CRAHD - H1N1 Flu information

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H1N1 (Swine) Flu Information

Please feel free to email us with your questions regarding H1N1 (Swine) Flu

February 26, 2010

The Connecticut River Area Health District is the lead organization for mass dispensing of the H1N1 vaccine for citizens of the towns of Clinton, Chester, Deep River, Essex, Killingworth, Old Saybrook and Westbrook.

Vaccine can now be administered to anyone who wishes to receive it. It is no longer restricted to priority groups.

We will make every effort to provide information regarding clinics on this site.

The following clinics have been scheduled at this time:

COME TO OLD SAYBROOK’S CHILI FEST

SAT. FEBRUARY 27, 2010 FROM 12 NOON – 3 PM

AND RECEIVE YOUR H1N1 VACCINATION

THE HEALTH DISTRICT WILL BE PROVIDING SHOTS

AND DRINKING WATER FOR THE THIRSTY CHILI EATERS!!!!

AT FRANKIE AND GIANNI’S LOCATED AT 166 MAIN STREET

· Residents of the 7 towns with special needs who, because of their special need, can not attend a clinic may call the Health District ( 860-661-3300) Mon. – Fri. between the hours of 7:30AM and 4PM to make other arrangements to be vaccinated.

Superintendents' Letter

September 2009

Dear Parent or Legal Guardian,

As you may know, flu can be easily spread from person to person. Therefore, we are taking steps to reduce the spread of flu in our districts. We want to keep the school open to students and functioning in a normal manner during this flu season. But, we need your help to do this.

We are working closely with the State Board of Education and the Connecticut River Area Health District to monitor flu conditions and make decisions about the best steps to take concerning our schools. We will keep you updated with new information as it becomes available.

There are important actions that you can take now to help keep you, your child and family well during the flu season. Here are a few things you can do to help.

Teach your children to wash their hands often with soap and water. You can set a good example by doing this yourself.
Teach your children not to share personal items like drinks, food or unwashed utensils, and to cover their coughs and sneezes with a tissue, their elbow, arm or sleeve instead of their hand.
Know the signs and symptoms of the flu. Symptoms of the flu include fever (100 degrees Fahrenheit or greater), cough, sore throat, a runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, and feeling very tired. Some people may also vomit or have diarrhea.
Keep sick children at home for at least 24 hours after they no longer have fever or do not have signs of fever, without using fever-reducing medicine. Keeping children with a fever at home will reduce the number of people who may get infected.
Do not send children to school if they are sick. Any children who are determined to be sick while at school will be sent home.
Make arrangements for other trusted family or friends to care for your child if they are sick and you can not be home with them. This plan should not involve possible exposure to other well children.

The health district’s web site at www.crahd.org will be the primary site to obtain the most current information about the flu. For specific information about what your district’s schools are doing, please visit your district’s website.

By working together we hope to keep your children well this flu season.

Sincerely,

Your Area Superintendents

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When to Keep a Child or Other Family Member Home

A FLU SYMPTOM CHECK LIST FOR FAMILIES

GUIDANCE FOR WHEN TO KEEP YOUR CHILD or OTHER FAMILY MEMBER HOME FROM SCHOOL, DAY CARE, WORK OR OTHER ACTIVITY THAT COULD

EXPOSE OTHERS TO THE FLU

The symptoms of influenza (flu) include fever, cough, sore throat, and sometimes body aches, headache, chills and feeling tired. Some people also have diarrhea and vomiting. The most important thing that you can do to keep flu from spreading in the community is to keep ill family members home.

Use the following checklist to help decide if your child or anyone in your family may have the flu:

□ YES	□ NO	Do they have a fever of 100 degrees or more?
□ YES	□ NO	Do they have a cough?
□ YES	□ NO	Do they have a sore throat?
□ YES	□ NO	Do they have a headache, body aches or chills?
□ YES	□ NO	Are they vomiting or do they have diarrhea?

If you checked yes to:

· Fever of 100 degrees or more

AND

· Cough or sore throat

Keep the family member home until he/she is symptom free for 24 hours without the aid of fever reducing medication such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen.

If you checked “yes” to only one of the questions above, or if the family member is ill with other symptoms, they should stay at home for at least one day to see how they feel. If other symptoms develop, use the check list questions again to decide whether to continue to stay home. If the family member does not have influenza-like illness based on the check list above, he/she can return to school or work when he or she has been completely well for 24 hours.

As always, consult with your family doctor if you have any questions or concerns about your family member’s health.

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TIPS TO HELP YOU AND YOUR FAMILY STAY HEALTHY THIS FALL

As the summer months pass and families prepare for the start of another school year, the health district, the school system and the selectmen are busy preparing for additional cases of Novel H1N1 (Swine) flu. Although a vaccine to help protect against the flu is expected to be released by the federal government it is likely to be in limited supply. It is important for all of us to practice prevention. The following health tips will go a long way to help keep us from getting sick with H1N1 or seasonal flu. These good practices will have the added benefit of keeping us from getting the common cold, “the stomach bug” and other various inconvenient sicknesses.

· Wash your hands. Use warm water and soap and scrub hand fronts and backs including fingernails for a minimum of twenty seconds. Hand sanitizer is a good backup if you don’t have access to soap and water. This is the single most effective action you can take to stay well.

· Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue or with your elbow, not with your hand. If you do cough into a tissue or into your hand wash your hands immediately.

· STAY HOME IF YOU ARE FEELING ILL. THIS INCLUDES SCHOOL STAFF. PARENTS NEED TO KEEP THEIR CHILDREN HOME IF THEY ARE SICK. As a parent, I know this difficult because of work commitments. If you have not already done so, I urge parents to reach out to family and friends who may be able to be a back up if you are unable to stay home with a sick child.

· Call your health care provider (or your child’s health care provider) if you or your child have a fever above 101 degrees Fahrenheit with a cough and/or sore throat or if any illness does not improve or if the symptoms worsen.

· Eat healthy food; drink plenty of water, 100% juice and other beverages that keep you hydrated. Limit caffeine, soda and other sugary drinks.

· Get enough sleep. Parents, make sure your child stays rested.

· Get fresh air and exercise each day. This helps the immune system, and helps with the quality of sleep.

Pass on these important health safety tips to your friends and family!!!

Keeping each other healthy, keeps our community healthy!!

Please keep referring to our website for even more information and updates.

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