Chilblains on dd

[Paperyfish]

Dd (9) has been complaining she’s cold in class. They have the windows open for COVID. She has now developed painful chilblains on her hands. The kids are allowed to wear extra jumpers and a hat in class, but not gloves as it would impede the endless hand sanitising ( I assume this is the reason. Dd says she has asked repeated to wear gloves and been denied). Aibu to insist she is allowed to wear gloves? Ideally they’d shut the windows but I guess they won’t! I’m sure they came from the school conditions as she has gloves she wears at playtime and walking to school and it’s a reasonable temperature at home.

I imagine they can't wear gloves because it would interfere with writing etc.

But it shouldn't be so cold that she needs gloves and a hat indoors! That's crazy. I'd speak to the school about turning the heating up!

How do the other children find it? Is she closest to the window?

Absolutely ludicrous. I would be getting in touch with them about duty of care.

@NuffSaidSam I have brought some fingerless gloves in the hope they will be allowed, and she could still grip the pencil with her fingertips?

@arethereanyleftatall she is in line with a window, but not nearest. I assume she gets a draft? She’s skinny little thing and does often complain - but I was thinking it was just complaining, but now feel awful about the chilblains.

@IfIwasablackbird do you know if there are acceptable temperature ranges for primary schools?

That's awful, I would just ask what the temperature is in the classroom - there is a legal temp it has to be above, 18 degrees I think - because you're a bit worried as your daughter has chilblains on her fingers.

Get or make some fingerless mitts.

If you can knit, this pattern attached is really easy and quick.
If you can sew then they only take 20 mins to whip up a pair using fleece, I made some out of some outgrown fleece PJs.

DD has many pairs after sitting in a freezing classroom last year, because they don't have a thumb on she can write perfectly normally but having the cover over palm/back of hand and wrist is enough to keep her hands warm.

I have some cashmere ones from turtle doves and even though fingers are completely uncovered they stay lovely and warm.

www.gov.uk/workplace-temperatures

If you can get her some decent thermals for under her clothes and keep her feet warm, it should help to get her circulation going in her hands.

Does she have Raynauld’s?

I get her to take a digital thermometer in that reads the temperature automatically at certain times. Then email the readings to the school and say that it is not acceptable.

That sounds appalling and must affect their ability to concentrate.

This Is ridiculous.

I was a martyr to chilblains in my teens/early 20s then grew out of them, but they seem to be making a comeback now - I get them on my feet. I find E45 Itch Relief cream very soothing.

There is no minium legal temperature for a classroom. In January last year we were lucky to be above 10 degrees in the classrooms we used for vulnerable and keyworker children

It was freezing and we allowed complete non-uniform and gloves, hats, coats. We are currently allowing extra layers and gloves, with coats on in the coldest classrooms. I've had 5th formers bringing blankets in as scarves and I don't blame them. The heating is on full pelt, we have a minimum number of windows open (certainly not all of them) but there still needs to be ventilation.