I was very impressed with the straightforward and level-headed communication my kids’ school sent out today. Yes, it still could use an edit, but the messaging was, I thought, well done.
Here it is:
As you are aware, there are serious concerns about the presence and spreading of the H1N1 (Swine Flu). As a school district, we are just as concerned and are looking to help mitigate the impact as much as possible. There have been multiple confirmed cases in our schools, and with a student population of almost 10,000 students and 1,800 employees, undoubtedly we will see more.
As you have seen in the media, a lot of the focus is now on ILI or “influenza-like illness” since it is still deemed to be too early in the flu season for symptoms to show. Consequently, many cases of “ILI” are being classified as H1N1. Most people infected with the novel H1N1 flu virus have experienced mild to moderate illness, similar to seasonal flu. Treatment for the novel H1N1 flu is the same as for the seasonal flu for most of the cases.
The district has been and remains in communication with New York State and Saratoga County Health officials, as well as with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), in an effort to provide the most current information regarding H1N1 to our school community. I want to reassure you that we are closely monitoring the H1N1 situation in coordination with the aforementioned agencies.
So, with that said, I am asking for your assistance in two areas: 1) Keep a sick child at home and 2) encourage proper hygiene, especially frequent hand washing.
Protocols for those who are sick:
· Contact your physician if your child is showing signs of the flu (fever, vomiting, cough, runny nose, sneezing)
· People with flu-like symptoms are encouraged to stay home and not spread illness whether their illness has been diagnosed as a specific type of flu or not.
· Students with a fever must stay home until they are fever-free without medication for at least 24 hours.
· Avoid close contact with people who are sick, and avoid others if you are sick.
Protocols for Proper Hygiene
· Prevention remains the best strategy to continue to address the threat of H1N1.
· Wash your hands frequently and thoroughly.
· Cough or sneeze into the inside of your elbow.
Resources:
Please see the school website for the documents: “Flu Guide for Parents,” “Talking to Children About the Flu (Novel H1N1): A Parent Resource” and the “What To Do if You Get Sick.”
District Efforts:
· Hand sanitizers are readily available in multiple areas throughout school buildings and students are encouraged to used them in addition to washing hands frequently
· Custodial staff has stepped up efforts to continuously wipe down commonly touched areas (door knobs, key boards, etc.)
· Buildings and buses are being cleaned on a much more diligent scale and frequency.
· Nursing staff stands ready to see kids who may be experiencing symptoms.
School Closure
· Because H1N1 flu has spread widely throughout the U.S. and people may be contagious prior to showing symptoms, closing individual schools is a less effective way to stop the spread of H1N1 flu.
· The local health department (LHD) and the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) or New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (NYCDOHMH) provide up-to-date guidance and information to help schools make sound decisions.
· Schools may decide to close temporarily if so many students, faculty, or staff are out sick that the school cannot operate properly.
More information can also be found on the district website at www.shenet.org. It is vital that we work together and remain vigilant as a school and community.
Kelly DeFeciani
Public Information Officer
Shenendehowa Central Schools
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