Swine Flu Information
INFORMATION: April 29, 2009 letter from the Principal Preventing the Flu: Good Health Habits Can Help Stop Germs Letter from School Nurse   August 2009 This letter contains important information from the Vermont Department of Health and the U61 school nurses. Dear Parent: Only a few months ago we were informing you about the novel H1N1 or “swine flu”. This new flu is still circulating in Vermont and across the country. It has especially affected school-age children. As you may know, flu can be easily spread from person to person. For this reason, schools are taking actions to reduce the spread of both the usual seasonal flu and this new flu. We want to do everything we can to keep children safe and keep them learning during this flu season. We have already implemented several recommendations from the Health Department including revised facility cleaning practices, increased availability of hand sanitizer and tissues for students and staff, and separate designated areas for students with flu-like illness awaiting transportation home. Any student or staff member who exhibits flu-like symptoms at school will be sent home. Administrators are considering options for schoolwork completion in the event that students are out with prolonged illness or school closure. Here’s how you can help to keep flu from spreading: Teach your children good health habits and set a good example yourself. Wash hands often and well with soap and water, or an alcohol-based hand rub. Cover coughs or sneezes with a tissue. If there is no tissue, coughing into a sleeve or elbow is better than coughing into hands. Don’t share personal items like drinks, food or unwashed utensils. Stay home when you’re sick. Know the signs and symptoms of the flu. Your child may have a fever (100 degrees or more), cough, sore throat, a runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache and feeling very tired. Some people may also vomit or have diarrhea. Keep sick children at home for at least 24 hours after they no longer have a fever or do not have signs of a fever, without using fever-reducing drugs. Keeping sick children at home will reduce the number of people who may get infected. Do not send sick children to school – or to the library or any public place. Any child who is determined to be sick while at school will be sent home. Plan now for how you will keep sick children home and away from others. Get vaccinated. There won’t be a vaccine for the new flu until later this fall, but everyone is encouraged to get vaccinated against the regular seasonal flu this year, so we have a better chance of keeping students, teachers, staff and families healthy. When the vaccine for the 2009 H1N1 flu is available, school-age children will be among the first to be offered it. There will be more information to come as those details are worked out. The U61 district has a Pandemic Influenza Plan in place that guides further action for our schools in the event that the severity of the outbreak in our community increases. As needed, we will continue to update our students and you through memos, our school websites, and the phone alert system. More information about the flu at www.healthvermont.gov, www.flu.gov, or dial 2-1-1. Thank You, Tanya Crawford-Stempel, RN, BSN – School Nurse
April 29, 2009 Dear Parents: This letter will give you information about a new swine flu identified in the United States and how that might affect us at Barre Town Middle and Elementary School. Every year, some people get sick with the “seasonal” flu during the fall and winter months. However, as you have likely heard, there is a new flu virus that is making people sick with the same symptoms of the seasonal flu: fever, chills, sore throat, cough, headache and body aches (sometimes nausea, vomiting and diarrhea). It appears that this new flu can be spread from person to person. You may have heard, and have concerns, that this swine influenza virus has caused illness and death in some people in Mexico. As of April 27, 2009, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is reporting 40 confirmed cases within the U.S. It’s important for you to know that most people who got sick in the United States have very mild illness. This situation is evolving and we can expect that more cases will be identified. At present, there are no reported cases of the new swine flu in Vermont. We want to do all we can to try to prevent transmission within Vermont and within the school. Actions you can take — If you or your child has recently returned from Mexico, monitor for symptoms of influenza for seven days after return. If symptoms occur, call your healthcare provider for evaluation (be sure to mention your recent travel history). If you or your child is sick, stay home from work or school until you are better. Keep sick people away from people who are not sick. Tell your school nurse or administrator about your child’s symptoms so they can watch for other students with the same symptoms. Wash your hands well and often. Make sure your children do the same. Wash with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If you can’t wash with soap and water, use a hand sanitizer (gels, rubs, or hand wipes, as long as they have at least 60% alcohol). Remind children to keep their hands away from their face and don’t touch mouth, nose, or eyes. Cover your cough. Teach your children to do the same. Cough into the inside of your elbow, or into a tissue — not your hands! Throw away used tissues or hand sanitizer wipes. Teach your children to throw away tissues and then wash hands. Don’t share water bottles, utensils, cups, etc. with others. If people in your home are sick with the flu and cannot see a healthcare provider, care for them at home — Give plenty of liquids (clear fluids with electrolytes). Use ibuprofen (e.g. Advil) or acetaminophen (e.g. Tylenol) for adults with fever, sore throat and muscle aches. DO NOT give aspirin to children or teens. If the ill person is having difficulty breathing or is getting worse, call a healthcare provider. You can disinfect hard surfaces in your home within three feet of anyone who is ill. Use isopropyl alcohol or a solution made of one ounce bleach to one gallon of water. For now, school will stay open — At this time, the Vermont Department of Health tells us that students who are not ill can safely come to school, even students with history of travel if they don’t have symptoms. If the swine flu continues to spread in the U.S. and if it causes severe illness, closing of schools may be considered. The purpose of closing schools is to keep children at home and away from others — to slow the spread of flu from person-to-person. If you have questions, call your school nurse or healthcare provider. It’s important to keep informed about what’s happening. You can get more information from: CDC website at www.cdc.go/swineflu Vermont Department of Education at www.education.vermont.gov or Vermont Department of Health at www.healthvermont.gov The federal government keeps current information for individuals and families at www.pandemicflu.gov Sincerely, Timothy P. Crowley Principal
Preventing the Flu: Good Health Habits Can Help Stop Germs Fact Sheet Avoid close contact. Avoid close contact with people who are sick. When you are sick, keep your distance from others to protect them from getting sick too. Stay home when you are sick. Stay home from work, school, and errands when you are sick. Keep sick children at home. You will help prevent others from catching the illness. Cover your mouth and nose. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it. Wash your hands often. Washing your hands and the hands of your children often will help protect you from germs. Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs are often spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose, or mouth. Practice other good health habits. Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids, and eat nutritious food. There is no vaccine available at this time for the current outbreak of the Swine Flu virus, so it is important for people living in the affected areas to take steps to prevent spreading the virus to others. If people are ill, they should stay at home and limit contact with others, except to seek medical care. Healthy residents living in these areas should take the everyday preventive actions listed above. People who live in these areas who develop an illness with fever and respiratory symptoms, such as cough and runny nose, and possibly other symptoms, such as body aches, nausea, or vomiting or diarrhea, should contact their health care provider. Their health care provider will determine whether influenza testing is needed.
April 27, 2009 Dear Parents & Guardians, Most of you have probably heard that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in collaboration with public health officials in several states, are investigating the respiratory illness caused by swine flu viruses. Cases of swine flu have been confirmed in several states as well as in Mexico. It’s expected that new cases will continue to be identified in the U.S. At present, there are no cases of documented swine flu in Vermont. Barre Town School has been in contact with both the Vermont Department of Health and Barre area pediatricians in order to coordinate our information and response to symptoms and concerns about swine flu. The symptoms of swine flu are similar to the symptoms of seasonal flu and may include: Fever greater than 100 degrees Sore throat Cough Stuffy nose Chills Headache and body ache Fatigue If you note the above please call your medical provider to ask about the need for an appointment. For more information on the swine flu, up-to-date sources include: www.cdc.gov/swineflu/ http://healthvermont.gov/ Vermont 2-1-1  -- either dial 211 or go to http://www.vermont211.org/ What you can do to stay healthy Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze (or do so into your sleeve). Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it, and wash your hands Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze and before you eat. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth. Germs spread most often in those ways. Try to avoid contact with sick people; influenza (flu) is thought to spread mainly person-to-person through coughing or sneezing of infected people. Do not give aspirin to children or teenagers who have the flu; this can cause a rare but serious illness called Reye’s Syndrome. We will keep you informed of any updates from the Vermont Department of Health as needed. Please call me if your child has a suspected or confirmed case of swine flu. Thank you. (Letter Signed by Tanya) Tanya Crawford-Stempel, RN School Nurse
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