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H1N1 Questions and Answers H1N1 Questions and Answers

Information and Action Steps for Parents to Protect Your Child and Family from the Flu this School Year form the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:

Q.  What is H1N1/Swine Flu?

H1N1 Flu is a new influenza that is causing illness in people. It was first diagnosed in the United States in April 2009 and is thought to spread in much the same way that regular seasonal flu spreads—through coughing or sneezing by an infected person.

Q. What can families, students, and school personnel do to keep from getting sick and spreading flu?

Families, students, and school staff can keep from getting sick with flu in three ways:

    1. Practicing good hand hygiene. Students and staff members should wash their hands often with soap and water, especially after coughing or sneezing. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.
    2. Practicing respiratory etiquette. The main way that the flu spreads is from person to person in the droplets produced by coughs and sneezes, so it’s important to cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. If you don’t have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your elbow or shoulder, not into your hands.
    3. Staying home if you’re sick. Keeping sick students at home means that they keep their viruses to themselves rather than sharing them with others.

Q. What is the best way to practice good hand hygiene?

Washing your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds (the time it takes to sing “Happy Birthday” twice) is the best way to keep your hands from spreading the virus.

Alcohol-based hand cleaners containing at least 60% alcohol are also effective.

If soap and water or alcohol based products are not available, other hand sanitizers that do not contain alcohol may be useful for cleaning hands. However, they may not be as effective as alcohol-based sanitizers.

Q. How do I recognize a fever or signs of a fever?

A fever is a temperature taken with a thermometer that is equal to or greater than 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius). If you are not able to measure a temperature, the sick person might have a fever if he or she:

    • feels warm,
    • has a flushed appearance, or
    • is sweating or shivering.

Q. What can a parent do to prepare for flu during the 2009-2010 school year?

    1. Plan for child care at home if your child gets sick (for a minimum of 5 school days).
    2. Plan to monitor the health of the sick child and any other children by checking for fever and other symptoms of flu.
    3. Update emergency contact lists.
    4. Identify a separate room in the house for care of sick family members. Consider designating a single person as the main caregiver for anyone who gets sick.
    5. Pull together games, books, DVDs and other items to keep your family entertained while at home.
    6. Get your family vaccinated for seasonal flu and 2009 H1N1 flu when vaccines are available.

Q. Should family members of sick students stay home too?

Not unless the flu conditions are determined to be more severe. If flu conditions are more severe, school-aged children should also stay home for 5 days from the time someone in their home became sick. It is possible that family members could already be sick with flu and not be showing symptoms yet. The 5-day period provides enough time to know if anyone else is sick with flu. Parents should continue to monitor their health and the health of the sick child, as well as the health of their other children.

Q.  What should I do if I or my children become ill?

If you or your children become ill with influenza-like symptoms, including fever, body aches, runny nose, sore throat, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea, you may want to contact your health care provider particularly if you are worried about the symptoms. Your health care provider will determine whether influenza testing or treatment is needed. If you or your children are sick, stay home and avoid contact with other people as much as possible to keep from spreading illness to others. As a parent, it's recommended that you have a plan in place to care for your children if they become ill and must stay home.

Q.  Who can I call if I have a question in the middle of the night or on a weekend?

Please call the NYS State 24-hour Question Hotline: 1-800-808-1987