How Long Cane Elementary School in LaGrange, Georgia Has Prepared for the Swine Flu

It isn't bad enough that we have to worry about the normal flu season, but now when we send our children to school we have to worry about the other nasty virus out there called the Swine Flu (H1N1). The only thing that gives us hope that we can rely on is to know that our schools have taken precautionary measures on what to do to prevent the Swine Flu from entering our school system. Some of those measures for Long Cane Elementary are:

1) Education for the students and staff on covering their mouths and noses with tissues, or in the bend of their arm, when they cough or sneeze.
2) Practice good hygiene. Hand sanitizer is available at all times, and used often.
3) Sick students, teachers and any other staff will go home if showing signs of the flu.
4) Sanitize knobs, desks, chairs and all non-porous surfaces with disinfectant spray.
5) Keep hands to yourself.
6) Teach why putting objects into your mouth that has been in another kids hands or floors are a unhealthy option.

Now we all know that our kids listen to us as well as we like to pay bills. So telling them these rules is only going to go so far. To be honest with you, it is just a guessing game on when the Swine Flu (H1N1) will enter the doors of Long Cane Elementary. Now when it does, it is safe to know that our school system has provided plans to stop the spread of the virus from continuing further in the schools. If students start to show signs of the virus's symptoms or if a case has been announced in the school, Long Cane Elementary will follow one or more, possibly all, of these rules:

1) Extending the sick time at home. Usually when a child or staff member gets sick with the flu, he or she is usually out for three days. In case of a outbreak of the H1N1, the school officials will ask for you to stay at home for at least seven days even if you are feeling better. Let you medicine work into your system.
2) Allowing high risk groups, such as children under 5 years and staff over 65, to stay at home, even if they are not sick.
3) If the schools doors remain open, they will conduct active fever and symptom screening. Upon arrival in the school, officials will ask each student and staff about any symptoms they are having. If anyone displays at least two of the symptoms then they will be sent home.
4) Class trips will be canceled, and any after school activity will also be canceled.

In case there is a complete outbreak where more then 40% to 50% of the school has been infected there will be a complete closing of the school. The school will go through a major, deep, sanitizing process and in five to seven days the school officials of Long Cane Elementary will reassess with the Troup County Board of Health to see when school will resume.

If you need more information for this check out www.troup.org for any more up to date information on the Swine Flu (H1N1).