H1N1 FLU INFORMATION
OFFICE OF THE SUPERINTENDENT
Dear Parents and Guardians,
Flu season is upon us and we are dedicated to providing an ongoing flow of communication to our school community about influenza. Most recently, a few of the schools in our District saw a small spike in the number of students with influenza. Although there have only been a handful of isolated incidences to date, we are taking proactive measures to ensure our maintenance and bus staff are increasing their disinfection procedures in an attempt to limit the number of infectious contaminants.
According to the Ocean County Board of Health, seasonal flu usually effects the elderly population and children under the age of two, whereas H1N1 was seen this past spring spreading rapidly among children, teens, and young adults. As we continue to work to provide a healthy school environment for students and staff we ask you to please monitor your children for influenza like symptoms which include a fever, cough, and/or sore throat. If you detect the flu or a flu-like illness, keep children home for at least 24 hours after they no longer have a fever (100 degrees Fahrenheit or 38 degrees Celsius) or signs of a fever (have chills, feel very warm, have a flushed appearance, or are sweating). This should be determined without the use of fever-reducing medications (any medicine that contains ibuprofen or acetaminophen).
As always, we will continue to keep you updated. We encourage you to visit our District website often,
www.brickschools.org, for the latest informational letters from the Ocean County Health Department, downloadable pamphlets detailing how to avoid and detect influenza, and the H1N1 Information Hotline provided by the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services.
Sincerely,
Walter Hrycenko
Superintendent of Schools
As the school year begins, we ask that you help us in limiting the effects of a possible H1N1 outbreak. here are some things that you can do to help prevent the spread of the flu:
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Remind the children to practice good hand hygiene by washing their hands with soap and water, especially after coughing or sneezing. Alcohol-based hand cleaners also are effective.
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Remind children to practice respiratory etiquette by covering their mouths and nose with a tissue when they cough or sneeze. If they don’t have a tissue, they should cough Or sneeze into their elbow or shoulder, not into their hands. They should avoid touching their eyes, nose or mouth; germs are spread this way.
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Know the signs and symptoms of the flu. A fever is a temperature taken with a thermometer that is equal to or greater than 100 degrees Fahrenheit or 38 degrees Celsius. Look for possible signs of fever: the person feels very warm, has a flushed appearance, or is sweating or shivering.
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Keep children home if they have the flu or a flu-like illness for at least 24 hours after they no longer have a fever (100 degrees Fahrenheit or 38 degrees Celsius) or signs of a fever (have chills, feel very warm, have a flushed appearance, or are sweating). This should be determined without the use of fever-reducing medications (any medicine that contains ibuprofen or acetaminophen).
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Talk with your health care providers about whether your child/children should be vaccinated for seasonal flu. Also if they are at higher risk for flu complications from 2009 H1N1 Flu, you should consider getting them the H1N1 Vaccine when it becomes available. People at higher risk for 2009 H1N1 Flu complications include pregnant women and people with chronic medical conditions (such as asthma, heart disease, or diabetes). For more information about priority groups for vaccination, visit www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/vaccination/acip.htm
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Plan ahead for child care options should your child/children need to remain home and you must attend work. Please remember that sick children will not be permitted to attend school.
If this year’s flu season becomes more severe (as determined by the CDC), we may take the following additional steps to prevent the spread of the virus:
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The time sick students or staff stay home may be extended to at least 7 days, even if they feel better sooner;
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High risk students and staff may opt to stay home. This decision should be made in consultation with their doctors;
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Nurses may conduct active symptom screening of students and staff upon arrival at school and sick students or staff will be sent home;
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If a household member is sick, parents will be advised to keep any school-aged children home for 5 days from the time the first person in the home became sick;
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Schools will be asked to find ways to increase social distances at school if possible (canceling large gatherings, moving desks farther apart, moving classes to larger spaces, etc.);
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School dismissals may occur.
Please refer to the following links containing information about the H1N1 Virus: