Information for parents / guardians and students on infection control – Pandemic A (H1N1) a.k.a Swine Flu
In order to minimise the impact of swine flu on the school community, this leaflet is being distributed to students and parents in Lucan Community College.
The swine flu virus can spread easily from person to person.
Symptoms include:
A grid contrasting the differences between the swine flu and a common cold is shown below.
The basic message for students, i.e., your children, is -
If you cough or sneeze catch it, bin it, kill it!
• Turn your head away from others.
• Use a clean tissue to cover your mouth and nose. Every student should always carry a packet of tissues.
• In the event of not getting a tissue on time: sneeze into inside of elbow (to avoid contact with hands).
• Dispose of tissue in bin (after single use).
• Wash and dry hands or use a sanitiser (ONLY for use on hands). Sanitisers have been placed in most classrooms around the school.
• If a student gets sick with a flu-like illness they must at home for seven days from the onset of symptoms.
• Please inform the school of the student’s illness!
• Phone your doctor if you are worried. The HSE Flu Information Line is 1800 94 11 00
• If a student presents with flu-like symptoms at Lucan Community College, he/ she will be isolated until she can be collected by you.
It is our moral and social obligation to act sensibly to prevent the spread of infection, and to protect our students / children. It is important that no one gets unduly worried or upset about swine flu. In talking to your children, our focus should be on good hand and respiratory hygiene and the fact that most people make a full recovery.
Please be clear as to whether your child is in a high risk category, i.e., people who have: chronic lung, heart, kidney, liver, or neurological disease; people
whose immune system is reduced by disease or medications; people with diabetes mellitus; people on medication for asthma, severely obese people (body mass index more than 40), pregnant women and people with haemoglobinopathies...
More information is available at the school office and the Department of Health and Children www.dohc.ie
What are the differences between Pandemic (H1 N1) 2009 influenza and the common cold?
It can sometimes be difficult to distinguish between the common cold and flu. The main difference is that the symptoms of influenza come on rapidly and are typically accompanied by muscle aches and a fever. The common cold has a more gradual onset and is associated with a runny nose and sneezing. For a full list of differences between Pandemic (Hi Ni) 2009 and the common cold, please see table below.
How does Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 spread?
Flu virus spreads from person to person mainly through the coughing or sneezing of a sick person. Flu virus may also be spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with the virus (for example a tissue or door handle touched by the infected person) and then touches his or her eyes, nose, or mouth. This virus is not transmitted by eating pork or pork products.
Symptoms |
Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 |
Common Cold |
Onset |
Sudden |
Slow |
Fever |
Characteristically High |
Rare |
Headache |
Prominent |
Rare |
General aches and pains |
Usual, often severe |
Rare |
Fatigue, weakness |
Can be prolonged |
Quite mild |
Extreme exhaustion |
Early and prominent |
Never |
Runny nose |
Common |
Common |
Sneezing |
Common |
Usual |
Sore throat |
Common |
Common |
Cough |
Common, can be severe |
Mild to moderate, hacking cough |
Diarrhoea, vomiting |
Sometimes |
Not associated with the common cold in adults |
What should I do as a parent?
Two important actions to protect your family:
1. Be aware of the symptoms of flu-like illness and know where to seek medical care. See below.
2. Teach your children the following good health habits to help stop spread of germs: