So here’s the deal. The child care council and th OCFS have told daycares to send any child showing signs of illness, home. I am putting the info that mohonasen.org has on their page showing what these symptoms would be. Also, in the event that school would be closed, then daycares would also be closed to prevent the spread of the illness. This is not happening yet, but we should have a plan in case it does. Thanks, Lina
Mohonasen
H1N1 Influenza (swine flu) information
May 1, 2009
| Additional Information about H1N1 Influenza (swine flu) |
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With recent news attention on confirmed cases of H1N1 Influenza (swine flu), the district is providing this page as a resource for parents and community members seeking facts and information about this strain of the flu virus.
Please know that we are always monitoring student health and have been in touch with the Schenectady County Health Department regarding protocol for students who have flu-like symptoms and/or upper-respiratory illness. We will continue to look to state and local health officials for guidance; at this time they have told us we can continue to safely hold school. To be clear, at this time the district has received no information to indicate that this virus has reached any of its schools, however, health officials have made clear that this is an evolving situation.
Please see the links at right for information from the Centers for Disease Control and New York State.
As always, if your child is displaying any symptoms of illness, it is best to err on the side of caution and keep them home from school. It is also worth noting that cases of H1N1 Influenza (swine flu) are not specific to Mexico or New York City, meaning that we should all be aware of proper hygiene practices. These include frequent hand washing and cough etiquette.
Flu-like symptoms include:
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Fever (more than 100 degrees F)
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Cough
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Sore throat
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Runny nose
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Muscle pain
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Fatigue
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Vomiting or diarrhea
If you suspect your child is getting the flu, it is essential that he/she does not attend school or go anywhere else — such as childcare, the mall or sporting events — where other people would be exposed to flu germs.
While the current situation does not warrant school closure, if H1N1 influenza (swine flu) continues to spread and more students become ill, it may become necessary for health officials to close schools for a period of time. The purpose of closing schools would be to decrease the contact among children in order to decrease their risk of getting sick and to limit the spread of infection. If schools are closed, children should stay at home. It is important to plan ahead. Families are urged to have a family discussion now to consider options in advance of the event of a school closing and arrange for child care other than a group day care setting.
Mohonasen is working with state and county health officials to monitor the local situation and, if it becomes necessary, we will make all decisions about school closures in consultation with them.
Parents can help protect their children and reduce the spread of seasonal or swine flu by taking the following precautions:
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Teach your children to wash hands frequently with soap and water for 20 seconds (about as long as it takes to sing the “Happy Birthday” song twice.). Be sure to set a good example by doing this yourself.
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Teach your children the proper use of hand sanitizer. Gels, rubs and hand wipes all work well, as long as they contain at least 60 percent alcohol. Hand wipes must be disposed of properly. Always read and follow label instructions when using hand sanitizer.
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Teach your children to cover coughs and sneezes with tissues or by coughing into the inside of the elbow.
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Teach your children to dispose of used tissues properly.
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Teach your children to stay away from people who are sick.
Please keep in mind that this is an evolving situation. We are receiving support and information on a regular basis from the State Department of Health, the Schenectady County Department of Health, the State Education Department and the State Emergency Management Office.
