Pandemic Flu

Blue Valley USD 384 Pandemic Flu

Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan

H1N1

Purpose

The purpose of the Pandemic Flu Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan is to assist in managing the impact of an influenza pandemic on schools based on two main strategies:

1.    Reducing the spread of the virus within school facilities and

2.    Sustaining educational functions.

Students and School Staff:

1.    School closure will NOT occur, unless there is a magnitude of faculty or student absenteeism that interferes with the school’s ability to function.

2.    Stay home when you are sick.  Students, faculty and all staff with influenza-like illness (fever with cough or sore throat), should stay home and not attend school or go into the community except to seek medical care.  The CDC is recommending that those with flu-like illness stay home until at least 24 hours after their fever is gone, without using fever-reducing medications, such as Acetaminophen (Tylenol) or Ibuprofen (Motrin).  Check with your school nurse or healthcare provider for updated information on specific guidance on when to return to school and watch for updates on the District website and in the school newsletter!

3.    Avoid close contact with people who are sick.  Students, faculty and staff who appear to have, or develop during the school day, influenza-like symptoms should be isolated promptly in a room separated from other students and staff, and sent home.

4.    Cover your mouth and nose, and wash your hands.  Follow sanitary measures to reduce the spread of influenza, including covering their nose and mouth with a tissue when coughing or sneezing, coughing into their sleeve or elbow, frequently washing their hands with soap and water, or using hand sanitizer if hand washing with soap is not possible.

5.    Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.  Pathogens are often spread when a person touches something that is contaminated and then touches his or her eyes, nose or mouth.

6.    Open communication with student and parents to continue with assignments and coursework, when students are absent from school.

Parents:

1.    Monitor for illness.  Parents and guardians should monitor their school-aged children, every morning for symptoms of influenza-like illness, and should NOT send them to school or to daycare if symptoms are present.

2.    Report ALL absences from school.  Call the school and report specific symptoms/disease or reason student is not in school to assist with symptom/disease surveillance.  Also, make sure the school has correct contact and emergency numbers to allow for prompt pick-up if influenza-like symptoms occur.

3.    Aspirin or aspirin-containing products should NOT be administered to any confirmed or suspected ill case of novel H1N1 influenza, virus infection aged 18 years or younger, due to the risk of Reye’s syndrome.  For more information visit with CDC website at: www.cdc.gov

4.    Stay home.  If your child is ill, with influenza-like symptoms they should not attend alternative childcare or congregate in other neighborhood and community settings.

5.    Stay informed!  Check your child’s book bag daily to monitor for written updates from the school.  Visit the Blue Valley USD 384 website to view current updates on H1N1.

Isolation Sick Rooms

Students, faculty and staff who appear to have, or develop during the school day, influenza-like symptoms will be isolated promptly in a sick room separated form other students and staff until they can be sent home.  The location of these isolation sick rooms will be the following:

·      Olsburg Elementary – Principal’s Office

·      Randolph Middle School – Nurse’s Room

·      Blue Valley High School – Office Conference Room

·      Preschool – Preschool office area

District Office

In the event schools are closed, the Blue Valley District Office will stay open, if possible.  School missed will be made up to the 1116 hours required by the KSDE.  Everyone would continue to get paid as usual.  Hourly employees who are unable to work could use vacation and then sick leave.

The school nurse will handle protection of all working staff and visitors.  She will provide all working employees with personal protective equipment as directed by the Riley County Health Department and will assist the Superintendent with communication/collaboration from local and state agencies on reopening schools and recommendations to follow.

The Technology Director will assist the Superintendent with updated communication via district website.

Building Operations

In case of a pandemic and school closure, only “essential personnel” will be expected to work in his/her respective buildings.  Essential personnel would include the building principal, secretary, custodian, and the district maintenance director.

All reporting personnel will be expected to utilize personal protective equipment as deemed necessary by county health officials.

Communications

Timely and accurate information in regarding school closures and reopening will be provided to all school district staff, students, and parents through “School Reach”, district telephone tree, area radio and TV stations, and the district website.

Three Stages of Flu Readiness and Responsibilities

Stage 1:  Typical conditions for the school year.

Responsibilities:

            Administration:   Communication and Coordination

Keep parents, staff, teachers, community informed of conditions, symptoms, clinics, etc.

Coordinate with health department, community, staff any clinics, information, activities

            Secretaries:  Monitor, Keep Records, Assist School Nurse as needed

Monitor students who present with signs/symptoms of illness, contacting parents, sending home those with flu symptoms.  Assist school nurse in keeping records of ill students, those who stay home as well as those sent home.  Keep ill students in designed “sick rooms” until parents arrive.  Use face masks as needed.

            Teachers:  Observe, Self-Care, Care of Rooms

Observe students for symptoms of illness, encouraging students to practice good health habits, hand washing, use of Kleenex, etc.  Practice good health habits, if ill, stay home.  Set examples for students.  Obtain flu vaccine if desired.  Have backup plans for subs or smaller classes if needed.

            Students:  Self-Care, Self-Responsibility.  Follow Suggested Guidelines

If feeling ill, tell parents before leaving home.  Stay home if ill.  Stay home until fever-free for 24 hours without use of medication such as Tylenol.  Practice good hand washing habits.  Use Kleenex for coughing/sneezing or elbow sleeve if unavailable.  Practice good health habits of eating properly, getting enough rest and exercise/fresh air.

            Parents:  Monitor, Communication, and Care

Check child for illness.  Keep sick children at home for designated time of recuperation.  Communicate with school/school nurse.  Practice good health habits and hand washing.  Set example for children.  Encourage children in the same.

            Custodians:  Maintenance of Buildings

Clean assigned areas in usual manner with usual cleaning supplies, etc.  Clean designated “sick rooms” daily or more often if needed.  May need to wipe down desks, doorknobs, and computer keys daily in addition to daily cleaning.  Use of “flu bombs” for additional cleaning for locker rooms, preschool rooms, and classrooms, busses, etc.  Keep supplies for cleaning available.

            Bus Drivers:  Maintenance of Bus, Self-Care

Keep busses clean, trash-free, wipe down seats, seat backs weekly or as needed.  Stay home if ill.  Practice good hand washing, self-care.  Obtain flu shot if desired.  Wear facemask as needed.  Use flu bombs in busses to disinfect when necessary.

            School Nurse:  Care, Monitor, Coordinate, And Communicate

Monitor students, faculty and staff for illness; provide information to everyone as available, coordinate flu shot clinics as available.  Communicate with health departments as needed/required.  Communicate/coordinate with secretaries, provide supplies as needed.  Be there as needed.

Stage II:  Increased Incidents/Absences due to H1N1-like symptoms (over 50%)

Responsibilities

All continue the same, following CDC guidelines, which may include the following:

Secretaries, School Nurse, Administration:  Assess students as they arrive at school each day; including taking their temperature.  Send home immediately all ill students and those with fevers greater than 100 degrees F.  Continue to monitor throughout the school day.

Additional:  Encourage students with ill family members to stay home at least five days.  Keeping students in one classroom-reduce rotating classes, buildings, etc.  Encourage those ill to stay home at least seven days or longer (prior to this five-seven days or 24 hours after fever breaks).

Stage III:  Increased Incidents/Absences due to H1N1-like symptoms (75% - 100%)

School building closings based on CDC guidelines/recommendation of Riley County Health Department/Administration.