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Preparing for a potential flu pandemic in the schools

Posted: 9/3/2009 11:24:00 AM

Click this image to view a 33-minute presentation on school planning for a flu pandemic. This presentation by Department of Public Instruction consultant Suzanne Todey was recorded at WEAC last year to help educators plan for the potential of a flu pandemic. The concepts apply directly to the current concerns over the H1N1 flu outbreak.

H1N1 Flu: Facts and Prevention Tips

NEA Today Express Resources:

School nurses are a secret weapon in fighting the potential flu outbreaks

Support professionals step up their game to keep germs out of hallways, cafeterias and buses

The ABCs of fighting flu

Seven things to do before the flu season hits

Take advantage of technology to keep classes going - even if you school closes

The NEA Today Express special issue on the H1N1 flu

More Resources

Support staff tackle new tasks to combat swine flu

Support staff tackle new tasks to combat swine flu

Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction resources

H1N1 Background and Fact Sheet

Vaccine Questions and Answers

Letter to Parents from the CDC

Department of Education Recommendations to Ensure Continuity of Learning

Templates that may be helpful for sending communications regarding H1N1 to parents

The NEA Health Information Network H1N1 page

Background on the H1N1 flu

From the NEAS employee assistance program

Schools should continue to practice hygiene behaviors such as: Hand washing with soap and water or alcohol-based hand cleansers Providing students and staff with tissues and trash cans for disposal Cleaning of desks and other surfaces Requiring students/staff who exhibit flu-like symptoms to stay at home and contact a health care provider More information can be found at the following sites: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Additional information for schools can be found at the U.S. Department of Education Web site Questions specific to school concerns can be sent to osfds.safeschl@ed.gov Local health departments are critical sources of information and decision making regarding control measures. Contact your local health department if you have any concerns or questions. Source: NEA Health Information Network

Schools should continue to practice hygiene behaviors such as:

Hand washing with soap and water or alcohol-based hand cleansers
Providing students and staff with tissues and trash cans for disposal
Cleaning of desks and other surfaces
Requiring students/staff who exhibit flu-like symptoms to stay at home and contact a health care provider

More information can be found at the following sites:

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Additional information for schools can be found at the U.S. Department of Education Web site
Questions specific to school concerns can be sent to osfds.safeschl@ed.gov

Local health departments are critical sources of information and decision making regarding control measures. Contact your local health department if you have any concerns or questions.

Source: NEA Health Information Network

H1N1 flu is a respiratory virus that mutates constantly, creating new strains. Symptoms associated with H1N1 include:

Fever
Lethargy and lack of appetite
Coughing
Nasal congestion
Sore throat
Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea

The Centers for Disease Control’s recommendation for avoiding swine flu is to take standard flu season precautions. These include:

Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth. Person to person transmission of a virus can result from touching another person, then absorbing the germs into yourself by touching one of these orifices.
Wash your hands frequently. Use warm water and soap (if no warm water, use alcohol-based soap) and rub vigorously for at least 30 seconds.
Keep hand sanitizers in your car or purse. Use after handling money, touching items that others also use (such as a gas pump), and before eating restaurant food.
Eat healthy. Eating foods rich in vitamins A, C, and E will strengthen your immune system. Try to start each day with a healthy breakfast.
Take vitamins and supplements. A good multi-vitamin can help strengthen your immune system, as can drinking green tea.
Drink at least eight glasses of water per day. Water flushes out your system and keeps you hydrated during the dry winter months.
Practice stress management. Too much stress can weaken your immune system. Exercise and find ways to relax, such as listening to soothing music, meditating, practicing yoga, reading, or watching a comedy show.
Get plenty of rest. Adults need at least seven hours of sleep per night, children more. Insufficient rest increases your chances of getting sick.
Don’t share drinking containers. Shared drinking containers spread germs fast. Use disposable paper cups in the bathroom, and wash water bottles before refilling them.
Use a separate set of towels for each family member. Give everyone a different color or pattern.
Disinfect. Clean doorknobs, phones, computer keyboards, bathroom sinks, kitchen counters, and any other items that are frequently shared.
Wash your child’s toys with soap and water regularly, especially if he or she tends to chew on them.
Avoid party dips and food trays that do not contain utensils. Others may have touched the food with their hands but not taken it, or you may have had a chip double-dipper in front of you.
Keep a scarf or mask over your nose and mouth. If you are worried about the spread of germs, you may want to keep your face covered in crowded public places.
Stop smoking. Smoking kills cilia — the fibers in your nose and lungs that prevent mucus from clogging these airways.

Please note: You cannot get the H1N1, also known as swine flu, by eating pork or ham. Like other forms of flu, H1N1 flu is a respiratory illness that is transmitted by person to person contact.

If you or a family member come down with flu-like symptoms, it is recommended that you take the following steps to care for yourself and prevent the spread of the illness.

Stay home. While it may be difficult to miss time at work or school, keep in mind that being out in public when you are contagious increases the odds that others will get sick. The CDC is requesting that anyone with flu symptoms isolate themselves by staying at home, even if they are only experiencing mild symptoms.
Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw tissues away immediately after use.
Wash your hands after blowing your nose or coughing. Make this a consistent habit to avoid spreading germs.
Don’t share a bed with another person if you are sick. Wash bedding and blankets after the sick person recovers.
Spray garbage cans with disinfectant to kill germs and keep those who handle the garbage from getting sick.

When to Seek Medical Attention

If you are experiencing flu symptoms (especially if you live in an area where swine flu has been reported), contact your health care provider. He or she will determine if you need to come in for testing for swine flu.

Flu symptoms that indicate an urgent need for medical attention (regardless of what form of the illness you have) include:

Children who are ill need immediate attention if they:

When in doubt, contact your physician.

The above information is intended for educational purposes only and is not intended to take the place of medical advice or the instructions of federal or local authorities.