Communication key during flu season

Cedar Rapids schools haven't reported student absences as high as those in Iowa City -- yet -- and the district is taking steps to prepare for what happens during flu season.

"Prevention remains the key to protecting the health of students and staff and limiting the spread of the virus," said Sally Immerfall, the district's health services facilitator. "Staying informed is vital."

While most health care providers are not testing to specifically identify H1N, it is generally assumed that if a student/staff member is diagnosed with influenza it likely is the H1N1 virus. To that end, an H1N1 informational task force, made up of school nurses, was formed this school year to craft common messages and answer questions.

"The primary role of the Task Force is to provide information to staff, students and families about influenza," Immerfall said. "We also share guidance from Linn County Public Health, Iowa Department of Public Health and Centers for Disease Control and have been developing procedures for schools to follow when students/staff have influenza."

 The district maintains a web site of resources, accessed from its homepage at www.cr.k12.ia.us. All school websites also link to the resource page. Additionally, schools have provided parents with an informational brochure when their child goes home with signs/symptoms of the flu. This brochure is also available on the website.  A list of frequently asked questions is maintained and updated as needed by the Task Force. Various other communication tools are also available to principals and teachers, including parent letters, phone scripts and actions they can take to prevent the spread of the flu.

Maintenance engineers are also stepping up their efforts within classrooms, schools, and offices, increasing the cleaning frequency of commonly touched surfaces. 

"We will continue to be proactive at every level," Immerfall said. "We will also continue to take advantage of every opportunity to remind our school community of important preventative actions."

These include covering nose and mouth with a tissue when coughing or sneezing (if tissue is not available cough/sneeze into your elbow); washing hands often with soap and water; and staying home when sick.