New Hanover County
Schools Remain Open But Parents Should Prepare
Although there have been no confirmed
cases of swine flu in NC, many parents, students and employees
are concerned about what this situation means for New Hanover
County Schools (NHCS). To allay concerns, NHCS has:
1) been in constant contact with health
officials and sent all updates to
principals,
2) posted information from the Center for Disease Control on the
district
website,
3) asked NHCS public health nurses to be vigilant in monitoring
students' health,
and
4) been working closely with all principals to provide them with
facts and i
information to share with their school communities.
NHCS will inform parents immediately if
there is a case of swine flu that occurs within one of our
schools. The district is in constant contact with state and
local health officials to monitor the situation. Parents will be
updated with any important information. NHCS will use the ALERT
NOW emergency calling system, make announcements through the
media and post updated information on our website
Parents are asked, however, to be
prepared for possible school closures if the virus were to
spread here. Parents should plan ahead in the event a local
health emergency is declared and schools are required to close.
"At this time, the New Hanover County
Health Department has advised us that students who are not ill
can continue to attend school," said Dr. Alfred H. Lerch, Jr.,
Superintendent of Schools.
"Schools will remain open. We are
consulting with local health officials regarding best practices
for infection control as well as cleaning practices for our
schools. However, to keep flu from spreading to more people, we
ask parents to keep sick children home. Any children who come to
school with flu-like symptoms or respiratory illness will be
sent home," he said.
Flu-like symptoms include: fever (over
100 degrees F.), feverishness, cough, sore throat, runny nose or
stuffy nose. Additional symptoms may be experienced with swine
flu, including muscle pain, fatigue, and sometimes vomiting or
diarrhea. If a parent suspects their child is getting the flu,
it is essential that he/she does not attend school or go
anywhere else-such as group childcare, the mall, or sporting
events - where other people would be exposed to the virus.
Children who are getting ill may exhibit different behavior than
usual, such as eating less or being irritable.
If swine flu continues to spread and
more students become ill, health officials advise that it may
become necessary to close schools for a period of time. It is
important for families to plan ahead and prepare for the
possibility that schools may be closed.
Parents can take action to protect their
children and help prevent the spread of the flu. Health
officials say parents can help protect their children and
prevent the spread of swine flu as they would colds and other
seasonal flu by taking the following precautions:
*Teach children to wash hands frequently
with soap and water for 20 seconds (about as long as it take to
sing the "Happy Birthday" song twice). Be sure to set a good
example by doing this yourself.
*Teach children the proper use of hand
sanitizer. Gels, rubs, and hand wipes all work well, as long as
they contain at least 60% alcohol. Hand wipes must be disposed
of properly. Always read and follow label instructions when
using hand sanitizers.
*Teach children to cover coughs and
sneezes with tissues or by coughing into the inside of the
elbow. Be sure to set a good example by doing this yourself.
*Teach children to stay at least three
feet from people who are sick.
*People who are sick should stay home
from work or school and avoid other people until they are
better.
This is an evolving situation. NHCS will
continue to receive information on a regular basis from the
State Division of Public Health, the Department of Public
Instruction, and the New Hanover County Health Department.
