News
Back to News Archive
Meningitis life-saving resource for students in the UK
17 September 2002
Meningitis Research Foundation has just produced a new free life-saving resource for university and college students in the UK.
Supplies of the new resource - a wall planner - have been sent to the University and College's Accommodation Officers for individual rooms in Halls of Residence. This means that students, as well as being able to plan social and academic events, will have ready access to the symptoms of meningitis and septicaemia, the blood poisoning form of the disease.
Whilst most students will have had the vaccine which protects them against Group C meningitis and septicaemia, there are other major forms of these diseases which are not yet vaccine preventable. Therefore, it is vital that students remain aware of the signs and symptoms.
In past years students have been at particular risk of contracting meningitis and septicaemia with devastating consequences. Around 12% of students who have contracted the diseases have tragically died and many more have suffered the after effects, which can be as serious as brain damage, deafness and amputations.
Said Denise Vaughan, Chief Executive of Meningitis Research Foundation, "We wanted to provide something that would be useful to students but at the same time gave them important messages about the diseases. This wall planner does both and will act as a constant reminder of the symptoms of meningitis and septicaemia throughout this coming academic year."
The wall planner also gives the Foundation's Freefone 24 hour helpline number - 080 8800 3344 - for students to ring should they have concerns or just require further information.