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H1N1 Information

Flu season is upon us. As you know, the nation is battling seasonal flu and H1N1 (Swine Flu).  Unfortunately, the Ephrata Area School District is not exempt from either flu. A few parents have shared that their child has been diagnosed with H1N1. Physicians are utilizing various methods to diagnose the flu. We are working closely with the Pennsylvania Department of Health to monitor issues concerning the flu and make decisions about the best steps to keep our students and staff healthy. We will keep you updated with new information as it becomes available.

 

The District has several preventive steps in place to keep our schools functioning as usual, including:

• Making hand sanitizers and tissues available throughout each building along with posters showing proper use of hand sanitizers

• Cleaning desk tops and computers each evening (custodial staff)

• Having disinfectant wipes and gloves available in each room to wipe off a desk or computer if necessary during the school day

• Designating a sick room in each building for students awaiting parent pick-up

• Following the Pennsylvania Department of Health guidelines to send home all students and staff who exhibit influenza-like illness: a fever of 100 degrees or greater, cough, and/or sore throat.

To return to school, students and staff must be fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medications (Tylenol, Advil, etc.). The fever usually lasts 2-4 days. In most cases this is 3-5 days after the onset of illness. Students and staff who return too soon will be sent home. At the bottom of this page is a sample of the reminder parents will receive if their child is sent home from school with influenza-like illness.

 

We have procedures and response plans in place to deal with infectious viruses like H1N1. We need your assistance to help reduce the spread of illness in the Ephrata Area School District. The Pennsylvania Department of Health suggests a few things you can do.

• Keep sick children at home at least 24 hours after they no longer have a fever of 100 degrees or higher without using fever reducing medications, such as Tylenol or Advil. Keeping children with a fever at home will help reduce the number of people who may get infected.

• Know the signs and symptoms of the flu, which include fever (100 degrees or higher), cough, sore throat, a runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, and feeling very tired.  Some people may also vomit or have diarrhea.

• Encourage your children to wash their hands often with soap and water or to use a hand sanitizer. You can set an example by doing this yourself.

• Teach your children not to share personal items, such as drinks, food, or unwashed utensils, and to cover their coughs and sneezes with tissues. When a tissue is unavailable, they should cover their coughs and sneezes using their elbow, arm, or sleeve instead of their hand.

For more information, visit www.H1N1inPA.com

or call 1-877-PA HEALTH

for the most current information about flu.