Preparing Schools For The Flu

Preparing Schools For The Flu Revised August 2012

Influenza (The Flu) • The flu is a contagious, respiratory infection caused by influenza viruses. • Flu can be mild to severe, and at times can lead to death. • On average, each year 5% to 20% of the population gets the flu.

How Flu Spreads • Person to person from coughing and sneezing • Touching objects with flu viruses on them and then touching your eyes, nose or mouth • Contact with infected people • Beginning 1 day before their symptoms start • And up to 7 days after they become sick

Symptoms Of The Flu • Fever (usually high) • Headache • Tiredness • Dry cough • Sore throat • Runny or stuffy nose • Body aches • Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea (more common in children)

Getting Vaccinated Every Year Is The Best Flu Prevention! • One vaccination is needed to provide protection against the flu. • The 2012-2013 flu vaccine will protect against the 2009 H1N1 virus and two other influenza viruses. • About two weeks will be needed for the body to build immunity. • Flu vaccines do not protect against flu-like illnesses caused by non-influenza viruses.

When To Get Vaccinated? • As soon as the vaccine becomes available • Throughout the influenza season, into December and January, and beyond • Peak influenza season often occurs in January and later

“Flu Shots” ►Flu vaccinations or “flu shots” are usually given by needle. ►The vaccine is made with killed virus.

Flu shots are approved for use in people 6 months and older, including healthy people with chronic medical conditions.

Nasal-Spray FluVaccine • The nasal-spray flu vaccine (Flu Mist) is made with live, weakened flu viruses that do not cause the flu. • It provides the same benefits as the flu shot. • The nasal-spray flu vaccine (Flu Mist) is approved for use in healthy people*, 2-49 years of age, who are not pregnant. *Should not be given to caregivers of people with severely weakened immune systems. These caregivers should get the inactivated flu shot.

Who Should Get Vaccinated • The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends “universal” flu vaccination. Everyone 6 months and older should be vaccinated against the flu.

High Risk Groups For Flu Complications • It is especially important for people at high risk of serious flu-related complications or who live with or care for people at high risk to get vaccinated including: • Children younger than 5 years old, but especially those younger than 2 years old • Pregnant women • People of any age with certain chronic medical conditions

High Risk Groups For Flu Complications • People 50 years of age and older • Household contacts and caregivers for children under 6 months of age • People who live in nursing homes and other long term care facilities • Health care workers • Household contacts of people at high risk of complications from the flu

People Who Should Not Get Flu Vaccinations • Severe allergy to chicken eggs • Severe reaction to flu vaccination in the past • Developed Guillain-Barre´ syndrome within 6 weeks of getting a flu shot in the past • Children less than 6 months of age • Currently experiencing moderate or severe illness with a fever (wait until symptoms lessen)

What If You Think You Were Exposed To The Flu? • Yearly flu shots should be your first defense against getting the flu. • After a flu exposure, contact your physician. Flu antiviral drugs may be used to prevent or treat the flu. • Decisions made about the use of flu antiviral drugs must be made by your physician.

Healthy Habits Can Stop Flu • Stay home if you are sick! • Avoid close contact with people who are sick. • Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. • Don’t touch your eyes, nose & mouth. • Get lots of sleep, be physically active, manage stress, drink plenty of fluids, and eat healthy foods. • Wash your hands often.

Hand Washing: Simple Yet Serious Prevention! • Wash hands with soap and warm water for 20seconds. Dry hands with a paper towel or with an air hand dryer. • If soap and water are unavailable, use wipes or alcohol-based gel or foam. Rub the product all over hands and fingers until dry.

When they are dirty, like after touching things in public spaces When someone around you is sick After going to the bathroom After blowing nose, coughing or sneezing After changing diapers or helping with toileting After handling animals or their waste After handling garbage Before and after dressing a wound Always Clean Your Hands

Studies Show… • Flu viruses remain viable and can infect a person for 2 to 8 hours after being deposited on surfaces. • Wiping or spraying surfaces with a household disinfectant* will help prevent spread of flu viruses. *(chlorine, hydrogen peroxide, soap, and alcohols)

Flu In Schools Students and staff can get sick with the flu and schools may act as a point of spread.

School & Health Department Collaboration Is Critical! • The Health Department relies on schools to report weekly illness numbers. • Reporting data allows the Health Department to determine the extent of illness and whether or not flu conditions are severe.

Easy Online Reporting Of Weekly Illness Data To Kent County Health Department Registration and Log In: www.accesskent.com/schoolreporting/ Questions on reporting? Call (616) 632-7228.

Recommendations To Help Reduce The Spread Of Flu In Schools • Encourage students, parents, and staff to take preventive action to stop the spread of germs. • Get an annual flu shot • Cover coughs and sneezes • Practice good hand hygiene • Keep hands away from eyes, nose and mouth

Recommendations To Help Reduce The Spread Of Flu In Schools • Encourage students and staff to stay home when sick. • Stay home until at least 24 hours after they no longer have a fever or signs of fever without the use of a fever reducing medicine*. (*Any medicine with ibuprofen or acetaminophen)

Recommendations To Help Reduce The Spread Of Flu In Schools • Encourage routine surface cleaning. • Clean surfaces and objects that are touched often. • Use general cleaning products. • Have disinfecting wipes in the classroom.

Recommendations To Help Reduce The Spread Of Flu In Schools • Educate students, parents, and staff on what to do if someone gets sick. • Teach everyone to recognize flu symptoms, emergency warning signs, and who is at high risk. • Separate sick students and staff from others. • Send sick students and staff home if possible.

Determining School Guidelines For Flu • Monitor the local flu situation • Data on Kent County flu activity will be posted weekly at www.stickittotheflu.com • School dismissal and closure is not recommended for the control of seasonal flu • Any response will be determined by the level and severity of illness in the community • Some schools may decide to close based on high student and/or staff absenteeism

Additional Recommendations For Administrators • Designate a separate room for sick students until they can be sent home • Stock classrooms with tissues and hand sanitizer

Additional Recommendations For Administrators • Review emergency plans and make any necessary revisions • Update staff and student emergency contact lists • Plan how to cover when key staff people are sick

Remove sick students from the classroom and send home if possible Emphasize covering mouth when coughing and sneezing Emphasize hand washing after blowing nose, coughing and sneezing Prepare “take home” lessons for students recovering at home Regularly clean common surfaces in classrooms Additional Recommendations For Teachers and Nurses

Communicate Steps Parents Can Take To Protect Family Against Flu • Encourage annual flu shots for everyone especially those at high risk • Keep a sick child home • Cover coughs and sneezes • Clean hands • Keep sick household members in separate room • Clean surfaces • Monitor health of sick child

Communicate Flu Symptoms Requiring Urgent Medical Care • Fast breathing or trouble breathing • Bluish or gray skin color • Not drinking fluids • Severe or persistent vomiting • Not waking up • The child is so irritable, he or she does not want to be held

Communicate Flu Symptoms Requiring Urgent Medical Care • Pain or pressure in the abdomen • Sudden dizziness • Confusion • Flu-like symptoms improve, but then return with fever & worse cough

Kent County Health Department Contacts Communicable Disease Unit: Ph: (616) 632-7287 Brian.Hartl@kentcountymi.gov Health Education & Promotion: Ph: (616) 632-7219 Sharon.Schmidt@kentcountymi.gov

Preparing Schools For The Flu