Prevention of H1N1 & Seasonal Flu

We Need Your Help to Control the Spread of Seasonal and H1N1 (Swine) Flu

(Updated October 23, 2009)

Absence rates at more than half of PSD’s 50 schools rose above 10% in late September or early October, with some schools reporting days with more than 20% of total students absent due to flu or other causes. 

“The trend we’re seeing in schools with flu-related student absences is for rates to climb, then begin to drop back closer to normal after a few days,” says Kristin Bennett, PSD Risk Manager.  “We are continuing to monitor student absence rates, and focusing on prevention practices as well as encouraging families to get vaccinated for both seasonal flu and H1N1 flu.”

PREVENTION is the best strategy, and here’s how you can help:

·         Teach children to wash their hands often with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub. You can set a good example by doing this yourself.

·         Teach children to cover coughs/sneezes and not share personal items like drinks, food or unwashed utensils, and to cover their coughs and sneezes with tissues. Students should cover their coughs or sneezes using the elbow, arm or sleeve instead of the hand when a tissue is unavailable.

·         Clean surfaces and objects that your child touches frequently with appropriate cleaning agents.

·         Know the signs and symptoms of the flu. Symptoms of the flu include fever (100 degrees Fahrenheit, 37.8 degrees Celsius or greater), cough, sore throat, a runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, and feeling very tired. Some people may also vomit or have diarrhea.

·         Do not send children to school if they are sick. Any children who are sick while at school will be sent home.

·         Keep sick children at home for at least 24 hours after they no longer have fever or do not have signs of fever, without using fever-reducing drugs.  Keeping children with a fever at home will reduce the number of people infected.

·         Get your family vaccinated for seasonal flu and H1N1 flu when vaccines are available. According the Center for Disease Control (CDC), a vaccine specific to H1N1 may not be available until mid-October. They are recommending the vaccine be made available to individuals in priority groups, including school-aged children.

We are working closely with the Larimer County Department of Health and Environment and other city, county and state agencies to monitor flu conditions and make decisions about the best steps to take concerning schools. Please make sure you are on the PSD Parent E-mail Alert list, so we can provide you with new information as it becomes available (sign up HERE). This also assures you receive email updates from your child’s school.

HELPFUL WEBSITES AND PHONE NUMBERS:

Locations to get a seasonal flu vaccine in Larimer County: www.larimer.org/health/chs/flu.htm
H1N1 Flu Information and Resources: www.flu.gov, or call 1-800-CDC-INFO (232-4636)

Steps if Children are Sick or School is Dismissed: www.flu.gov/plan/school/parentfactsheet.html

Steps to Protect Your Family from Flu: www.flu.gov/plan/school/parentfactsheet2.html

Steps for Children at High Risk for Complications: www.flu.gov/plan/school/parentfactsheet3.html

Q&A from the Center for Disease Control (CDC):  www.flu.gov/plan/school/questions.html

Larimer County Dept. of Health and Environment: www.co.larimer.co.us/health or call 498-6700