ROCKWALL ISD :: Rockwall Independent School District

Seasonal and H1N1 Influenza

Filed under Health Services on Thursday, September 17, 2009 by Author: Cheryl Bryan.

Rockwall ISD follows recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Texas Department of State Health Services in preparing for new cases of influenza A (H1N1) virus that are expected to increase in this area in the coming months.

Please click here for PDF printable letter regarding recommendations on keeping our families and students healthy. (English and Spanish)

September 15, 2009

To: Parents/Guardians of students attending Rockwall Schools

RE: Seasonal and H1N1 Influenza

As reports of Influenza and H1N1 Influenza (Swine Flu) are circulating, we want to inform you of actions in place throughout the district to minimize the spread of influenza. Rockwall ISD follows recommendations from the CDC and the Texas Department of State Health Services in preparing for new cases of influenza A (H1 N1) virus that are expected to increase in this area the coming months.

It is very important that we work with students and parents to prevent the spread of H1N1 in our student population and the following steps have been implemented:

Good hand washing and cough and sneeze etiquette are taught and reinforced.

Tissues are available.

Hand sanitizers are in use on all campuses.

Child nutrition has provided hand sanitizers for the cafeteria lines and their use is encouraged.

Custodial services are continuing to clean campuses daily with extra cleaning initiated when reports of flu are received. Cleaning during the school day includes frequently touched areas in the buildings.

School nurses are providing educational information on flu and are giving information to parents who pick up sick children from school.

Reports of Flu are being monitored and numbers reported to the County and City Health Officers.

Following these recommendations for families will help to keep our students healthy:

Evaluate your child's health status before school each morning.

Keep your child home if they are sick.

Reinforce good handwashing and cough and sneeze etiquette.

Update emergency contact information with the school.

Pick up sick children from school in a timely manner.

Keep sick children at home until fever free for 24 hours without fever reducing medicines even if on anti-viral medication.

Practice social distancing when family members are sick:
- Keep well family members away from those who are sick.
- Designate one person to care for ill family members if possible.

Vaccinate family members when flu vaccines are available.

Symptoms most frequently reported with the H1N1 virus are fever, cough, and sore throat Other symptoms include body aches, headache, chills and fatigue, and vomiting and diarrhea.

Flu viruses are spread through respiratory droplets in coughs or sneezes of infected persons. Infection may occur through direct contact as the droplets land on someone else's mouth or nose or when those droplets land on a surface or object and are picked up on the hands of another person who then touches their own mouth or nose.

Prevention is based on limiting exposure through the following:

Thorough hand washing.

Wash your hands frequently with soap and water.

Rub hands together for at least 15-20 seconds before rinsing.

If soap and water are not available, use alcohol based hand sanitizers and rub hands together until hands are dry.

Avoid touching your eyes, mouth and nose.

Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze and throw the tissue in the trash.

If you don't have a tissue, wash your hands after you cough or sneeze.

Avoid close contact with people who are sick.

People with H1N1 should stay home until they have been fever free for 24 hours (without the use of medication such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen). They also need plenty of rest and clear fluids to prevent dehydration. III persons may choose to wear a face mask and to avoid close contact with others to prevent further infection. If a sick person begins to complain of or exhibit any of the following symptoms, seek medical help immediately:

Difficulty breathing or chest pain

Purple or blue discoloration of the lips

Vomiting and unable to keep liquids down

Dizziness when standing, absence of urination, or in infants a lack of tears when crying (all signs of dehydration)

Seizures or uncontrolled convulsions

Precautions to remember when medicating children for flu-like symptoms:

Do not give aspirin or aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) containing medication to children or teenagers; this can cause a condition called Reyes Syndrome.

Children younger than 4 years of age should not be given cold medications without speaking with a health care provider (doctor) first.

Many cold and flu medications contain pain relievers and fever reducers. Read the labels on over-the counter cold and flu medications before giving or taking additional doses of Acetaminophen (Tylenol®), Ibuprofen (Advil®, Motrin®, or Nuprin®), or Naproxen (Aleve®).

Remember that pain relievers and fever reducers may cause a decrease in temperature over a period of time but these medications do not decrease the ability to spread disease.

Students who become ill with fever (100 degrees or higher), cough and/or sore throat during school hours will be sent home from school. A student diagnosed with flu who is treated with antiviral medication may return to school if he/she has been fever free for 24 hours without any fever reducing medication.

It is extremely important that the school has current contact information for parents and other emergency contacts. Please remember to update your child's records at school whenever contact information changes.

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