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October 26, 2009
Dear Parents and Guardians:
This letter is an update on the steps the Center for Spectrum Services is taking to prevent the spread of H1N1 flu and other illness. We are following the guidelines of the Ulster County Health Department to maximize student and staff health, monitor flu status and communicate confirmed cases of flu.
The spread of 2009 H1N1 virus is thought to happen in the same way that seasonal flu spreads within homes or communities. Flu viruses are spread mainly from person to person through coughing or sneezing by people who are sick with flu. People may become infected by touching something with flu viruses on it, and then touching their mouth or nose before washing their hands. Since this flu is now considered pandemic, it is likely that your child may be exposed to the virus in any community setting, including the school.
Of course, we will notify you of any confirmed cases of H1N1 in your child’s classroom or on your child’s bus. However, since some individuals who have influenza symptoms may not seek medical care or receive a confirmed diagnosis, it is recommended that the following universal precautions be taken,
Please do not send your sick child to school, this is includes children with any level of fever, diarrhea, vomiting, significant cold symptoms, or other illnesses. Do not send a child to school requesting that the school nurse make a determination about whether your child has the flu. Keeping a child at home who is exhibiting flu-like symptoms will reduce the number of children who become infected. Contact your health care provider or call the school if you have any questions.
If your child becomes ill at school, our school nurse will make a decision about sending them home. Our revised school policy states that any student will be sent home with
- a temperature greater than 100.0 in addition to influenza like illness symptoms
- a temperature greater than 100.6 when no other symptoms are apparent
- significant symptoms such as two or more episodes of vomiting, diarrhea, or a combination of flu like symptoms
Sick children must be kept at home for at least 24 hours after they are fever-free without the use of fever-reducing medication (Tylenol, Advil, Motrin, etc.). However, please know that with seasonal flu, people may be contagious from one day before they develop symptoms to up to 7 days after they get sick. Children, especially younger children, might potentially be contagious for longer periods. People infected with the novel H1N1 are likely to have similar patterns of infectiousness as with seasonal flu.
Know the signs and symptoms of the flu. Symptoms of the flu include fever (100 degrees Fahrenheit or more), cough, sore throat, a runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, or just a general feeling of being tired and unwell. Some children may have vomiting and diarrhea. For all concerns about your child’s illness, please do not hesitate to contact your child’s health care provider.
Reinforce the need for hand washing with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand gel. Talk about this with your child if appropriate. Hand washing should be done as often as possible and always after using the bathroom, before and after meals, after sneezing or coughing, etc. Use plenty of soap and water and be sure to scrub all surfaces of the hands for at least 20 seconds. Be sure to carefully discard paper towels, tissues, or contaminated items. We are enclosing a sample picture communication board which may be helpful to your child
In addition:
Our website will include information designated to the H1N1 Influenza, including links to the New York State Department of Health, Center for Disease Control, and New York State Education Department.
The Safety Committee has convened to examine this specific issue, and to make recommendations for best practices in responding to H1N1 Influenza.
Our school nurse and staff have met to dialog about the issues related to H1N1, with a focus on early identification of ill students and staff that should be excluded from school and school related activities.
The custodial and maintenance staff is following guidance from the American Academy of Pediatrics and the CDC for school cleaning and sanitizing methods identified as appropriate for influenza. Some of these recommendations, which we are following, are to regularly clean all areas and items that are more likely to have frequent hand contact (for example, door knobs, keyboards, tables and counter tops) and also clean these areas immediately when visibly soiled. Staff are assisting in this process by paying particular attention to the surfaces, door knobs and educational materials used by our students. We are using EPA approved and registered cleaning agents that are identified effective for virus infections. There are currently no cleaning or disinfecting EPA approved products for the specific virus associated with H1N1..
As new developments regarding the 2009 H1N1 Influenza occur, we will update the school website and will distribute other information as appropriate. Please be assured that we consider the safety of our students and staff to be top priority.
Sincerely,
Jamey Wolff
Program Director
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