Preparing Schools For Preparing Schools For The FluThe Flu

Revised September 2014

Influenza (The Flu) Influenza (The Flu)

The flu is a contagious, respiratory The flu is a contagious, respiratory infection caused by influenza viruses.infection caused by influenza viruses.

Flu can be mild to severe, and at times Flu can be mild to severe, and at times can lead to death.can lead to death.

On average, each year 5% to 20% of On average, each year 5% to 20% of the population gets the flu.the population gets the flu.

How Flu SpreadsHow Flu Spreads

Person to person from coughing and Person to person from coughing and sneezingsneezing

Touching objects with flu viruses on them Touching objects with flu viruses on them and then touching your eyes, nose or and then touching your eyes, nose or mouthmouth

Contact with infected peopleContact with infected people Beginning 1 day before their symptoms startBeginning 1 day before their symptoms start And up to 7 days after they become sickAnd up to 7 days after they become sick

Symptoms Of The FluSymptoms Of The Flu Fever Fever (usually high)(usually high)

HeadacheHeadache Tiredness Tiredness

Dry coughDry cough

Sore throatSore throat Runny or stuffy noseRunny or stuffy nose Body achesBody aches Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea

(more common in children)(more common in children)

Getting Vaccinated Every Year Getting Vaccinated Every Year Is The Best Flu Prevention!Is The Best Flu Prevention!

The 2014-2015 flu vaccine will protect against The 2014-2015 flu vaccine will protect against three influenza viruses: the 2009 H1N1 virus, three influenza viruses: the 2009 H1N1 virus, an H3N2 virus, and an influenza type B virus. an H3N2 virus, and an influenza type B virus. Additionally a flu vaccine containing a fourth Additionally a flu vaccine containing a fourth virus strain, also an influenza type B virus, is virus strain, also an influenza type B virus, is available.available.

The body needs about two weeks after getting The body needs about two weeks after getting the flu vaccine to build immunity.the flu vaccine to build immunity.

Flu vaccines Flu vaccines do notdo not protect against flu-like protect against flu-like illnesses caused by non-influenza viruses.illnesses caused by non-influenza viruses.

When To Get Vaccinated?When To Get Vaccinated?

As soon as the As soon as the vaccine becomes vaccine becomes available (as early as September)available (as early as September)

Throughout the influenza season, into Throughout the influenza season, into December and January, and beyondDecember and January, and beyond

Peak influenza season often occurs in Peak influenza season often occurs in February or laterFebruary or later

““Flu Shots”Flu Shots”

►►Flu vaccinations or “flu shots” are usually given by needle.

►►The vaccine is made with killed virus. killed virus.

Flu shots are approved for use in people 6 months and older, including healthy people with chronic medical conditions.

Nasal-Spray FluVaccine

The nasal-spray flu vaccine (Flu Mist) is made with live, weakened flu viruses that do not cause the flu.

It provides the same benefits as the flu shot.

The nasal-spray flu vaccine (Flu Mist) is approved for use in healthy people*, 2-49 years of age, who are not pregnant.

*Should not be given to caregivers of people with severely weakened immune systems. These caregivers should get the inactivated flu shot.

Who Should Get Who Should Get VaccinatedVaccinated The Centers for Disease Control and The Centers for Disease Control and

Prevention recommends “universal” Prevention recommends “universal” flu vaccination. flu vaccination. EveryoneEveryone 6 months 6 months and older should be vaccinated and older should be vaccinated against the flu.against the flu.

High Risk Groups For Flu High Risk Groups For Flu ComplicationsComplications It is especially important for people at high It is especially important for people at high

risk of serious flu-related complications or risk of serious flu-related complications or who live with or care for people at high risk who live with or care for people at high risk to get vaccinated including:to get vaccinated including: Children younger than 5 years old, but Children younger than 5 years old, but

especially those younger than 2 years oldespecially those younger than 2 years old

Pregnant womenPregnant women

People of any age with certain chronic medical People of any age with certain chronic medical conditionsconditions

High Risk Groups For Flu High Risk Groups For Flu ComplicationsComplications

People 50 years of age and olderPeople 50 years of age and older Household contacts and caregivers for Household contacts and caregivers for

children under 6 months of agechildren under 6 months of age People who live in nursing homes and People who live in nursing homes and

other long term care facilitiesother long term care facilities Health care workersHealth care workers Household contacts of people at high risk Household contacts of people at high risk

of complications from the fluof complications from the flu

People Who Should People Who Should NotNot Get Flu Get Flu VaccinationsVaccinations

Severe allergy to chicken eggsSevere allergy to chicken eggs

Severe reaction to flu vaccination in the pastSevere reaction to flu vaccination in the past

Developed Guillain-BarreDeveloped Guillain-Barre´ syndrome within 6 ´ syndrome within 6 weeks of getting a flu shot in the pastweeks of getting a flu shot in the past

Children less than 6 months of ageChildren less than 6 months of age

Currently experiencing moderate or severe illness Currently experiencing moderate or severe illness with a fever (wait until symptoms lessen)with a fever (wait until symptoms lessen)

What If You Were What If You Were Exposed To The Flu?Exposed To The Flu?

After a flu exposure, contact your After a flu exposure, contact your physician. Antiviral drugs may be used to physician. Antiviral drugs may be used to prevent or treat the flu. prevent or treat the flu.

Your physician must make the decision Your physician must make the decision whether antiviral drugs are right for you whether antiviral drugs are right for you to use. to use.

Stay home if you are sick!Stay home if you are sick! Avoid close contact with people Avoid close contact with people

who are sick.who are sick. Cover your nose and mouth Cover your nose and mouth

with a tissue when you cough or sneezewith a tissue when you cough or sneeze.. Don’t touch your eyes, nose & mouth.Don’t touch your eyes, nose & mouth. Get lots of sleep, be physically active, manage Get lots of sleep, be physically active, manage

stress, drink plenty of fluids, and eat healthy stress, drink plenty of fluids, and eat healthy foods.foods.

Wash your hands often.Wash your hands often.

Healthy Habits Can Stop FluHealthy Habits Can Stop Flu

Hand Washing: Simple Hand Washing: Simple Yet Serious Prevention!Yet Serious Prevention!

Wash hands with soap and warm water for Wash hands with soap and warm water for 2020 secondsseconds.. Dry hands with a paper towel or Dry hands with a paper towel or with an air hand dryer.with an air hand dryer.

If soap and water are unavailable, If soap and water are unavailable,

use wipes or alcohol-based gel use wipes or alcohol-based gel

or foam. Rub the product all overor foam. Rub the product all over

hands and fingers until dry.hands and fingers until dry.

Always Clean Your HandsAlways Clean Your Hands

When they are dirty, like When they are dirty, like after touching things in after touching things in public spacespublic spaces

When someone around When someone around you is sickyou is sick

After going to the After going to the bathroombathroom

After blowing nose, After blowing nose, coughing or sneezingcoughing or sneezing

After changing diapers After changing diapers or helping with toiletingor helping with toileting

After handling animals After handling animals or their wasteor their waste

After handling garbageAfter handling garbage

Before and after Before and after dressing a wounddressing a wound

Studies Show…Studies Show…

Flu viruses remain viable and can infect a Flu viruses remain viable and can infect a person for 2 to 8 hours after being person for 2 to 8 hours after being deposited on surfaces. deposited on surfaces.

Wiping or spraying surfaces with a Wiping or spraying surfaces with a household disinfectanthousehold disinfectant** will help prevent will help prevent spread of flu viruses. spread of flu viruses.

*(chlorine, hydrogen peroxide, soap, and alcohols)

Flu In SchoolsFlu In Schools

Students and staff can get sick with Students and staff can get sick with the flu and schools may act as a the flu and schools may act as a point of spread.point of spread.

School & Health Department School & Health Department Collaboration Is Critical!Collaboration Is Critical!

The Health Department relies on The Health Department relies on schools to report weekly illness schools to report weekly illness numbers.numbers.

Reporting data allows the Health Reporting data allows the Health Department to determine the extent Department to determine the extent of illness and whether or not flu of illness and whether or not flu conditions are severe.conditions are severe.

Registration and Log In: Registration and Log In: www.accesskent.com/schoolreporting/ Questions on reporting? Call (616) 632-7228.Questions on reporting? Call (616) 632-7228.

Easy Online Reporting Of Weekly Illness Data To Kent County Health Department

Recommendations To Help Recommendations To Help Reduce The Spread Of Flu In Reduce The Spread Of Flu In SchoolsSchools

Encourage students, parents, and staff to Encourage students, parents, and staff to take preventive action to stop the spread take preventive action to stop the spread of germs.of germs. Get an annual flu shotGet an annual flu shot Cover coughs and sneezesCover coughs and sneezes Practice good hand hygienePractice good hand hygiene Keep hands away from eyes, nose and Keep hands away from eyes, nose and

mouthmouth

Recommendations To Help Recommendations To Help Reduce The Spread Of Flu In Reduce The Spread Of Flu In SchoolsSchools

Encourage students and staff to stay Encourage students and staff to stay home when sick.home when sick. Stay home until at least 24 hours after they Stay home until at least 24 hours after they

no longer have a fever or signs of fever no longer have a fever or signs of fever without the use of a fever reducing without the use of a fever reducing medicine*. medicine*.

(*Any medicine with ibuprofen or acetaminophen)

Recommendations To Help Recommendations To Help Reduce The Spread Of Flu In Reduce The Spread Of Flu In SchoolsSchools

Encourage routine surface cleaning.Encourage routine surface cleaning. Clean surfaces and objects that are touched Clean surfaces and objects that are touched

often.often. Use general cleaning products.Use general cleaning products. Have disinfecting wipes in the classroom.Have disinfecting wipes in the classroom.

Recommendations To Help Recommendations To Help Reduce The Spread Of Flu In Reduce The Spread Of Flu In SchoolsSchools

Educate students, parents, and staff on Educate students, parents, and staff on what to do if someone gets sick.what to do if someone gets sick. Teach everyone to recognize flu symptoms, Teach everyone to recognize flu symptoms,

emergency warning signs, and who is at emergency warning signs, and who is at high risk.high risk.

Separate sick students and staff from others.Separate sick students and staff from others. Send sick students and staff home if Send sick students and staff home if

possible. possible.

Determining School Determining School Guidelines For FluGuidelines For Flu

Monitor the local flu situationMonitor the local flu situation Data on Kent County flu activity will be posted Data on Kent County flu activity will be posted

weekly at www.stickittotheflu.comweekly at www.stickittotheflu.com School dismissal and closure is not School dismissal and closure is not

recommended for the control of seasonal flurecommended for the control of seasonal flu Any response will be determined by the level Any response will be determined by the level

and severity of illness in the communityand severity of illness in the community Some schools may decide to close based on Some schools may decide to close based on

high student and/or staff absenteeismhigh student and/or staff absenteeism

Additional Additional Recommendations For Recommendations For Administrators Administrators

Designate a separate Designate a separate room for sick students room for sick students until they can be sent until they can be sent homehome

Stock classrooms with Stock classrooms with tissues and hand tissues and hand sanitizersanitizer

Additional Additional Recommendations For Recommendations For AdministratorsAdministrators

Review emergency plans and Review emergency plans and make any necessary revisionsmake any necessary revisions

Update staff and student Update staff and student emergency contact listsemergency contact lists

Plan how to cover when key staff Plan how to cover when key staff people are sickpeople are sick

Additional Additional Recommendations For Recommendations For Teachers and NursesTeachers and Nurses

Remove sick students Remove sick students from the classroom and from the classroom and send home if possiblesend home if possible

Emphasize covering Emphasize covering mouth when coughing mouth when coughing and sneezingand sneezing

Emphasize hand Emphasize hand washing after blowing washing after blowing nose, coughing and nose, coughing and sneezingsneezing

Prepare “take home” Prepare “take home” lessons for students lessons for students recovering at homerecovering at home

Regularly clean common Regularly clean common surfaces in classroomssurfaces in classrooms

Communicate Steps Parents Can Communicate Steps Parents Can Take To Protect Family Against FluTake To Protect Family Against Flu

Encourage annual flu shots for everyone Encourage annual flu shots for everyone especially those at high riskespecially those at high risk

Keep a sick child homeKeep a sick child home Cover coughs and sneezesCover coughs and sneezes Clean handsClean hands Keep sick household members Keep sick household members

in separate roomin separate room Clean surfacesClean surfaces Monitor health of sick child Monitor health of sick child

Communicate Flu Symptoms Communicate Flu Symptoms Requiring Urgent Medical CareRequiring Urgent Medical Care

Fast breathing or trouble breathingFast breathing or trouble breathing

Bluish or gray skin colorBluish or gray skin color

Not drinking fluidsNot drinking fluids

Severe or persistent vomitingSevere or persistent vomiting

Not waking upNot waking up

The child is so irritable, he or she does The child is so irritable, he or she does not want to be heldnot want to be held

Communicate Flu Symptoms Communicate Flu Symptoms Requiring Urgent Medical CareRequiring Urgent Medical Care

Pain or pressure in the abdomenPain or pressure in the abdomen Sudden dizzinessSudden dizziness ConfusionConfusion Flu-like symptoms improve, but then Flu-like symptoms improve, but then

return with fever & worse coughreturn with fever & worse cough

Kent County Health Kent County Health Department ContactsDepartment Contacts

Communicable Disease Unit:Communicable Disease Unit:

Ph: (616) 632-7287Ph: (616) 632-7287

Brian.Hartl@kentcountymi.govBrian.Hartl@kentcountymi.gov

Health Education & Promotion: Health Education & Promotion:

Ph: (616) 632-7219Ph: (616) 632-7219

Sharon.Schmidt@kentcountymi.govSharon.Schmidt@kentcountymi.gov