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Guidance
for primary and post-primary day schools in preparing for and managing Pandemic
(H1N1) 2009 (Swine Flu)
27th August 2009
Version 1.0
These recommendations are based on current information and are
subject to change based on ongoing surveillance and continuous risk assessment.
Background
This document provides interim public health guidance for primary
and secondary day schools on preparing for Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 influenza. This
guidance includes recommendations on hygiene measures that should be put in
place now in order to prevent the spread of respiratory illness, and planning
activities that should occur in preparation for the possibility of cases of
Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 occurring in schools.
Schools play a critical role in protecting the health of their
students, staff, and the community from contagious diseases such as Pandemic
(H1N1) 2009. Children and young adults are very susceptible to getting this new
virus and schools may be locations where spread of this new virus can happen
quickly. Schools can help prevent the spread of Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 by
implementing good health practices now and preparing for activities that need
to occur in the event of cases of Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 occurring there.
1. Preparation
1.
Identify who in your
school/college should plan and prepare for Pandemic (H1N1) 2009, ensuring
backup support as required.
2.
Develop a flu
plan containing but not limited to the guidance in this document.
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2. Infection control:
Prevent the spread of respiratory illness through knowledge
of Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 influenza and practice of good respiratory and hand
hygiene.
a. Display information
(available for download at www.education.ie)
i. What to do to prevent spread of respiratory illness
ii. Respiratory Hygiene and Cough Etiquette
iii. Hand hygiene
b. Key Messages
Preventing the spread of germs is the single most effective
way to slow the spread of influenza. Ensure that all staff and students are
aware of and practice the following good health practices.
i. Wash your hands often with soap and water and especially
after coughing, sneezing, using the bathroom and before eating.
ii. Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth with your hands
– germs spread this way.
iii. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough
or sneeze and put your used tissue in a waste bin. Wash your hands after.
iv. If you do not have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your
sleeve (not into your hand). Wash your hands after.
v. Stay home from school if sick with a flu-like illness
for seven days from onset of illness.
vi. Avoid unnecessary close contact with people who have
influenza.
vii. Do not share wind instruments.
viii. Avoid sharing pencils,
crayons and pens toys/objects where possible and if sharing them clean them before
passing them between students.
c. Infection prevention supplies and policies
i. Ensure that hand hygiene facilities are adequate and
working properly. Minimum standards required at all times are soap, water
and a method of drying that is not shared between students (paper towels,
pull down towels or automatic hand dryers are preferred; if not available
students may bring in their own towels from home for their own personal use).
ii. In the absence of hand-washing facilities,
alcohol-based hand rub may be used as an alternative.
iii. Schools should provide the time needed for all
students and staff to wash their hands whenever necessary, especially after
coughing or sneezing into their hands, before eating, and after using the
toilet.
iv. Younger children and children with special needs may require
extra attention with regards to hand-hygiene and respiratory etiquette.
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d. Environmental cleaning procedures
i. Ensure that adequate supplies of normal household
cleaning materials are readily available.
ii. Ensure there are procedures for regular cleaning of
hard surfaces. Particular attention should be on cleaning items that are more
likely to have frequent hand contact (for example, keyboards, desks,
doorhandles).
iii. Ensure there are procedures for immediate cleaning of areas
when visibly soiled.
e. Procedures for isolating and caring for sick
students/staff
Students and staff who are ill with a flu-like illness at
arrival or become ill during the day should be promptly separated from other
students and staff while waiting to be sent home. The student should be placed
in a suitable area, such as a small office, away from other students, but where
an eye can be kept on them to ensure that they are all right.
f. Access to information on Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 (available at www.education.ie)
All teachers and other staff should have access to
information:
i. Information and medical guidance for the public on
Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 infection
ii. Hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette poster
iii. Advice for Parents of Children at High Risk for Flu
Complications
iv. Advice for Parents of Children with Special Needs
v. Information and medical advice about Pandemic (H1N1)
2009 for pregnant women and women who are breastfeeding
vi. Advice for parents if school is closed or children are
sick and must stay at home because of flu
vii. How students can prevent the spread of flu at school
viii. How teachers and other school
staff can prevent the spread of flu at school
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3. Communications
Schools should develop a communications plan that will include
informing staff and parents of what may happen in the event of cases of
Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 influenza occurring in the school. It should include:
a. Communications plan:
i. The school may wish to advise parents and guardians that in the
event of a child or number of children becoming ill with Pandemic (H1N1) 2009
there is a possibility of students being sent home from the school and that the
parent/guardian must ensure they or their nominated guardian will be
contactable and available to take care of the child. The school should also
consider taking this opportunity to provide information to parents on Pandemic
(H1N1) 2009 (available at www.education.ie).
ii. The school should develop a plan for communicating with
parents in the event of a case or cases of Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 influenza
occurring in the school. Schools should bear in mind that parents from other
countries have may have difficulties reading communications in English.
Information in different languages is available at www.hse.ie.
b. Contact details for:
i. The school’s board of management and trustees (who should have
up to date information on Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 and recommended school actions).
ii. The student’s guardian (the school should ensure that the
identified guardian has provided current contact number and emergency contact
number).
iii. The Department of Public Health in the region (See Appendix
3).
iv. Review contact details regularly to ensure they are up
to date.
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4. Actions in the event of a case/cases of Pandemic (H1N1)
2009 influenza occurring in a school
Schools need to be prepared to recognise and respond if one
or a number of students/staff members develop symptoms consistent with Pandemic
(H1N1) 2009 influenza.
a. Early recognition of influenza like symptoms.
All staff (and older students) should be able to recognise
symptoms of Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 influenza.
b. Taking care of a
student/staff member with flu like illness
In the event of a staff member
thinking that a student may have Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 influenza there should be
procedures in place which facilitate them to:
i. Separate students with flu-like symptoms from other
students while they are waiting for their parent/guardian to collect them.
ii. Staff at risk of complications if infected (pregnant
women or those with an underlying condition with increased risk of influenza
related complications), if possible, should not look after students with
flu-like symptoms. However, if this is unavoidable they should ensure that they
practice rigorous hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette and remain at a
distance of 1 meter from the ill child if possible.
iii. The school should have prior permission from parents
to enable urgent medical assessment of students with flu-like symptoms if
parent is uncontactable.
iv. Encourage parents to seek early
medical assessment for students with flu-like symptoms at higher risk of
complications from flu. Staff with flu-like symptoms at higher risk of complications
from flu should do the same (see Appendix 2 for list of those at higher risk).
c. Actions in the event of an unusual number of people
presenting with influenza like illness
There should be a policy for notifying the school’s
principal/deputy principal who should inform the local Department of Public
Health by phone.
d. Exclusion policy
i. There is no need for any staff member or student (including
those at risk of complications and those who are pregnant) to stay at home from
school if they are well.
ii. Schools should have clear policies on exclusion of staff and
students with flu-like illness.
iii. Schools should remind parents and carers that children
displaying flu-like symptoms while at home (weekends and holidays) should stay
at home and not return to school for seven days from onset of symptoms.
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5. Preparing for school
closures
At the current stage of the Pandemic (i.e. moderate as per WHO)
schools are unlikely to be closed on public health advice, even if there are
cases of Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 influenza in the school, but may close for
‘business continuity’ reasons such as staff absenteeism. In certain exceptional
circumstances there may be advice to close on public health grounds for a short
period of time (usually 7 days). Schools must develop plans for partial and
total closure.
• Each school should have a governance structure for
implementation of school closures.
• Schools need to have business continuity plans in place
to deal with school closures due to public health recommendation or due to
teacher absences. These should include:
a. Staff working arrangements in event of school being closed.
b. Teachers/schools should provide students with sufficient course
work and exercises to cover the duration of the closure.
c. Criteria for lifting school closure (in event of closure due to
public health recommendation the local Department of Public Health will give
advice on criteria for lifting school closure).
d. Plans for the partial re-opening of the school as well as full
re-opening of the educational institution.
e. Plans for managing staff absenteeism due to Pandemic (H1N1)
2009.
f. In respect of State examinations there may be a need to contact
the State Examinations Commission to put alternative arrangements in place.
g. Refer to the up-to-date information on the Department of
Education and Science’s website regarding school closures and staff
absenteeism.
Appendix 1: Website addresses
Health Protection Surveillance Centre
http://www.hpsc.ie/hpsc/A-Z/EmergencyPlanning/AvianPandemicInfluenza/SwineInfluenza/
Health Service Executive
http://www.hse.ie/eng/swineflu/
Department of Education and Science
http://www.education.ie/home/home.jsp?pcategory=27173&ecategory=27173&language=EN
Appendix 2: Who are those considered to be in high-risk
groups for complications of Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 infection.
Patients with: chronic lung, heart, kidney, liver, or
neurological disease; immunosuppression (whether caused by disease or
treatment); diabetes mellitus; people aged 65 years and older; children <5
years (children <2 years are at higher risk severe complications); people on
medication for asthma, severely obese people (BMI ≥40), pregnant women
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Appendix 3: Contact Details for HSE Departments of Public Health
(and counties they cover) HSE North West Tel 071‐9852900 Donegal Leitrim Sligo |
HSE Midlands Tel 057‐9359891 Longford Westmeath Offaly Laois |
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HSE South Tel 021‐4927601 Cork Kerry |
HSE MidWest Tel 061‐483337 Clare Limerick Tipperary North |
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HSE North East Tel 046‐9076412 Cavan Monaghan Louth Meath |
HSE SouthEast Tel 056‐7784124 Tipperary
South Waterford Kilkenny Carlow Wexford |
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HSE East Tel 01‐635 2000 Kildare Dublin Wicklow |
HSE West Tel 091‐775 200 Mayo Roscommon Galway |