USD #343 H1N1 Virus Response Plan
by Denis Yoder, Superintendent
The purpose of the USD #343 Response Plan is to assist in managing the impact of the influenza pandemic on our schools. These are unusual times which will require a high level of communication and cooperation between our schools, students and parents.
The spread of novel H1N1 virus is thought to occur in the same way that seasonal flu spreads. Flu viruses are spread mainly from person to person through coughing or sneezing by people with influenza. Sometimes people may become infected by touching something such as a surface or object with flu viruses on it and then touching their mouth or nose.
Novel H1N1 flu virus infection can cause a wide range of symptoms, including fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue.
The Perry-Lecompton School District administration has planned for the imminent risk of the H1N1 virus becoming widespread this fall and want to communicate the following recommendations for our schools:
Students and
School Staff
1. School closures will NOT occur, unless there
is a magnitude of faculty or student absenteeism that interferes
with the school's ability to function.
2. Stay home when you are sick. Students, faculty and all
staff with influenza-like illness (fever with cough or sore
throat), should stay home and not attend school or go into the
community except to seek medical care. The CDC (Center for
Disease Control) is recommending that those with flu-like illness
stay home until at least 24 hours after their fever (100 degrees or
higher) is gone, without using fever-reducing medications, such
as Acetaminophen (Tylenol) or Ibuprofen (Motrin). Upon return to
school when fever free for 24-hours, the child's temperature will
be taken as a precautionary measure by the school.
3. Avoid close contact with people who are sick. Students,
faculty and staff who appear to have or develop influenza-like
symptoms during the school day, will be isolated promptly in a room
separated from other students and staff, and sent home. Students
and staff identified with a fever may be asked to wear a surgical
mask in the isolation room until they leave the school.
4. Follow sanitary measures to reduce the spread of
influenza. Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when
coughing or sneezing, cough into your sleeve or elbow, frequently
wash your hands with soap and water, or use a hand sanitizer if
hand washing with soap is not possible. (USD #343 will provide hand
sanitizers in all district classrooms.)
5. Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Pathogens are
often spread when a person touches something that is contaminated
and then touches his or her eyes, nose or mouth.
6. Open communication with students and parents is vital to
continue with assignments and coursework when students are absent
from school.
Parents
1. Monitor for illness. Parents and guardians
should monitor their school-aged children every morning for
symptoms of influenza-like illness and should NOT send them to
school or to daycare if symptoms are present.
2. Report ALL absences from school. Call the school and
report specific symptoms, disease, reason the child is not in
school, and temperature to assist with symptom/disease
surveillance. Also, make sure the school has correct contact and
emergency numbers to allow for prompt pick-up if influenza-like
symptoms occur.
3. Aspirin or aspirin-containing products should NOT be
administered to any confirmed or suspected case of novel H1N1
influenza or virus infection to children aged 18 years or younger,
due to the risk of Reye's Syndrome.
4. Stay home. If your child is ill with influenza-like
symptoms, they should not attend alternative child care or
congregate in other neighborhood or community settings.
5. Stay Informed! Check your child's book bag daily to
monitor for written updates from the school. Visit the USD #343
website at www.usd343.org to view current updates on H1N1.
