H1N1 Flu Update-September 1, 2009
by Chris Tuck, Health Services Director
September 01, 2009
The Seaman USD #345 school district administration have been reviewing and revising our current Pandemic Flu Plans and have planned for the imminent risk of H1N1 virus becoming widespread this fall and want to communicate the following recommendations for our schools:
Students and School Staff:
1. School closure will NOT occur, unless there is a
magnitude of faculty or student absenteeism that interferes with
the school's ability to function.
2. Stay home when you are sick. Students,
faculty and all staff with influenza-like illness (fever with cough
or sore throat), should stay home and not attend school or go into
the community except to seek medical care. The CDC is
recommending that those with flu-like illness stay home until at
least 24 hours after their fever is gone, without using
fever-reducing medications, such as Acetaminophen (Tylenol) or
Ibuprofen (Motrin).Check with your school nurse or healthcare
provider for updated information on specific guidance on when to
return to school and watch for updates on the Seaman district
website and in school newsletters.
3. Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
Students, faculty and staff who appear to have, or
develop during the school day, influenza-like symptoms should be
isolated promptly in a room separated from other students and
staff, and sent home.
4. Cover your mouth and nose, and wash your hands.
Follow sanitary measures to reduce the spread of
influenza, including covering the nose and mouth with a tissue when
coughing or sneezing, coughing into your sleeve or elbow.
Frequent hand washing with soap and water, or using hand
sanitizer if hand washing with soap is not possible.
5. Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.
Pathogens are often spread when a person touches
something that is contaminated and then touches his or her eyes,
nose or mouth.
6. Open communications with student and parents to
continue with assignments and coursework, when students are absent
from school, or faculty are away from work.
Parents:
1. Monitor for illness. Parents and guardians
should monitor their school-aged children, every morning for
symptoms of influenza-like illness, and should NOT send them to
school or to daycare if symptoms are present.
2. Report ALL absences from school. Call the
school and report specific symptoms, disease or reason student in
not in school to assist with symptom/disease surveillance.
Also, make sure the school has correct contact and emergency
numbers to allow for prompt pick-up if influenza-like symptoms
occur.
3. Aspirin or aspirin-containing products should NOT
be administered to any confirmed or suspected ill case of H1N1
influenza virus infection aged 18 years and younger, due to the
risk of Reye's syndrome. For more information visit the CDC
website at: http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/
4. Stay home. If your child is ill, with
influenza-like symptoms they should not attend alternative
childcare or congregate in other neighborhood and community
settings.
5. Stay informed! Check your child's book bag
daily to monitor for written updates from the school. Visit
the Seaman USD #345 website to view current updates on H1N1 and
school specific recommendations.
To assist with planning or implementing home care for persons
with H1N1, the CDC has recommendations to assist the person who is
ill as well as protecting their caregiver. For more
information visit:
http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/guidance_homecare.htm
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/stopgerms.htm
H1N1: A Guide for Individuals and Families
Caring for Someone at Home
Students, faculty, staff and parents have an important role in
protecting ourselves and the wider community from infection with
this new virus and we will continue to communicate with you about
the role of the educational institutions in reducing transmission
of this virus as new medical and scientific information is
available to us. If you have specific questions, please
contact your school nurse, or Chris Tuck, Health Services Director
at 575-8700 or ctuck@usd345.com
Other Helpful Resources:
http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/
http://www.pandemicflu.gov/
H1N1: A Guide for Individuals and Families
Prevention and Preparation
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON
PANDEMIC FLU, CLICK ON THE BELOW LINK TO BE REDIRECTED TO OUR
HEALTH SERVICES PAGE. SCROLL TO THE BOTTOM OF THE
PAGE.
http://www.usd345.com/vnews/display.v/SEC/Seaman%20Health%20Services%3E%3ECommunicable%20Disease
