help protect them against the common and painful skin disease and its complications. However, with just over half of people eligible for the jab actually choosing to receive it, time is running out before their age moves them out of the target groups, which turn over on 1 September each year. Eligibility for the vaccine is determined by a person’s age on 1 September.