Pattonville planning for H1N1 flu, shares tips

Pattonville planning for H1N1 flu, shares tips
Friday, September 4, 2009
Last spring, the H1N1 flu (previously known as swine flu) began circulating the globe and is still a concern. This strain of the flu has been shown to target children and young adults and is easily spread from person to person. For this reason, the Pattonville School District is continuing to take steps to reduce the spread of flu in Pattonville schools. The goal is to keep schools open and functioning in a normal manner this flu season.

Pattonville is working closely with the St. Louis County Department of Health to monitor flu conditions and make decisions about the best steps to take concerning schools. County health officials have indicated they will receive vaccines for the H1N1 flu in mid-October, and Pattonville will serve as one of their school-based vaccination clinic sites. Parents of children in elementary through high school will have the option of giving consent to have their children vaccinated against the H1N1 flu for free at the school-based clinic. More information will be shared as it becomes available on the clinics.

The H1N1 vaccination will require two shots given approximately three to four weeks apart. Health officials also recommend those who normally receive a seasonal flu shot still get the shot in addition to the H1N1 flu vaccination. Although county health officials indicate there will be enough supplies in St. Louis County to provide vaccinations to anyone who wants one, early priority for receiving the H1N1 vaccination will be given to children ages 6 months to adults 24 years of age and pregnant women.  

In Pattonville, staff members routinely work to prevent the spread of illnesses in Pattonville schools. Teachers and school nurses work with students on proper hand-washing techniques. The schools have posters, which illustrate proper mouth coverage when coughing or sneezing. In addition, Pattonville facilities staff members work to keep our schools clean every day. According to health officials, routine cleaning of heavily used surfaces is effective in curtailing the spread of illness, and excessive cleaning is not necessary. Pattonville will continue to monitor this illness and work with as a team to keep Pattonville students and families safe and healthy.

How Everyone Can Help

Here are a few things parents, staff and community members can do to help prevent the spread of the H1N1 flu:

  • Teach your children to wash their hands often with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub. You can set a good example by doing this yourself.
  • Teach your children not to share personal items like drinks, food or unwashed utensils, and to cover their coughs and sneezes with tissues or by using the elbow, arm or sleeve instead of the hand when a tissue is unavailable.
  • Know the signs and symptoms of the flu. Symptoms of the flu include fever (100 degrees Fahrenheit, 37.8 degrees Celsius or greater), cough, sore throat, a runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, and feeling very tired. Some people may also vomit or have diarrhea.
  • Keep sick children at home for at least 24 hours after they no longer have fever or do not have signs of fever, without using fever-reducing drugs. Keeping children with a fever at home will reduce the number of people who may get infected.
  • Do not send children to school if they are sick. Any children who are determined to be sick while at school will be sent home.
For more information
1-800-CDC-INFO