Influenza Information
The Bellevue School District is working hard to keep our schools healthy. We have partnered with the King County Health Department for many years with great success. The flu, both seasonal and H1N1, is just one of the areas that we work with the Health Department on to make sure the information and health practices at our schools is up to date and effective in keeping our students, staff and communities healthy. We are also helping the Health Department monitor the flu in our community so we can help reduce the spread of the flu.
Because of the uncertainty of what this flu season will bring, we are emphasizing our education to students on hand washing and respiratory etiquette. We have been educating staff on what flu symptoms are, how to stay healthy and cleaning surfaces to prevent the spread of germs. We have started sending flu information home earlier this year than we usually do. Information has gone home to families from the Nurses and Principals, and more is planned throughout the fall. We have been encouraging staff to get seasonal flu shots, and when available, H1N1 flu shots. We also have many good informational pieces from the Health Department and the Washington Department of Health, which we have made available through this web site. (see below)
What can parents do to help keep their children and our schools healthy?
1. Follow the advice of the Health Department on preventing the Flu.
2. Keep your children home when they are sick.
3. Do NOT send your children to school until they have been fever free for 24 hours.
(a fever is a temperature over 100 degrees. The School district policy is for children to not return to school until they have had a normal temperature for 24 hour without the use of fever reducing medication.)
Bellevue School District will likely be the site of some H1N1 flu vaccine clinics. We will be publishing information on these clinics when the King County Health Department completes setting up their schedule.
Basic flu Information:
Help Prevent the Spread of Flu - is an informational sheet from the KCPHD on the flu that was updated on Sept. 15th. It includes good information to know, including when to send children back to school.
Seasonal and Novel H1N1 Flu: A Guide For Parents: is a pamphlet put out by the CDC. It is a good general information pamphlet covering what the flu is, prevention, symptoms and when to see a doctor. (in Spanish)
Bellevue School District Parent Handout: was sent home to all students after Labor Day. It gives ways to keep your child healthy.
Flu Symptom Check List For Families and School Staff: is from the KCPHD and gives simple questions for you to ask to determine if you or a family member has the flu and when to seek medical help.
Prevention:
Preventing the Spread of Germs: is a good handout on how to prevent the spread of respiratory germs/viruses such as flu and colds. This handout is from the Wa. Dept. of Health. (Spanish version)
Cover Your Cough: is a poster that demonstrates how to cover your cough to prevent the spread of germs. This poster is from the Wa. Dept. of Health and is available in other languages at:
www.doh.wa.gov/h1n1/h1n1_resources.htm
Cleaning and Disinfecting Surfaces: from the Wa. Dept. of Health gives suggestions on cleaning surfaces to prevent the spread of flu viruses.
H1N1 Immunization Information: from King County Health Department discusses the distribution of the vaccine and safety of the vaccine. Who to contact for information and what ages should get the vaccine.
Treating Flu or Cold Symptoms:
How to Care for Someone with Influenza: from the KCPHD, gives treatment ideas for caring for the flu as well as watching for complications.
Flu Care Basics: Preventing the Spread of Flu: from the KCPHD gives treatment as well as prevention and symptoms of the flu. Good all-around information.
What Can I Do To Fight A Cold, Cough or Sore Throat: is a pamphlet from the Wa. Dept. of Health on common symptoms and effective remedies.
When to Seek Medical Care for Possible Influenza, Including H1N1Influenza: is from the KCPHD and covers a general overview of the flu, what to do if you have the flu and when to seek medical help.
Resource Web Sites:
King County Health Department -
H1N1 Swine Flu updates and information. KCPHD also has a Swine Flu Hot Line at 877-903-KING (5464) which is in English and Spanish/Espanol.
www.kingcounty.gov/healthservices/health/preparedness/pandemicflu/swineflu.aspx
Washington State Department of Health -
H1N1 Swine Flu updates and information. There are many links to resources, fact sheets and several questions and answer areas.
www.doh.wa.gov/h1n1
Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) -
information and links to other resources for H1N1 information.
www.k12.wa.us/HealthServices/H1N1Flu.aspx
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention -
Has current information on number of cases in the US, symptoms, treatment, fact sheets, etc.
www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu
Preparing for Pandemic Flu:
US Department of Health & Human Services -
This site has checklists for families on planning for the pandemic. Things you can do to help make sure your family is ready for a long illness and other emergencies that might affect your normal activities. This is available in many languages, just click the language you would like to see.
www.pandemicflu.gov/individualfamily/checklist.html
At the bottom of the same page, they also have a helpful chart for keeping emergency health information about members of your family in the case of an emergency.
WA Dept. of Health -
A personal and family guide to help prepare for pandemic flu,
www.doh.wa.gov/panflu/family_brochure/Sec_message.htm
Spanish version at www.doh.wa.gov/panflu/family_brochure/Span_sec_message.htm
Along with the guide, they have a list of what to do to get ready for a pandemic illness. This focuses on how to prepare your home in case you become ill and can't get to a store or need to stay at home to protect yourself from exposure to an illness.
www.doh.wa.gov/panflu/prepare.htm