H1N1: What Your School Can Do

H1N1 has come on like a summer storm. But it's not a pandemic, at least not yet, and there are plenty of steps you can take to safeguard your family and children.

The Centers for Disease Control says the number of reported cases continues to climb and the World Health Organization has raised the worldwide pandemic alert to Phase 4, which means that the person-to-person spread of the flu could cause community-level outbreaks.

As of April 28, the CDC reported 64 cases, 45 in New York City. The second largest outbreak in the U.S. is in California, where there have been 10 reported cases.

“It’s very likely that this will be more of a marathon than a sprint. I want to acknowledge change.  Our recommendations, advice, approaches will likely change as we learn more about the virus and we learn more about its transmission,” said Richard Besser, acting director of the CDC.

Becky Smith, PhD., executive director of American Association for Health Education, encouraged schools to let parents know what they are doing to protect their children and to provide information and resources to parents about protection from the flu in the home.

“The swine flu outbreak is an important school health concern as children and youth in close quarters tend to spread illness very quickly through sneezing, coughing and sharing books, toys and other things,” she said. “It’s hoped that by using this event as a teachable moment, teachers and school nurses will be able to reaffirm good germ control practices and policies for both school and homes.”

HealthTeacher, in cooperation with the American Association for Health Education, has developed seven actions schools can take to limit the spread of germs and reinforce good health habits among students.

1.  Stop the spread of the flu at the door of your school by strongly encouraging students and staff to stay at home if they are sick.

    

   1.  As the swine flu has multiple symptoms, it is strongly suggested that any student or staff with a body temperature of 100° or higher stay at home. Students or staff who have had a fever should not return to school until it has been more than 24 hours since they last recorded a temperature above 100°.
   2. If a student presents themselves at school with a fever (body temperature 100° or greater) or other symptoms of the flu, keep them isolated from other students and staff, ideally in a nurse’s office, until a parent or guardian has been contacted and safe transportation home can be arranged.
   3. As an extra precaution, schools can provide respirators/masks (N95 or higher filtering facepiece) to school nurses who come in direct with students who have flu symptoms. These respirators/masks could be used by students who have flu symptoms to stop the immediate spread of germs while awaiting transportation home.
2. Use news of H1N1 in the general media as a teachable moment to reinforce good personal hygiene and learn about community and public health.
3. Promote hygiene and cough etiquette by encouraging students to:
   1. Cover nose and mouth with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. Throw the tissue in the nearest trash receptacle after use.  If tissues are not readily available, cough or sneeze into the sleeve of a shirt or jacket by raising the elbow in front of the mouth.
   2. Wash your hands with soap and water immediately 1) after coughing, 2) after using the restroom, 3) after playing on the playground or sports, 4) before eating a snack or lunch. When washing your hands vigorously rub hands together for 15-20 seconds or until you have completed saying the ABCs. If soap and water are not available use an alcohol-based hand gel.
   3. Keep hands away from eyes, nose and mouth when at all possible.
4. Provide disposable tissues and alcohol-based hand gel in every classroom and in teacher lounges.
5. Encourage hand washing before entering the cafeteria, gymnasium or other areas where students congregate. Use antiseptic cleaning spray and clean all table surfaces in the cafeteria between groups of children.
6.  If there is an outbreak of influenza in your community, consider alternative teaching methods to those where students have to share instructional materials (building blocks, sports equipment, etc.)
7. Communicate to parents the importance of good personal hygiene in preventing the spread of illness, encouraging them to reinforce good personal hygiene habits at home.

 The single biggest recommendation from experts: Stay home if you are sick.  “Absolutely the most important thing you can do is to stay home if you are not well. Parents need to keep all children with flu symptoms home to help prevent spreading the flu,” Smith said.

BONUS: The lesson plans linked at the top of this article are free of charge, no subscription required.