A public health message with a level of calm urgency from Dr. Matt Masiello:
Based on the cumulative experience of the scientific and health promotion/disease prevention staff at WRI we began a more active approach in preparedness then what had been recommended by WHO/CDC and the local EMS. We feel that with WHO now raising the alert level to 5 our actions were appropriate. May I suggest the following:
- Encourage staff to carry on their person the small hand sanitizers.
- Instruct your teachers to review with the students advice on hand washing and use of the sanitizers. Teachers should remind students throughout the day of the importance of hand washing as well as keeping their hands away from their face and the importance of coughing into their sleeves. Wash/sanitize hands afterwards. I would encourage formal, scheduled trips to the BR to wash hands and whenever necessary.
- Place a small table with sanitizer bottles at the entrance ways of the school buildings.
- Pepare and distribute a letter to parents asking them to keep their children home if they have a cough, fever, headache. If someone in the family has the same signs and symptoms the children should also stay home until the illness by the family member is confirmed not to be Swine flu.
- Please the attached sign in key locations and encourage staff and families to take them and post at home as a reminder. Wash hands prior to and returning from work/school/play.
- Get plenty of rest, eat well and exercise.
- Open windows for better movement of air, when and if possible.
- Minimize social gatherings. The canceling of social events may come as a formal recommendation via the CDC in the very near future.
- Minimize handshakes and social kissing.
Helpful documents:
Hand washing for Schools.
Hand washing for Businesses.