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Preparing Schools For
The Flu
Revised September 2016
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!
� The 2016-2017 flu vaccine will protect against three influenza viruses: the 2009 H1N1 virus, an H3N2 virus, and an influenza type B virus. A flu vaccine containing a fourth virus strain, also an influenza type B virus, is also available.
� The body needs about two weeks after getting the flu vaccine 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 (as early as September)
� Throughout the influenza season, into December and January, and beyond
� Peak influenza season often occurs in February or 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.
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 Were Exposed
To The Flu?
� After a flu exposure, contact your physician. Antiviral drugs may be used to prevent or treat the flu.
� Your physician must make the decision whether antiviral drugs are right for you to use.
� 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.
Healthy Habits Can Stop Flu
Hand Washing: Simple Yet
Serious Prevention!
� Wash hands with soap and warm water for
20 seconds. 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.
Always Clean Your Hands
� 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
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.
Registration and Log In:
www.accesskent.com/schoolreporting/Questions on reporting? Call (616) 632-7228.
Easy Online Reporting Of Weekly Illness
Data To Kent County Health Department
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
Additional Recommendations
For Teachers and Nurses
� 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
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
Health Education & Promotion:
Ph: (616) 632-7219