A "handy" thing to have at school

Posted by BocaRatonNews September 5, 2009, 10:22 AM
0 Comments 

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By Nicol Jenkins
Special to the News

Starting this school year, many Boca Raton students have a new school supply -hand sanitizers

Most local schools have stocked up with hand sanitizer just in case of a swine flu outbreak.

Spanish River High School has installed about 30 Purell antibacterial stands on campus to safeguard its 2,200 students against the H1N1 virus, known as swine flu. The PTA purchased the stands at an initial cost of about $1,700 with money from a fundraiser.

“The PTA purchased Purell stations and installed them in every bathroom, the nurses’ station, student services center, school store, cafeteria, and locker rooms,” said Spanish River PTA President Debbie Ellman. “It’s just a preventive measure because of all the nervousness going on with the flu this season; and it’s important for kids to have access to cleaning their hands.”
All county schools will not be equipped with antibacterial stands; however, teachers will reinforce hand washing, according to Palm Beach County School District spokesman Nat Harrington.

“We are not giving out hand sanitizers, but they are available in school classrooms and if students bring their own, they are allowed to use it,” said Harrington, adding, “The only information that the Health Department has advised us on is frequent and sterile hand washing.”

Boca and county-wide parents have also been told to keep their children home if they experience flu-like symptoms.
“We have been giving parents information on how to prevent the spread of the disease. Also, we continue to clean our schools, and children with cold-like symptoms are not allowed in school. Parents are told not to bring them to school and to bring them to a doctor,” said Harrington.

Health Recommendations

The Center for Disease Controls (CDC) and other health agencies have addressed what schools should do in case of swine flu outbreaks.

Health officials recommend that students and staff with influenza-like illness remain home until 24 hours after resolution of fever without the use of fever-reducing medications.

The decision to dismiss students should be made locally, but officials urged that schools should close only if “high numbers of students” contract the swine flu. However, the potential benefits of preemptively dismissing students from school are often “outweighed by negative consequences, including students being left home alone, health workers missing shifts when they must stay home with their children, students missing meals, and interruption of students’ education,” health officials stated.

As for Palm Beach County school closings and other measures, Harrington says the School District is following the CDC’s recommendations. Each school also has a designated safe room, where a student can wait to be picked up if feeling sick on campus.

The School District has an extensive list of tips to staying healthy and links to the CDC website on its website at www.palmbeach.k12.fl.us.

“The District is trying to keep fear and misinformation out, and we continue to repeat information to parents and anyone who has questions,” added Harrington.

Boca Raton Community High School is also prepared in case of a flu outbreak.

The school has antibacterial hand sanitizers in every classroom for its 2,700 students.

“We are encouraging students and staff to use them before they leave class,” said Boca High principal Geoff McKee.
The school has also designated the clinic as a safe room.

“If a student has the flu, we treat them as any person who is sick. They should not come back to school until they are healthy again,” said McKee.

In Broward

Hallandale High School in Broward County closed for three days in May after a 17-year-old student contracted the swine flu.
Leah Kelly, Executive Director of Student Support Services, says the School District has a pandemic plan in place. Each school’s front office has an antibacterial stand, and each classroom has Kleenexes.

“The first level of defense is prevention, which is proper hand washing and masking sneezes. The second defense is awareness, or knowing the signs and symptoms of the flu, when to stay home, and when to go home if you are already at school or work,” said Kelly.

But what happens when a student or staff member is at school and appears to have the swine flu?

Each school has identified a “safe room” to isolate the students or staff member until they are picked up from the school.
But what about shutting down the school?

Broward Public Schools will follow the lead from the Broward Health Department and only shut down when there are “high numbers” of students that contract the swine flu.

“As far as shut downs, we are taking our lead from the Broward County Health Department. On the decision of closing down a school, it depends on the severity of the illness, a high level of surveillance, and keeping track of any reported illnesses,” said Kelly.

Former Boca Raton News staff writer Nicol Jenkins is now editor of Our Town News located in Coral Springs.