H1N1 Information Center
We are still receiving reports of flu in various schools around the state. This has included all age groups and all regions. MDE will continue to communicate with MS State Department of Health on a regular basis. As recommendations change, or are added, we will communicate that to you. Please continue to encourage personal responsibility in the form of hand washing and cough etiquette.
Because of the increased risk of infection for younger person, the Mississippi State Department of Health and The Mississippi Department of Education developed plans for school based vaccinations of all school aged children. The folowing letters provide information on vaccination plans:
Administrators Letter
Parents Letter
School Dismissal Letter
Flu-like illness symptoms include:
1) Students with some combination of fever, aches, sore throat, nausea/vomiting, and fatigue.
2) Parental reports of absences of their child that is due to flu. This does not require a physician’s confirmation because they are not testing for H1N1 in their offices.
3) Adults—all personnel that are affected personally by flu, illness or care of a family member who is ill. This may be evident with employees that have school age children
WARNING: Do not use aspirin for fever with children or teenagers 18 years of age or younger. For more information on the Reye's Syndrome.
Presentation from the MSDH Swine Flu summit H1N1Seminar10.01
If you are unable to view the video, please download a copy of Windows Media player.
The Federal government has released updated guidance to assist schools in addressing issues related to the H1N1 influenza. The guidance is designed to help prevent the spread of flu among students, teachers, and other school personnel. This update provides a menu of tools, including a Communications Toolkit, that school and health officials can choose from based on the conditions in their area. The school guidance is part of a broader national framework to respond to the H1N1 influenza, which includes encouraging people to get vaccinated against the virus and to take other actions to prevent infection.
Sample Letter to Notify Parents/Guardians English
Spanish
Letter to Principals
Script for schools on auto dialer or text message system
Key points to reduce spread of flu in schools
Letter on H1N1 flu planning from Secretary of Education Arne Duncan and Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius
School District (K-12) Pandemic Influenza Planning Checklist
For current information from the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Global Incident Map Display
Pandemic Planning Resources
Interim CDC Guidance for Nonpharmaceutical Community
Mitigation in Response to Human Infections with Swine Influenza (H1N1) Virus
H1N1 Guidance for Institutions of Higher Education
Communication Toolkit for Institutions of Higher Learning
Technical Report for Institutions of Higher Learning
United States Department of Education Updates
Additional Flu Resources for School Leaders Seeking Guidance
Emergency Planning: Influenza Outbreak
Important Information
CDC Swine Influenza (Flu) Brochure
Fact Sheet 1
Fact Sheet 2
Resources for classroom instruction regarding handwashing be found in Health in Action. Health in Action provides 1400 health education and physical education lesson plans.
Handwashing videos from Sesame Street
Sample Health in Action Lesson Plans
Handwashing
Mr. Germ Head
Habits
Additional Activites
Kindergarten
First Grade
Second Grade
Third Grade
Fourth Grade
Fifth Grade
Sixth Grade
Prevention Posters
Healthy Family Habits
Boy Germ Stopper
Girl Germ Stopper
Cover Your Cough
Resources from
HealthTeacher
Seven Actions Schools Can Take
Handwashing Webinar
The Mississippi Department of Education, Mississippi State Department of Health, and the American Lung Association will be providing regional healthy school environment trainings for school district custodial staff. This training will cover the steps to effectively cleaning a school building, green cleaning, indoor air quality, best practices, an update on the H1N1 or commonly called "Swine Flu" and the relationship between a healthy school environment and academic achievement. For more information, contact Robert Campbell, Director, Office of Safe and Orderly Schools at 601 359 1737.
Custodial Training Agenda
Custodial Manual
Green Clean Schools
Custodial Workshop Presentations: May 6 - 12, 2009
School Health teams up again this year to sponsor the "Be Wise... Sanitize poster contest". School nurses and classroom teachers can use this contest to teach correct hand hygiene procedures to their students. The students can then reflect this education in the form of a poster.
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