Wear a mask, save lives

Kevin King/Postmedia Network

One thing is clear in this age of COVID  — if we are to get a handle on the pandemic, which is raging out of control all over the world, we MUST wear a mask. Each and every one of us over the age of 2 years have a duty to comply. Children can get the virus but they, as potential asymptomatic carriers, can also spread it; children under 2 should not have their mouths and noses covered.  Practice hand-washing hygiene with them as part of personal grooming at home.  Encourage youngsters to keep their hands away from eyes, nose and mouth. 

As for adults, wear a damned mask! Simple. Stop the whining. Stop the excuses, Stop going on about it being a violation of your rights. What about the rights of the ‘medically fragile’ or ‘at risk’.  When you’re milling about at the malls without a  mask you can’t know how many others you might unwittingly infect. As for myself, given the seriousness of our current world wide health situation, I have a right to expect places of business to be safe when I frequent them. Though I’m proactive with regard to  my own health and wellness, I am considered ‘at risk’ because of pre-existing conditions.

Again, just to be very clear. None of  us is special. None of us in immune to the virus and none of us can say with certainty that we won’t unwittingly pass it to someone else or many people, cycling the virus  even further out of control. Who’s to say that we aren’t silent spreaders and because of that, we infect many people, some of whom will die. That’s the reality of this insidious virus. It has no respect for one’s station in life. None.

The words of Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, resonate — “I don’t know how to explain to you that you should care for other people”

Via a Facebook post, my sister-in-law recounted a troubling scene. She was in a convenience store where there were approximately 20 people not practicing social distancing, except those lined up at the cash. The man in front of her was still in his EMS uniform, NOT wearing a mask. That very person would be the one who loads patients onto stretchers for transport to hospital, probably sitting beside them during the ambulance ride. How many times did he do that in the course of a single day, with stops for beverage pick-up in between?  How many similarly unmasked people did he encounter? Silent spreaders? People already infected but not knowing? People presenting with early symptoms, such as a cough, but still going out? 

Ambulance New Brunswick would do well to issue a binding directive to all employees at every level of care. Violating contact and care rules could result in suspension without pay. Hits to the wallet tend to get attention and correct behaviour. For some it takes multiple cash withdrawals before they ‘get it’.

Now, about those pesky masks! Just stop it about the masks. They SAVE lives. The folks moaning and groaning about them need to just get over themselves and look at the bigger picture. It’s not like they’re forced to wear a mask every waking hour. Wearing the mask is about respecting those around us. We instruct our children to be kind, to obey safety rules, to obey rules of conduct at gathering places for sporting activities. So, too, we must obey the laws of the land as they pertain to mask wearing during a global health crisis.

  Business owners are now finding themselves acting as mask police. Patrons of their stores have a DUTY to respect the rules of establishments where there a mask order in place. Their ability to put food on the table and pay bills is at risk when bullies won’t play by the rules. Violators of mask mandate ARE bullies. They can spin it any way they like but they need to understand this — by not wearing a mask, they punish themselves, too.  How can that be more important than respecting the person who sells them a coffee and doughnut? 

Stay safe. Be kind. WEAR a mask.

Carla MacInnis Rockwell is a freelance writer and disability rights advocate living outside Fredericton, NB with Miss Lexie, a rambunctious Maltese. She can be reached via email at carmacrockwell@xplornet.ca

Use COVID to rethink teaching, parenting

        COVID-19 has affected children in ways that will have impact on their daily lives, ongoing education and psychosocial development in the larger world. It’s critical that mechanisms be developed that will provide relief for their stress and a place to put all that energy; some of it nervous and anxiety producing.

Take it outside! On the streets where they live. With sidewalk games; socially distanced story time with children reading to each other or telling stories, each one taking a turn to make the wordy adventure grow. A great learning and teaching tool. And it’s fun!

Even learning the times table can be done outside ; an old-fashioned slate and chalk will take care of business.  Play marbles! Develop a routine of exercises that contribute to health and wellness; a physical education class outside in the fresh air. Think of the possibilities!

I recall growing up in Bath, New Brunswick, #7 of 8 children, when being outside for hours each day after school was the norm. Of course, we didn’t have lots of television and there certainly was no internet or malls! In the words of Mama Cass, we had to “make your own kind of music”

Though classrooms in the age of COVID may be smaller, distanced and lacking all the things children have come to know in the 4 walls setting, outdoor learning may actually be a  blessing in disguise; the proverbial silver lining. Some children just aren’t ready for the sit down and sit still regimen that a classrom enviroment requires, especially those who’s social skills are lacking. They struggle. Play dates save the day. Outside, with a group of age related peers mixed with a few older children to show them how to do stuff, saves the play. Mistakes will be made; that’s part of the process, but with them is learning. What to do and what not to do. Block play parties with kids interacting in groups, moving in and out of their circles on the block also boosts confidence as the anxious child learns it’s okay to be worried and a bit nervous. Lots of children are. 

Today, in these COVID times, parents could pool financial resources to purchase equipment that would be shared, set up in various yards that have  appropriate space. A community work in progress that could go on for years as children grow and mature.

COVID has tested the resolve and patience of so many parents who struggled with home schooling children of various ages. Make no mistake! It’s a challenge at the best of times and gave them a whole new appreciation for what a classroom teacher of 15-20 children does day after day through a full school year. It’s exhausting.

The impact on children with special needs is astronomical; many of them used to get several hours/day of therapies and learning activies per day. That’s gone. Those about to age out are in jeopardy.

Children  prone to outbursts actually do much better in an outside learning environment with less ‘rules’; they ridge on classroom rules because they lack self-discipline. Sometimes, parents just couldn’t cope with the ‘wild child’ and decided to let the teacher  handle things. That’s wrong and it’s not fair. Parenting classes are available and offer guidance for even the most difficult child. Consistency is critical.

As parents step back, they’ll find that the childen will arrange their own play dates after school, negotiating what they’ll  do, learning to take turns as leader. Diplomats in the making. 

The COVID curriculum has a lot of potential as teachers, parents and community leaders move forward to ensure health and safety for all. Children have come out from behind smartphones and tablets and other devices of current communication and are learning to use their voice and their words to share ideas and intent. Technology becomes a facilitator of interactions not a replacement for them.

The ‘sit still and learn this’ model has been  partially sidelined for now. Frankly, I don’t think that’s a bad thing as this change of scene gives the students lost in the shuffle an opportunity  to shine, to show their stuff and to get comfortable enough in their own skin to rise above any particular challenges that may have held them  back within  four walls.

Let’s not gripe about what COVID took from us. Instead let’s look to how we can adapt our daily living to meet the challenges of ensuring our children are safe, well and happy while learning what they need to be learning to compete on the world stage.

Stay safe and wear a mask. Don’t litter!

Carla MacInnis Rockwell is a freelance writer and disability rights advocate living outside Fredericton, NB with Miss Lexie, a rambunctious Maltese. She can be reached via email at carmacrockwell@xplornet.ca