Lateral flows for younger children?

[Scoutingformygirls]

My DC were meant to be going on cub/scout camp in a few weeks but we've just had an email requesting that they take a lft before they travel and pack enough to be tested daily while there.

Neither have ever done an lft before as they are at primary school, and I thought they weren't meant for younger dc?

Are they accurate in younger children? Are younger dc meant to do them to themselves?

My 6 and 8 year olds have been doing their own tests twice a week for 6 months. I tell them it’s just like picking your nose, and they’re right on board.

They can't be that young if they're off to scout camp presumably? Swab up the nose, wiggle , all done. Or do it for them when they're asleep.

Is it just not advised for younger children because of worries about discomfort then? And not because it's not accurate?

Yeah, I think most of the concern is how distressed a young child may get really.

Some children may get distressed but others won’t mind.

I have one of both.

I don't think mine will be fussed tbh, but I don't want them to be doing something that isn't designed for their age.

Also hey have also never said that young children can’t/ shouldn’t take LFT tests (or even PCR tests).

It’s just that they do not require/ expect younger children to do regular testing.

What will happen with the younger children in August/ September when the rules change will be interesting.

They're the same as a PCR in method - have your kids not needed a PCR over the last year?

They'll be fine. We've done loads of PCRs on my two year old as he gets a fever with colds.

I have a younger one who will definitely not be complying with regular testing if that because a requirement. We will have to stay at home!

The big problem is that companies and organisations have been asked to implement their own Covid policies based on their own risk assessment.

So if the camp feels that this will make their camp safer then they aren’t really doing anything ‘wrong’.

Neighbours DC came back positive from a similar event.

So yes, I think they're right to ask for LFTs. It won't guarantee no-one infectious is there, but it will reduce the chances.

Genius idea about taelling them it's like picking their nose!

It's really simple, and the swabs are narrower than for PCR, and it should be fine to carry out in a DC old enough to camp. They could either do it themselves (get one for you, so you all do them together - ah, making memories!) or you could do it to them, but I suspect that would be less nice for the victim

I find it pretty unpleasant. There is no way my children would be OK with daily testing. Luckily none of them have needed a test so far. I did get my oldest to do a lft once and there is no way he poked it far enough up to be accurate.

Is there any reason why you wouldn't just do the swab when the non compliant child is asleep OP?

It does seem to be a bit if a trend on MN to make a big a deal as possible out of something that just needs to be done.

If you say it's necessary they will comply, children take their lead from adults. (Obviously sn and toddlers aside)

I think I feel uncomfortable because they've never ever done them before and to go from that to every day seems quite extreme.

Interesting SpringRainbow - leaving it up to individual organisations to create policies is surely unfair as some will have relevant skills/experience or knowledge and others won't?

It's not hugely different to cleaning teeth/ picking noses.

I can't do it for them as I won't be at the camp?!

@Scoutingformygirls

I think I feel uncomfortable because they've never ever done them before and to go from that to every day seems quite extreme.

Interesting SpringRainbow - leaving it up to individual organisations to create policies is surely unfair as some will have relevant skills/experience or knowledge and others won't?

The Government have pretty much washed their hands of any responsibility and have passed the buck fully to us as part of step 4 of the road map.

From what I can see (I haven’t checked everything for every industry) there are ‘recommendations’ and a huge emphasis on risk assessments and keeping people safe.

Since it’s a scouting group, it is very likely that your colony is taking their guidance directly from the scouting association rather than the Government themselves.

Of course, as you could see from individual colony’s before summer, some groups were more risk adverse than others.

Oh I apologise OP , I thought it was just before they go.

Practice beforehand then so they get used to it, they'll be doing it with their mates so will probably just get on with it.

With younger children it just needs to be thought of as like brushing teeth or taking medicine when ill or something.

My DCs are at different residentials this summer and they have all asked for presentation of a negative LFT on arrival and will be testing during the week. The children are expected to do their own tests.

If your children are not used to doing them, then I would start regular testing now so they have a chance to practise before they go away.

It's shocking how much is being devolved. I know locally, by the end of term, schools were implementing very different systems.

@Scoutingformygirls

I can't do it for them as I won't be at the camp?!

I assumed you'd need to do one just before they left.

leaving it up to individual organisations to create policies is surely unfair as some will have relevant skills/experience or knowledge and others won't?

Yes, but the government policy of exercising your own judgement seems to have a lot of support so I don't expect that to change. The Scouts is a large organisation with a permanent medical section, so it's one where I really wouldn't worry about quality of input into policy decisions

If other similar set ups are implementing similar policies then regular LFTs are obviously highly recommended in the guidance.

I am anticipating that as we go into winter the Government are going to increase their efforts to get testing regularly ‘normalised’.

They are already talking about testing replacing isolation.

It seems a perfectly reasonable request. if they are old enough to camp they are old enough to twiddle a stick up their nose. My DD tested positive on a lateral flow with no symptoms as did several of her friends. It can definitely stop the spread. It's the only way to keep the event going as one case would cancel the whole trip. I was concerned before my DD started testing in high school but none of the kids complained. They will all be doing them anyway so it's not like they are being singled out. If you sell it to them as keeping everyone safe they will be on board, also reinforce it's a non-negotiable, like cleaning teeth etc. I think the biggest obstacle is your negative attitude towards it.

You can probably just get away with doing the nose swab twice and not doing the tonsils one

Are they expecting the kids to set up and do the tests on their own or will it be under supervision? I wouldn't be comfortable with my primary age kids setting up and doing the lft test alone and I think it says in the instructions that young kids should be supervised. Not sure what is in the developing liquid? but it needs to be kept away from face / eyes... and is easily spilt. I think they are quite fiddly to do and I don't think mine (age 9) would be able to un-aided. Getting them to do their own Swab up the nose might be ok if you have compliant kids and you practice before hand. But surely not the whole procedure at primary age? Mine have become so traumatised by all the pcr tests we have had to do over the last year, it would be a deal breaker for us :(