AUGUST 2021:

Lachlan Children Services held a Crazy Hair Day on Thursday, 5 August 2021.
The facility held the event to raise awareness of Cystic fibrosis (CF). CF is a is a genetic condition which affects a person’s respiratory, reproductive and digestive systems.
Staff and students used their creativity to the fullest, with unique designs and magnificent hair colours abounding. There was also a special visitor on the day – a baby lamb whose wool was coloured in honour of the day.
CF is the most common inherited, life threatening condition affecting young Australians. CF is autosomal recessive meaning that it occurs equally in males and females.
For a child to be born with CF both parents must be genetic carriers for CF. However, inheriting the gene can skip generations. It is life shortening and there is no cure.
In Australia, one in 2,500 babies are born with CF, that’s one every four days. On average one in 25 people carry the CF gene and most are unaware that they are carriers. Because carriers of CF are unaffected and therefore show no symptoms, it is hard for them to appreciate that CF may be a real risk.
Management and treatment of CF is lifelong and ongoing. From birth, a person with CF undergoes constant medical treatments and physiotherapy.
A person with CF may consume up to 60 capsules daily to help digest food and may need to do up to four hours of airway clearance physiotherapy each day.