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Responding to Pandemic (H1N1) in Shanbally N.S.
Pandemic (H1N1) -referred to as Swine Flu- is a new flu virus which has been circulating worldwide since April 2009 and its incidence has been increasing steadily since then. The new flu virus can spread easily from person to person.
Symptoms
You will have the same symptoms as if you had ordinary flu, but they will probably be sudden, and may be severe. They may include:
Temperature OVER 38°C/100.4°F and some of the followingCoughthroatnoseweakness and fatiguemuscles and jointsof the above developing within 4-6 hours or suddenly
If your child is ill, displaying the above symptoms, or you think they might be:
Keep your child at home for 7 days as recommended by H.S.E.the school immediately – Shanbally NS 021-4378178Doctor’s Cert. stating same should be available for school records.
Should a child become ill during the school day with swine flu-like symptoms, the following steps will be taken
Child removed from class immediatelycontacted waiting for collection, child will be kept in the Principal’s Office and supervised by the Principal.
If the school is informed of a case of a child being ill with Swine Flu in Shanbally N.S.
All parents of the children in that class will be contacted by text-a-parent.
a member of staff is ill with Swine Flu or think they might be
It is advised that the member of staff might stay at home for up to 7 days or until fully recovered.doctor’s cert to be submitted and substitution cover provided.
Preventative Measures in Shanbally NS
A number of preventative measures have been put in place in Shanbally NS.
(a) Raise awareness
Posters on respiratory etiquette and hand hygiene are displayed in toilets, classrooms and school building.
(b) Respiratory etiquette
Staff and students are encouraged to cover their mouth and nose with a paper tissue when coughing or sneezing. If no tissue is available they should cough or sneeze into the inside of their elbow. Children should have hand sanitiser gel and tissues in a small toilet bag in their schoolbag.
Tissues should be used only once and disposed of quickly and carefully.
A bin with a lid is available in each class. Waste tissues may be disposed of in the normal way.
(c) Hand hygiene
All students / staff should wash their hands with soap and water. Hand drying facilities must not be shared between people. Student toilets have soap dispensers and hand dryers or paper towels. Staff toilets have anti-bacterial hand wash gel and hand dryer/paper towels. Anti-bacterial hand gel is provided in all classes.
As part of SPHE classes (a), (b) and (c) are done at lessons. If your child is allergic to the hand sanitiser please inform the school.
(d) Routine cleaning
Hard surfaces such as kitchen worktops, door handles etc are to be cleaned daily with a normal household cleaner as the virus can live on these surfaces. This cleaning is the duty of the school cleaner.
N.B. We would strongly advise/encourage parents to follow the above procedures/ plans.
Helpful phone numbers/addresses
HSE Flu Information Line Freephone 1800 9411 00number of local department of Public Health 021-4927363
Unit 5, South Ring Business Park, Kinsale Roundabout, Cork.
www.hse.ie