September 2009
Dear Families, Staff and Community Members,
The Ashburnham Westminster Regional School District School Health services have been working throughout the summer months to develop a plan for the predicted H1N1 flu outbreak. This plan includes prevention as well as what we will do for and with students during an outbreak. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) just notified us of their recommendations for handling H1N1 in the schools and our plans will continue to change according to their recommendations. Please access the school district's website periodically as we will be posting the updates continuously there.
During the first days of school, all students and staff were reminded of their responsibilities in preventing any illness, including the flu.
Wash your hands regularly, especially before meals and after coughing or sneezing. Hands should be washed with soap for 15 seconds. Singing happy birthday while you wash will give you a 15 second wash!
When soap and water are not available, an antibacterial hand cleaning gel may be used. Feel free to give your child a small container of antibacterial hand gel to keep in school. Also, we welcome any donations of antibacterial hand gel (and cleaning wipes to help with wiping desks, doorknobs, etc) to your child’s class.
When you cough or sneeze, cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or into the inside of your elbow. Dispose of the tissue and wash your hands after coughing or sneezing.
As much as possible, keep your hands away from your eyes, nose and mouth. Viruses enter our bodies through the mucous membranes in these areas.
If your child is sick, keep them home.
The current recommendation from the CDC is that if your child has a fever of 100.4 or more and a cough or a sore throat as well as other flu-like symptoms, keep them home until they have not had a fever for 24 hours (without taking medication to reduce a fever, e.g. Acetaminophen or Ibuprofen). If you are keeping your child home from school, they should also avoid seeing other people socially.
Please let the school know if your child is home with these symptoms. This will assist us in tracking how many students are ill with influenza-like illness and in planning for the District.
Staff will also be asked to follow these guidelines.
We are currently working with the Westminster Board of Health and the Nashoba Board of Health to plan for a “vaccination” day on a Saturday in the fall. These plans are ongoing as we are waiting word on when the vaccines will be available. We will keep you updated on the website with these plans.
Please feel free to contact me or your building’s school nurse with any questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
Marcia Sharkey,
RN
Nurse Leader
Ashburnham Westminster Regional School District
(978) 874-0163