Show School Opening Does Not Increase Polio Says Doctor The opening of schools on scheduled scheduled scheduled dates throughout the country country country coun coun- try despite the occurrence this year of the largest infantile paralysis epidemic in history is no cause for parents parents' alarm even though thousands of new cases may be expected during the next weeks the National Foun Foundation for In Infantile Infantile Infantile In- In Paralysis declared today The Foundation now conducting a Polio Epidemic Emergency drive to raise to enable its Chapters to care for an anticipated anticipated anticipated antici antici- eases cases by the end of the year pointed out that new cases still are being reported at a arate arate rate late of a week But experience experience experience exper exper- shows that school openings never have affected the course of epidemic either to abate or in increase increase increase in- in crease the incidence rate according according according accord accord- ing to Dr Hart E. E Van Ri Riper medical edical director Certain precautions should continue continue continue con con- to be observed both at home and at school he advised but the assembling of pupils under one roof is not regarded in itself as hazardous The majority of schools in incidence areas have opened or orwill orwill will open soon in conformity with recommendations recommendation of a national conference conference conference con con- ference of health authorities sponsored sponsored sponsored spon spon- by the National Foundation early this summer he added Many inquiries from parents during during dur dur- ing ng the last week prompted Dr Van Riper's statement Reasons Given For School Opening The liThe reasons for the recommendation recommendation recommendation dation regarding schools are threefold threefold threefold three three- fold Dr Van Riper explained First closing schools or delaying their opening has not affected the course of outbreaks of poliomyelitis ti in the past Indeed such action often h has s resulted in public p panic Whatever is done to upset the usual rout routine ne of children in a household or adults in their occupations occupations occupations is likely to bring more trouble than good Second since children usually play with other children in their neighborhood they probably have had the same exposure to their playmates as they will have when school opens And there usually Continued Continue en on page 5 SCHOOL OPENING G DOES NOT INCREASE POLIO SPREAD oj DOCTOR SAYS Co Cont Continued nu d from Page 1 J rs is less supervision when schools are not not ot in session so early symptoms mn tay J aY not be spotted as promptly Third b Third it is intimate contact those infected and those who are Between bet susceptible that e caus- caus those thos thoss e who are the spread of infantile paralysis q ij e eS cs s S Normal school contacts do not involve involve in- in living such as takes lakes takesI valvee volve valve intimate sitting sitting sit- sit households Merely in e I place lace ting side by side in a schoolroom Constitute intimate te condo con- con not do tact Urges Precautions Dr Van Riper urged the con- con of such precautions as Avoidance avoidance of over fatigue assurance r of r-f f adequate rest and sleep strict Observance r of cleanliness and avoid avoid- avoia- avoia g the use of utensils or implements in inY ng belonging to other children mr ments objects that may be bep particularly pa I paced p placed raced in the mouth Routine daily decking on each childs child's health for x early notice of If symptoms such as Headache nausea muscle soreness fed a aad d fever also was advised respect to schools to which children are transposed ted in busses t M From hom widely separated areas or b 3rd ng b schools excluding colleges and and universities Dr V Van m Riper said saidI I a occasional cre cional exceptions may be ma made e regarding garding school openings These Involve such situations as ris when a school chool is located in a high incidence inci- inci l Sence dence ence area and md children are re bi brought ought l r into ate that ar area oa a from regions where 1 the t e disease is not prevalent pre J What Would Your Child Do I 1 Hie thing to ask yourself is what int would your child do if school were werl not open he concluded If your o u r child would be just as exu ex- ex sed to possible contacts through I movies church attendance jd d social gathering then obviously will wm be gained by keeping b belm elm out Dut of school except a disturbance o of his normal pattern gf I life t Meanwhile the National I ion reported that contributions ad- ad to POLIO care of post ices offices throughout the country ere re com coming i. i Ilg in m steadily to bolster ick m C aid funds which were suf- suf t wl f for or only eleven days on Sep- Sep t l iber r The total patient care caie MR sill 11 l for Cor the National Foundation is IS year ye-ar Is 15 estimated at S- S compared with last ear car rr |