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

Brian.Hartl@kentcountymi.gov

Health Education & Promotion:

Ph: (616) 632-7219

Sharon.Schmidt@kentcountymi.gov