In response to the identification of swine influenza A (H1N1) virus infections in humans in the United States (including one in Ohio), the Dublin City School District has activated the initial steps of its protocol for dealing with these situations. 

The district’s protocol consists of daily use of appropriate disinfectants in school buildings.

Restrooms and locker room areas are cleaned and disinfected every night. Lunch tables are disinfected every day. We also disinfect door knobs and table or desks surfaces once a week.

We are monitoring advisories from federal, state, and local public health authorities; as well as student and staff attendance. Further steps will be taken if necessary, with the guidance of public health authorities.

What You Can Do to Stay Healthy

Families and staff members should keep in mind these guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control:

  - Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze or cough or sneeze into your sleeve. Throw the tissue away in the trash after use.

 - Wash your hands often with soap and water, particularly after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers are also effective.

 - Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth. Germs spread that way.

 - Try to avoid contact with sick people.

Sept. 24, 2009

Dear Parents:

As we approach the fall flu season, we want to inform you of important developments and information.   We anticipate we will see an increase in flu activity throughout the schools.

We are working closely with the Franklin County Board of Health to monitor flu conditions to help us make the best decisions about student health and safety. As you may know, flu can be easily spread from person to person regardless if it is seasonal flu or H1N1 flu. There are simple, but very effective, steps you can take to reduce the impact of the flu:

•    Teach your children to wash their hands often with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub. You can set a good example by doing this yourself.

•    Teach your children not to share personal items like drinks, food or utensils.

•    Teach your children to cover up their coughs or sneezes using their elbow, instead of their hand when a tissue is unavailable.

•     Know the signs and symptoms of the flu. Symptoms of the flu include fever (100 F or greater), cough, sore throat, a runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, and feeling very tired. Some people may also vomit or have diarrhea.

•    Keep sick children at home for at least 24 hours after they no longer have fever without using fever-reducing drugs, this includes Tylenol, Advil, cold and flu medicine with these products including acetaminophen. (*Note: Children should not be given aspirin or aspiring-containing products to treat fever or illness except under the direction of a physician).

.•   Please make arrangements to pick up your child if he or she becomes sick at school.

•     If your child shows signs of flu-like illness at school, he or she will be isolated from the other students and may be asked to wear a surgical mask to prevent the spread of the flu.

If your child has or develops flu symptoms, please call your health care provider.  Students appearing to have a flu-like illness on arrival or who become ill at school will be sent to the  school clinic.  If an assessment by the nurse or clinic aide indicates a flu-like illness, the student’s parent/guardian or emergency contact will be called to take the child home immediately.

Please note that the school district will not send notification letters to parents for every single reported case of the flu.   The assumption is that a certain level of influenza activity will exist within our community and we need to be vigilant and continue to exercise the good habits mentioned above to protect ourselves.

 Federal, state and local health officials are encouraging everyone to get their seasonal flu shot now.  Children between the ages of 6 months and 18 years of age are particularly susceptible to the flu and should be vaccinated. Those same children are considered at high risk for H1N1 flu. More details will be available in October about H1N1 vaccinations. For information on how to care for someone who is ill, visit www.columbuspandemicflu.org and www.cdc.gov/h1n1.

We appreciate your cooperation.

Sincerely,

David E. Axner, Ed.D.

Superintendent