CHEST Guidelines-Return-to-School-for-Children-With-Tracheostomy-or

Return-to-School-for-Children-With-Tracheostomy-or

Pdf Summary

The commentary discusses the challenges and lessons learned from the first COVID-19 lockdown in the UK concerning the educational reintegration of children with tracheostomies or those requiring noninvasive ventilation. During the initial lockdown from March to June 2020, schools closed and children engaged in remote learning to protect against COVID-19. As evidence emerged showing children were less susceptible to severe COVID-19, schools began reopening post-lockdown. However, children with tracheostomies or on ventilation posed additional risks and challenges due to considerations around aerosol-generating procedures (AGPs).<br /><br />This specific group of children was deemed vulnerable, necessitating individualized assessments for their return to school, influenced by the available guidance on PPE and AGPs. Concerns around aerosol transmission led to recommendations for high-level PPE and procedural changes, such as utilizing separate rooms for certain care activities, which schools struggled to implement due to resource limitations and staffing issues.<br /><br />Amid ongoing closures and reopening, the situation raised questions about virus transmission dynamics in special educational settings. Data suggested higher COVID-19 infection rates among staff in special schools compared to primary schools, though impacts of community transmission were not clear. The commentary stresses the importance of prioritizing safe school reintegration for these children, underlining schools' protective role for vulnerable children and their families during the pandemic.<br /><br />Lessons learned urge better multiagency cooperation, clear health guidelines, appropriate PPE availability, and vaccination prioritization for education professionals. Emphasizing the duty of care to teachers and healthcare providers, the document recommends collaborative efforts to ensure safe and effective educational continuity amid evolving virus variants. The need for continuous data collection to inform policies and practices remains essential.

Keywords

COVID-19

lockdown

educational reintegration

tracheostomies

noninvasive ventilation

aerosol-generating procedures

PPE

special educational settings

virus transmission