H1N1 Flu (Swine Flu) Information for Parents, Students and Staff
August 2009
In its July 2 statement, the World Health Organization stated that "H1N1 ("swine flu") is in phase
6 – that is, in the early days of the 2009 influenza pandemic but has good reason to believe
that this pandemic will be of moderate severity, at least in its early days."
This organization is committed to a proactive approach in dealing with the pandemic (H1N1).
Such approach includes setting high standards of responsibility whereby the organization,
parents, students, and the employees should all play an important role in preventing the spread
of the illness and protecting the school and work environment.
As part of this shared responsibility, this organization continues to take the necessary
measures to best inform you about H1N1. At the same time, you have an important role and
responsibility in how the flu will affect the school, the organization, and ultimately the
health of our community. By taking adequate precautions to minimize the risk of
spreading the flu, you can help cut down the rate of flu transmission drastically in our
community.
Such precautions include, but are not limited to:
- Teach your kids and practice yourself good hygiene: This means teaching how to
cover coughs/sneezes with elbows, good hand washing habits (for example, sing the
"Happy Birthday" song 2 times while washing hands) and keep hands away from the
face.
- Keep your kids home when they are sick and stay home yourself if you are sick:
When a child, parent, or staff member comes to school sick, he/she can infect others in
the school at amazing rates. If too many kids and/or staff members are sick at school,
we may be required to implement extreme measures such as closing the school, which
has a negative effect on all of us.
- Consider seasonal flu vaccine: Although there won't be a vaccine specifically for the
H1N1 flu until later this fall, regular seasonal flu vaccine may be available earlier. There
may be a better chance of keeping the flu virus from jumping from person to person in
the school and then bringing it home to your family by getting the regular seasonal flu
vaccine. Consult with your doctor about this.
Attached to this information sheet is an Influenza article obtain from the CDC website. Further
information is available in a variety of languages at www.cdc.gov/flu.
Reports about the H1N1 and seasonal flu are being monitored closely. The school will be
reporting absentee rates in the school as required by the local department of health. However,
it cannot be stressed enough that it will be you who will ultimately make the largest impact on
the health of the school and the community at large.
If a parent, a student, or staff member exhibits symptoms of H1N1, this should be reported to
the School Director or designee.
Please contact the School Director should you need further assistance in dealing with this
emerging public health threat.
