Schools gear up to combat swine flu

Since according to reports, children are the most vulnerable to the H1N1 influenza, the school officials and parents are being very careful this time.

Manassas schools’ spokeswoman Almeta Radford said, "We're just asking everybody to be a little more mindful."

Playful ways for kids to combat swine flu
The school’s employees have adopted a playful way to teach the kids about the simple measures for the prevention of swine flu.

Sandy Thompson, a supervisor of administrative services for the schools, Virginia, spotted a clever poster spreading information about swine flu in a ‘fun way’ at the public health department in Berkeley (California).

Thereafter, she took permission from the senior authorities to distribute the poster in all the Manassas schools in order to remind the school employees that good hygiene can help fight swine flu better.

The poster features four little angry yet cute monsters who give tips to prevent swine flu. They quip, “Protect your health. Whack the flu!”

School officials don't want parents to panic
The fliers have been distributed among all the students as well as the parents but the school officials maintain that they do not want to create unnecessary panic and don’t want people to be ‘overly worried’.

They want the parents to keep themselves updated about the preventive measures of swine flu and encourage their children to follow good hygiene.

Ken Blackstone, spokesman for Prince William schools said, "I don't want to unduly alarm people. We hope for the best and plan for the worst."

"One of the key things is for school staff to keep up the message of good hygiene," he said.

The officials have also informed that schools will update their websites with relevant information about swine flu. They will also issue letters to the students on the first day with an update about the flu situation and the preventive measures that the parents could take to protect their children from swine flu.

Nurses to impart good hygiene habits among kids
Last week, about 80 school nurses were deputed by the Prince William district of the Virginia Department of Health.

These nurses are to spread the message of good hygiene. They will teach the kids to wash their hands with soap and water frequently and use tissues after sneezing or coughing.

Commenting on this Blackstone said, "One of the key things is for school staff to keep up the message of good hygiene."

Posters on cleanliness have also been placed in all the classrooms of the county schools.

Initially, when the flu spread to the United State in the spring, it was recommended that students and staff with flu-like symptoms should stay at home at least for seven days, as per a report.

But Blackstone now informed that the county schools should remain open unless a significant number of students and employees get the flu.