This year students, parents and school staff may have two flu seasons to pay attention to. The H1N1 flu (formerly known as swine flu) spread around the world last spring. It’s expected that H1N1cases will continue to spread this fall. And later this fall and winter, we will see as always the spread of the traditional seasonal flu.
Putnam City is working with the local and state health officials to stay up-to-date with the situation. The district has a response plan in place and is using that plan.
The symptoms of H1N1 flu are similar to those of seasonal flu. Symptoms include fever, lethargy, lack of appetite and coughing. Some people with H1N1 flu also have reported runny nose, sore throat, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.
There are everyday actions that can help prevent the spread of germs that cause respiratory illnesses like the flu. Take these steps to protect your family's health:
• Teach your children to often wash their hands with soap and water. They should lather and scrub for about 20 seconds each time they wash. Be sure to set a good example by doing this yourself. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.
• Teach your children to cover coughs and sneezes with tissues or by coughing into the inside of the elbow. Be sure to set a good example by doing this yourself.
• People who are sick should stay home from work or school and avoid other people until they are better.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick. When you are sick, keep your distance from others to protect them from getting sick too.
• Teach your child not to touch his or her mouth, nose and eyes. Germs are often spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose, or mouth.
For More Information
Information from Putnam City
Absences Due to Flu-like Illness
Dec. 1-2 Phone Message to Families (English and Spanish)
Dec. 3 Letter to Families (English)
Dec. 3 Letter to Families (Spanish)
Sept. 10 Letter to Families (English)
Sept. 10 Letter to Families (Spanish)
Sept. 11 Phone Message to Families (English and Spanish)
Teacher Action Steps
Hand Washing: A Simple Way to Stay Healthy
Centers for Disease Control
Main H1N1 page
FluView
Preventing the Flu
Germ stopper posters, flyers and other materials
CDC Twitter page
"Things You Can Do to Stay Away from the Flu" podcast for kids
Flu.gov
Main page
Basics for Flu Prevention
H1N1 PSA contest award winners
Oklahoma State Department of Health
H1N1 Statistics
Oklahoma City-County Health Department
Action Steps for Parents to Protect Your Child and Family
H1N1 -- Facts for Families of School-Age Children
How to Talk with Your Children About H1N1
When to Keep Your Child at Home
Taking Care of a Person with H1N1
Social Distancing
H1N1 Response Center
Flu Self-Assessment
Information for Children
Scrub Club
KidsHealth.org
H1N1 Phone Lines
Oklahoma State Department of Health, 1 (866) 278-7134 (toll free)
Oklahoma City-County Health Department, (405) 419-4123