HFM
BOCES is providing this resource for parents and community
members seeking facts and information about influenza-like
illnesses, such as the H1N1 virus. Please see the links
at the bottom of the page for information from the
Centers for Disease Control and New York State.
NYSED provides guidance for schools regarding
influenza-like illness
Along
with the start of a new school year comes increased attention on
effective steps to reduce the spread of illness during the
upcoming flu season.
The
primary means to reduce the spread of flu in schools continues
to focus on early identification of students and staff who are
ill and should be excluded from school and all school-related
activities, and to encourage good hand hygiene and respiratory
etiquette.
The
New York State Department of Health and State Education
Department have established guidelines that encourage all
members of the school community staff, parents and students,
to take an active role in limiting the spread of infection. This
will require increased vigilance among parents, caregivers, and
school staff to identify students and staff with influenza-like
illness, in particular looking for respiratory symptoms
associated with fever.
Practice good hand hygiene by
washing your hands often with soap and water, especially after
coughing or sneezing. Health officials recommend washing for 20
seconds, which is long enough to sing the Happy Birthday song
twice.
Try to avoid close contact with
sick people. Additionally, avoid sharing personal items, such as
drinks, food or unwashed utensils.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose or
mouth. Germs spread this way.
Cover your mouth and nose with a
tissue when you cough or sneeze. If you dont have a tissue,
cough or sneeze into your elbow or shoulder, not into your
hands.
Get your family vaccinated for
seasonal flu and 2009 H1N1 flu when vaccines are available. The
H1N1 vaccination is projected to be available in fall 2009.
What
to do if you or your child
develops flu-like symptoms
Fever (more than 100° F)
Cough
Sore throat
Runny nose
Muscle pain
Fatigue
Vomiting or diarrhea
Stay home for at least 24 hours
after there is no longer a fever or signs of a fever (without
the use of fever-reducing medicine). A fever is defined as a
temperature of 100° F (37.8° C) or higher.
Keeping sick students at home
means that they keep their viruses to themselves rather than
sharing them. Ill children should not be out in public (day care
centers, stores, friends houses).
If your child becomes ill at
school, he/she should be picked up promptly from school once you
or another emergency contact person has been notified.
If you have asthma, diabetes, or
other conditions that put you at higher risk for complications
from the flu, you should speak to your doctor as soon as
possible.
The
Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommend that schools close
only under "extenuating circumstances" such as if a school has a
large population of students with underlying medical conditions.
Schools may also be advised to close if many students or staff
members are already sick or otherwise absent.
Decisions on school closings will be made locally because local
and state governments have authority over schools and public
health matters, and the severity and spread of the flu varies
widely by region.
HFM BOCES Risk Management Coordinator David Aimone is working
with component districts and a bi-county emergency planning
committee, made up of local emergency planning coordinators,
health officials and key community leaders, to monitor the local
situation and coordinate the appropriate plan of action. He
pointed out that scenarios can change quickly.
"We have emergency plans, response teams, and communications
systems in place," Mr. Aimone said. "We are prepared to react
just as quickly to any situation that arises locally," he said.
In the event of a major flu outbreak in the HFM BOCES area, the
most current response will be posted on this page and
distributed through area schools.
Parents should keep in mind that even though most cases of H1N1
flu in the United States involve only mild illness,
flu-like illness spreads easily.
If you suspect your child is getting the flu, it is essential
that he/she does not attend school or go anywhere else -- such
as childcare, the mall or sporting events -- where other people
would be exposed to flu germs.
It is important to plan ahead. Families are urged to have a
family discussion now to consider options in advance of the
event of a school closing and arrange for child care other than
a group day care setting.
Parents can help protect their children and reduce the spread of
seasonal or H1N1 flu by taking the following precautions:
Teach your children to wash hands
frequently with soap and water for 20 seconds (about as long as
it takes to sing the "Happy Birthday" song twice.). Be sure to
set a good example by doing this yourself.
Teach your children the proper
use of hand sanitizer. Gels, rubs and hand wipes all work well,
as long as they contain at least 60 percent alcohol. Hand wipes
must be disposed of properly. Always read and follow label
instructions when using hand sanitizer.
Teach your children to cover
coughs and sneezes with tissues or by coughing into the inside
of the elbow.
Teach your children to dispose of
used tissues properly.
Teach your children to stay away
from people who are sick.
Please keep in mind that this is an evolving situation. We are
receiving support and information on a regular basis from the
State Department of Health, the local County Departments of
Health, the State Education Department and the State Emergency
Management Office. For more information about Influenza-like
illness, please
visit the links below.
