District Departments: Nurse
Nurse's Notes
H1N1 Scare and Flu Symptoms
By Jan Hus
September 22, 2009
THE H1N1 SCARE
As the flu season approaches us we have to be prepared to deal with both the seasonal flu and H1N1 or swine flu. The flu shots will soon be getting to the community. These shots will help protect you from the seasonal flu. The Walgreens drug store has been advertising their availability and they will cost $24.99 and El Dorado Dillons pharmacy will also have them available for $25.00 for people 18 years and older. The Butler County Health Dept anticipates having their flu shots available for all ages sometime in October and the cost is projected to be $20.00 - $30.00. Susan B. Allen Memorial hospital will once again offer their free flu shot clinics for ages 3 and up. These clinics will be held on 2 Saturdays, one in Augusta and one in El Dorado. H1N1 vaccines are due to come out mid October. Since the same manufacturers make the H1N1 serum and the seasonal flu serum there has been a delay in getting the full shipment of the seasonal flu vaccine. Because of this delay SBA is anticipating their free flu shot clinics to be on the original dates set which are October 31st and November 7th. If they get the serum earlier they will try to move up the clinic dates. You may also contact your physician to see if they will have shots available. The Center of Disease Control does recommend you get the seasonal flu shot early.
Immunizations for the H1N1 may be accessible mid October. The development of the serum has been difficult since the virus has been mutating or changing. In order to gain protection we may have to face a series of 2 shots 21-28 days apart. The health department hopes to offer these free to the public and they will be targeting those between 6 months of age to 24 years. They will also provide to those who are between the ages 25-64 who have health conditions associated with higher risk of medical complications with influenza.
The difference between the seasonal and H1N1 flu is the season flu comes every year. We have flu shots available because they were able to study last year’s virus to develop the serum. The H1N1 however, is new so we have not had the exposure that would enable us to build immunity. The symptoms of the H1N1 are the same but may be more difficult to overcome. My understanding is they are not testing individuals for the H1N1 unless they are ill enough to be hospitalized. Since we will not know specifically what we are dealing with we must take a proactive and preventive approach.
The signs and symptoms of the flu are:
√ Fever greater than 100 degrees,
√ Body aches,
√ Coughing, Sneezing and Runny nose,
√ Sore throat,
√ Respiratory congestion,
√ In some cases diarrhea and vomiting.
We are going to firmly enforce our illness policy. Students with a temperature over 100 degrees will be asked to go home and stay home until they are fever free for 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medication such as Tylenol or ibuprofen.
We must all work together to aid in the prevention of spreading the flu virus. Here are some steps to consider:
•Washing hands frequently and using hand sanitizer is one
important way to help the success of limiting contamination.
•Avoid touching your nose, mouth, or eyes.
•Avoid contact with people who are sick.
•Stay home from work or school until you are fever free for 24
hours without the use of fever reducing medication.
•Use Kleenex to cover your nose and mouth with coughing and
sneezing and then properly disposing of the Kleenex. If a Kleenex
is not available cough or sneeze into your sleeve or elbow.
•Eat well, drink plenty, and rest. Good nutrition, plenty of sleep,
and drinking a lot of fluids will also be beneficial to
strengthening the immune system.
•Do not share eating utensils or drink from the same cup or
straw.
•If possible wash all eating utensils in the dishwasher or rinse
thoroughly in hot water.
•Sterilize toothbrushes by running them through the dishwasher or
boiling them in a pan of water and replace them after any
illness.
• Consider wiping down your phones and cell phones.
Parents, please, we ask that you monitor your children closely for signs and symptoms and to keep them home when they are ill. Be sure to treat them with Tylenol or ibuprofen. Avoid aspirin products because of the association with Reye’s syndrome. Also, please report all absences to the school and let us know if they have any of these symptoms. If you are not sure if your child is ready to return to school please call and ask the school nurse or your child’s physician.
Stay informed. We will try to keep parents informed with notes or letters or information may be posted on the web site. You can also check the following sites:
www.kdheks.gov/H1N1
www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu.
www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/talkingtokids.htm
www.sesamestreet.org/parents/topics/health/flu
Or call 1-800-CDC-INFO
We at Bluestem Elem. are preparing to fight against the H1N1 and flu. The kids have been learning about washing hands and how to cover their mouths when coughing or sneezing. All of the students in 2nd through 6th grade participated in a poster contest in art class. The top 3 winners in each class will receive an anti H1N1 kit with goodies donated by Augusta Walmart (Thanks to Tonya Jurging). The winner of each class will receive a monetary award of $5.00. Posters will be on display in the school buildings and around the community.
