Pandemic flu

WHAT SCHOOLS
NEED TO KNOW
ABOUT PREVENTING THE SPREAD OF SEASONAL FLU Influenza, commonly called “the flu,” is a contagious
PREVENTING THE SPREAD OF
respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses. Infection
with influenza viruses can result in illness ranging from
mild to severe and to life-threatening complications.
Remind students and staff to clean their hands, and make Five hundred out of 100,000 children with high-risk
sure they have the supplies to do so.
conditions (such as heart disease or asthma) and 100
• Wash hands several times a day using soap and warm out of 100,000 otherwise healthy children aged 0 to 4
water for 15-20 seconds (this is generally around the timeit takes to sing the ABCs). Alcohol-based hand rubs also years who are infected with the flu will be hospitalized
may be used. Dry hands with paper towels or automatic for complications each season.
hand dryers if possible. In school, allow regular breaks forthe students and teachers to wash hands. Young children SYMPTOMS OF THE FLU
should be instructed and assisted to ensure proper handwashing. Restrooms should be checked regularly toensure that soap and paper towels are always available.
Symptoms of flu include fever (usually high), headache,extreme tiredness, dry cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy Remind students and staff to cover noses and mouths nose, and muscle aches. Other symptoms, such as nausea, when coughing or sneezing, and have tissues readily vomiting, and diarrhea, are much more common among • The flu can be spread from coughs or sneezes. Make sure tissues are available in all classrooms and common SPREAD OF THE FLU
areas, such as libraries or lunchrooms. Students andstaff should cover their mouths when coughing and usea tissue when sneezing or blowing their noses. Tissues The flu is spread when a person who has the flu coughs, should be thrown away immediately following proper sneezes, or speaks and sends the flu virus into the air.
hand washing (alcohol hand gels may be used in the The virus enters the nose, throat or lungs of another person Encourage sick students and staff to stay at home.
TREATMENT OF THE FLU
• Sick students and staff should stay home from school until they have been without fever for 24 hours to help Antibiotics like penicillin will not cure the flu. The best way prevent spreading illness to others.
to prevent the flu is to get a flu shot. Over-the-countermedications may relieve symptoms of flu. Acetaminophen Work closely with your local health department, especiallyif making plans regarding school closure.
is recommended for both children and adults. Deconges-tants, cough suppressants, and use of a humidifier can pro- • Schools can assist the local health department with vide symptomatic relief. In addition to flu shots, three reporting outbreaks or unusually large numbers of flu antiviral medicines are available by prescription that will absences as a way to help understand the impact of the help treat the flu and its symptoms, and help prevent disease on the community. Any decisions about closing the flu from spreading in your body. The three antiviral a school due to increased flu activity should be made in medicines are: Tamiflu, Flumadine and Symmetrel.
consultation with local and state health departments.
It is unknown whether school closings are beneficial incontrolling the spread of flu.
PUBLIC SCHOOLS OF NORTH CAROLINA State Board of Education | Department of Public Instruction GOOD HEALTH HABITS
The following steps may help prevent the spread of respiratory
illnesses like flu:
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing.
• Wash your hands to protect you from germs.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.
QUICK TIDBITS
ABOUT THE FLU VACCINE
• Do NOT give aspirin to a child or teenager who has the flu.
The flu vaccine prevents the flu, a common and highlycontagious infection that can cause serious illness, and even • Encourage children to cover coughs and sneezes, wash death, in young children, older adults, and certain vulnerable hands frequently, and keep hands away from eyes, nose people of all ages. The vaccine protects between 45 percent and 90 percent of healthy children from getting the flu.
• A sick child is advised to stay at home during the first Children and adults should ideally get a flu shot in October.
days of illness when symptoms are most severe and theinfection is most contagious. Children can return to schoolwhen symptoms are improving and no fever has beendetected for 24 hours.
• Any employee, student, teacher, or staff suspected of having the flu should not attend school.
• www.immunizenc.com | Immunization Branch, • Staff and students (especially those with medical N.C. Department of Health and Human Services conditions and anyone else who wants to lower their riskof getting the flu) should get the seasonal flu shot.
• www.cdc.gov/flu | Centers for Disease Control and Remember, it is never too late in the flu season to be • www.immunizationinfo.org | National Network for • Schools should be extra-vigilant that ill students be excluded from sports activities, choir or any activities thatmay involve close contact, since transmission of the flumay be easier in these situations. All students and staffshould avoid sharing glasses, water bottles, drinks,spoons/forks, etc.
• School buses, because of the enclosed space, may allow for easy spread of the flu. Tissues should be available onthe buses, and students should be encouraged to covernose and mouth while coughing or sneezing. Disinfectcommonly handled interior surfaces (i.e., door handles,hand rails, etc.) between loads of students, if possible.
• In the school, clean commonly used surfaces such as door handles, handrails, eating surfaces, desks, etc., frequentlywith disinfectant. (Bleach solutions or commercialdisinfectants are appropriate.)

Source: http://www.nchealthyschools.org/docs/healthissues/pandemicflu/prevention.pdf