Lake Washington School District has formed a response team to respond to issues concerning swine flu, also known as the H1N1 virus. This group will be communicating with schools, parents and community as the situation changes. In general, our school district will follow the direction of Public Health – Seattle and King County as we normally do concerning public health issues.

For general information on swine flu, go to:
http://www.kingcounty.gov/healthservices/health/preparedness/pandemicflu/swineflu.aspx.

Q. Will school events and activities be canceled due to the swine flu?
A. Based on recommendations from Public Health, school operations are normal. Events and activities will take place as planned. If recommendations from Public Health change, we will notify schools and parents. If a planned school trip is to a destination where there is a travel advisory, that trip will be cancelled. (Mexico is the only place where there is a travel advisory in place at this time.)

Q. What additional steps are schools taking? What about cleaning?
A. We have asked custodial staff to increase cleaning efforts. However, frequent hand washing is the most effective way to prevent transmission of the flu virus.

Q. What if a student has just returned from a trip to Mexico?
A. Per Public Health guidelines, students who do not have symptoms are not to be excluded from school, even if they have recently travelled to a location where there are cases. Any student with a fever over 100 degrees will be sent home.

Q. What if a student or staff member at school gets sick?
A. Any student or staff member who has flu-like symptoms including a fever over 100 degrees will be sent home.

Q. What are the symptoms?
A. The symptoms of swine flu in people are expected to be similar to the symptoms of regular human seasonal influenza and include fever, lethargy, lack of appetite and coughing. Some people with swine flu also have reported runny nose, sore throat, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.

Q. When and how will decisions be made to close schools?
A. Public Health has protocols around when closing schools should occur. We will follow their direction concerning closing schools. Emergency closure information will be sent via normal district phone tree, the PSESD emergency system, an alert on the Web site, as well as e-mail to all parents with an e-mail address on file in the student information system.

Q. What can we do to stay healthy? What should we tell our staff and parents to do?
A. Follow the CDC guidelines, as follows:

• Avoid close contact with people who are sick. When you are sick, keep your distance from others to protect them from getting sick too.
• Stay home when you are sick. If possible, stay home from work, school, and errands when you are sick. You will help prevent others from catching your illness.
• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. It may prevent those around you from getting sick. If a tissue is not available, cough or sneeze into the crook of your arm. Always, immediately wash your hands afterward.
• Washing your hands often will help protect you from germs.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs are often spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose, or mouth.
• Practice other good health habits. Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids, and eat nutritious food.

April 30 Letter to Parents on Swine Flu

Carta del distrito escolar a los padres sobre la influenza porcina