Swine flu has schools on alert
Avoid swine flu. Don't do this.
For Katy ISD, Fort Bend ISD (FBISD), Houston ISD (HISD), Spring Branch ISD, Alief ISD, Pasadena ISD and other independent school districts in Texas and beyond, it is a time of heightened caution.
The current swine flu outbreak in pockets of America have many people worried, none more so than parents of young children in affected areas. Since the current appearance of the disease is believed to have originated in Mexico, border states like California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas are at greater risk than inland states. It is there that you may see more parents rely on personal loans and credit cards to help with those middle-of-the-night trips to the ER when little ones run a high fever and show other symptoms of the disease.
Don’t hesitate; get them checked
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), along with state and local public health officials, are on the case when it comes to the swine flu outbreak. School districts in possible danger zones like the Katy ISD in Texas are under extensive investigation so that contraction and spreading of the disease can be prevented.
According to the district’s Web site, there is no imminent threat, but Katy ISD and other area school districts are taking the stance that preparedness and overall caution are the best course of action to keep children safe. Therefore, Katy ISD is with state, Harris County and Fort Bend County public health officials. This will enable all parties concerned in preventing the spread of swine flu to have “the most accurate and current information on which to make decisions.”
Prevention is the name of the game
What’s a parent to do, or for that matter anyone who wants to minimize their risk of contracting the swine flu? The answers are common sense in nature. The Katy ISD infection control program has encouraged school nurses to talk to teachers and children about ways to be safe, and the same ideas can be applied anywhere. Even if you aren’t in a swine flu danger area, these kinds of tips can help you avoid infectious diseases as a whole, anytime.
As mentioned before, good hygiene practices such as hand washing and covering coughs and sneezes are vital. This is easy for adults to remember, but sometimes young children will forget. For the sake of their health, show loving patience and give them gentle reminders to reinforce the teachings. Here are some more tips, straight from the CDC:
- Students who are ill should stay home. Students have to be free of fever for at least 24 hours before they return to school
- Avoid close contact
- Cover your cough or sneeze
- Wash your hands
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth
- Stay healthy, get rest, and drink plenty of water
Other things parents must do
If you have a child that comes down with influenza, you should keep them home and notify their school, particularly if they are tracking the spread of swine flu the way Katy ISD is. For families in the Katy ISD or another school district in Texas, additional information about remaining healthy during this swine flu outbreak is available. Visit the Texas State Department of Health Services Web site at www.dshs.state.tx.us/swineflu or call (888) 777-5320. Please keep in mind that the information found there is good for anyone who wishes to avoid infection.
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