Back to School: Tips for Young Warriors
By ASCA Youth Ambassador, Hanna Visagie (14)
Term One is here and back in full swing. I am 14 and in high school, but my tips below are ones I stick to and are helpful for warriors in both primary and secondary school getting back to school:
◦ Stay well hydrated- drink plenty of water to keep oxygen, nutrients and those sticky sickle cells in your blood flowing freely.
◦ Make sure your teachers are informed and up to date about your condition. They should also have strategies to manage potential sickle crises and help you through the day.
◦ Start your day with breakfast and eat healthy, balanced, nutrient-dense school lunches and meals to give you the energy to get through the day.
◦ Pace yourself when walking and doing sports and other physical activities at school.
◦ Make sure you get enough sleep at night.
◦ Find your tribe! By that, I mean surround yourself with friends and people who share your interests and values, are mutually caring and give you positive energy and support.
◦ Wear extra layers of clothing on cool/cold days to keep you warm, and avoid overheating in too many layers on hot days.
◦ Take your medication every day.
◦ Attend all your hospital reviews and medical appointments and keep up with your immunisations to stay healthy.
◦ Follow good hygiene practices wherever you go, like washing your hands with soap and water or hand sanitiser after going to the toilet and before eating meals, to reduce the chances of picking up germs and infections that could trigger a sickle pain crisis.
◦ Have hobbies and extramural activities that bring you joy and relaxation.
◦ Stay in tune with your body, and if you feel unwell at school, communicate with a trusted adult, teacher, or friend to get the help you need.
◦ Should you get injured at school, be sure the school nurse or whoever is administering first aid knows not to apply ice packs, which could induce a pain crisis.
◦ Keep communication channels open with your teachers so they are aware of when you are feeling unwell, fatigued, or in pain, need extensions to complete homework and assignments, or need assistance catching up with work you may have missed because of hospital admissions, medical appointments, transfusions, sick days, etc.
◦ Make sure to get a daily dose of vitamin D and physical exercise.
◦ With the help of your parents, consider going for counselling with your school well-being-coordinator or a psychologist or counsellor if you find you are struggling to cope and need some extra emotional support and somewhere safe to share and talk through your feelings and some of the challenges that come with living with SCD.
◦ Push yourself to do your best in whatever you do, but don’t push yourself too hard. Learn to tune into your body. If you need to take a break in the well-being area of your school, go home early, or stay home from school for a day, do so. Otherwise, your body will make you do so later on.
◦ Be kind to yourself. If you’re struggling, don’t beat yourself up about it. Go out there and be the best version of yourself, my fellow young warriors!