H1N1 Flu K-12 Schools and School Districts Information for School and District Administration
Prevention and Spread of the Flu :
· Wash your hands frequently and thoroughly · Flu viruses can survive 2 hours or longer on surfaces · Remind your students frequently to "cover" when they cough or sneeze · The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)'s website (www.cdc.gov) has a Flu Prevention Podcast that schools can show to their students: "All you have to do is wash your hands."
Symptoms :
H1N1 Flu symptoms usually develop 3-5 days after exposure to the virus. Symptoms continue for approximately 7-8 days from first sign of illness.
· Fever · Cough · Sore Throat · Body aches · Headaches · Chills · Fatigue · Diarrhea · Vomiting
Immediate arrangements should be made to send anyone who becomes ill home at the first signs of the H1N1 or other Flu symptoms. Keep them isolated until they can be sent home. Anyone who becomes ill with H1N1 Flu is contagious for 24hrs before symptoms appear and remain contagious until the fever subsides, or approximately 7-8 days from the first development of the symptoms. Those who have been ill should remain at home an additional 24hrs after the fever subsides.
To close, or not to close, schools :
See "Flu school closing: Any benefit? What's the benefit of school closing when there's a flu outbreak?" A short report prepared by the Mayo Clinic Staff to help School and District Administrations determine when, and if, it is appropriate to dismiss schools during a H1N1 Flu outbreak. A printable copy, or multiple copies, of this article can be accessed at http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/school-closing/AN02001
Toolkit :
The CDC has prepared a Toolkit - "Preparing for the Flu: A Communication Toolkit for Schools (Grades K-12)" that provides basic information and communication resources to help School Administrators implement recommendations from the CDC's "Guidance for State and Local Public Health Officials and School Administrators for School (K-12) Responses to Influenza during the 2009-2010 School Year." www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/schools/toolkit/.
H1N1 Flu K-12 Schools and School Districts Information for School and District Administration (Continued)
The Toolkit includes links to:
· Q & A's · Fact Sheets to Inform Schools and Teachers · Fact Sheets to Inform Parents · Information on Where to Find Posters for Schools about Flu Prevention · Template Letters/Emails for Schools to Send to Parents
Additional information on H1N1 Flu and guidance for Schools Administrators can be found on the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)'s website at www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/schools or at www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/schools/schoolguidance.htm
Questions to Consider:
· What is the best course of action for flu prevention for our school district? · Who are the right decision-makers and stakeholders? · How does the school district keep parents and the community informed? · What information should/can be collected and shared? · Does the school district have resources to implement the course of action? · What is the process if schools need to be dismissed? · What is the best course of action after dismissed schools return to normal?
For complete in-depth information available to assist School Administrators cope with a severe outbreak of the H1N1 Flu in their schools, administrative staff should also review the technical report prepared by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention:
"Technical Report for State and Local Public Health Officials and School Administrators on CDC Guidance for School (K-12) Responses to Influenza during the 2009-2010 School Year"
This CDC Report provides guidance to School Districts to help decrease the spread of H1N1 Flu during the 2009-2010 School Year. It recommends actions based on the most current flu information for their region of the country. It suggests strategies to be considered if the H1N1 flu is causing more severe symptoms than were previously recorded during the spring 2009 outbreak. The Report also provides a Checklist to help your School Administrators make informed decisions at the local level. www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/schools/technicalreport.htm
In order for your School Administration to remain current on the progression of the H1N1 Flu in your state or region, go to the CDC newsletter titled "Flu View" at www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly for the latest updates. This report includes a U.S. map updated regularly with information on reported cases with H1N1 Flu activity listed by individual state.
H1N1 Flu K-12 Schools and School Districts Information for School and District Administration (Continued)
School Dismissal Monitoring System :
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U. S. Department of Education have established a School Dismissal Monitoring System to report H1N1 Flu-related school or school district dismissals in the United States. The CDC have requested all school dismissals related to the H1N1 Flu be reported by using a special Dismissal Form available online. The form can be completed quickly online, or downloaded and submitted by email or fax to the CDC School Dismissal Monitoring System. Report K-12 School Dismissals
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H1N1 Flu
K-12 Schools and School Districts Information for School Website Q & A’s 1. How many confirmed cases of the H1Ni Flu are in the (school)/ (district)? 0/0 2. How long does my child have to stay out of school? Students should be kept at home an additional 24hrs after symptoms and fever have subsided. 3. How long does it take for symptoms to develop? What are the symptoms of Swine/H1N1 Flu that I should watch for in my child? Symptoms usually develop 3-5 days after exposure to the flu virus. Symptoms will continue for approximately 8 days. Fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headaches, chills, fatigue, diarrhea, and vomiting are the primary symptoms of the H1N1 Flu. See your doctor immediately if you develop symptoms, especially after travel and exposure. 4. If my child comes home ill from school, how do I prevent other members of my family from contracting the H1N1 Flu? If students become ill, keep them home. Wash hands frequently and thoroughly. Flu virus can survive 2hrs or longer on surfaces. Avoid crowds. To reduce exposure within a family designate one person to care for the one that is sick. A person who becomes ill with H1N1 Flu is contagious from 24hrs before symptoms develop and until all symptoms subside - approximately 7-8 days. 5. What are the treatments / home remedies for caring for a child with the H1N1 Flu virus? See your doctor immediately if your child develops symptoms, especially after travel and exposure. Children should be encouraged to drink plenty of fluids, get plenty of rest / sleep, take pain relievers upon advice of their personal physician (such as Tylenol or Advil). Do not give children aspirin. 6. If my child becomes ill during the school day how will he/she be cared for until they can be sent home? Does the school have resources to care for multiple ill students? School officials will isolate all ill students in the Health Center until they can be retrieved by a parent or authorized person. Every effort will be made to make them as comfortable as possible until they can go home. Each school within the District has a designated Health professional who is available to see that ill students are isolated and cared for until they can be picked up. H1N1 Flu K-12 Schools and School Districts Information for School Website (Continued) 7. Will schools be dismissed because of confirmed cases of the H1N1 Flu? What is the official process for dismissing school? How will parents be informed? If the District determines it is necessary to close one or more schools, flyers will be sent home with the students. All dismissal information will also be placed on the school and district websites [www. schooldistrict.org] where parents can keep up-to-date with the latest information on dismissals and school re-openings. In addition, the media will be informed of all school closings. 8. If the schools are closed, how will we know when they are scheduled to re-open? How will parents & the community be kept informed? All information concerning closing and re-opening of schools will be kept current on the district and school websites. 9. Will homework be sent home with my ill child, if school is dismissed? Whether school work will be sent home or not will be determined by School and District Administrators based on the extent and length of the school closures. 10. If school is dismissed for an extended period of time, what are the plans for students to “make-up” missed schoolwork and assure educational progress for the school year? Is there a course of action planned? The School District does not anticipate school closures. If, in the unfortunate circumstances that dismissals become necessary because of the H1N1 Flu, school administrators, along with state education department authorities will determine the best course of action to assure that our students are not missing essential elements for their educational progress for the 2009/2010 School Year. 11. What information is being collected and shared on our children in relation to the H1N1 Flu Pandemic? Decision-makers and stakeholders, such as school district officials, state and local health officials, state education officials, health care providers, teachers, parents, community businesses and organizations are working together to assure that a course of action is being put in place that will result in the best health strategy for our students and staff. The District already has privacy requirements in place. All data that is collected on district students and employees who have been affected by the H1N1 Flu virus is collected and shared as a group and not on an individual basis. This information is only shared with local and state authorities and health officials with a need to know and with the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, as requested. |