The Virginian-Pilot
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School divisions in South Hampton Roads are dusting off pandemic flu plans from several years ago as they take precautionary measures against swine flu.
“We’re in good shape,” said Richard Ponti, director of safe schools and risk management for Virginia Beach schools.
The city’s health department and school officials met Wednesday afternoon to discuss pandemic flu plans. Like other cities, the Beach initially developed its plan two years ago in preparation for a possible avian flu pandemic.
All of the school divisions in South Hampton Roads said they have been collaborating with their local health departments on flu plans. Any decisions to close schools would be made in consultation with the health department, said Norfolk schools spokeswoman Jennifer Francis.
With no local cases of swine flu reported, schools are focusing on prevention.
Suffolk school officials sent principals and department heads an e-mail on Tuesday with tips for preventing the spread of flu, spokeswoman Bethanne Bradshaw said. Frequent hand washing and staying home when sick were among the recommendations.
Chesapeake sent an automated phone message to parents that called for calm and reminded parents to encourage healthy eating, sleeping and hygiene habits among their children.
In Virginia Beach, custodians got an extra reminder this week to clean and wipe down exposed surfaces and keep bathrooms stocked with soap and paper towels, said Danny Anglin, coordinator of safe schools.
School nurses are monitoring students and staff for flulike symptoms. Those who are sick are being sent home and referred to their doctor, said Mary Shaw, coordinator of health services and nurses for Beach schools. Shaw is tracking reports of illnesses and sharing them with city health officials.
“It’s not uncommon to still see regular flu-type symptoms at this time of year,” Shaw said.
In Portsmouth, nurses monitor student illnesses daily , spokeswoman Sharon Harris said. Those reports are submitted to the Portsmouth Health Department. Information is also being posted online for parents and others.
In Virginia Beach, both www.vbschools.com and www.vbgov.com have posted links to frequently asked questions about swine flu.
Pilot writers Hattie Brown Garrow, Cheryl Ross and Alicia P.Q. Wittmeyer contributed to this report.
Lauren Roth, (757) 222-5133, lauren.roth@pilotonline.com.
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Nothing to fear but fear itself.
OK folks, now's the time to get a grip on this. It all starts in your mind! Free, simple and inexpensive. Whatever you focus on you will attract into your life. THEREFORE - take precautions, walk gently and stop obsessing over this. DON'T BUY INTO THE FEAR! FEAR IS THE REAL PANDEMIC. Fear keeps people down, stuck and disempowered. Nobody needs that now.
TURN OFF THE TV.
????
what does swine flu have to do with welfare...90% of workin americans are on welfare
Not drinkable
Hand sanitizer is 60-80 percent ethyl alcohol. The same alcohol that's in liqour. That makes hand sanitizer 120-160 proof, and is the reason why it's banned in jails - and many schools.
It's denatured alcohol. You could drink it I suppose if you like vomiting and blindness.
iqdou
Hand sanitizer is 60-80 percent ethyl alcohol. The same alcohol that's in liqour. That makes hand sanitizer 120-160 proof, and is the reason why it's banned in jails - and many schools.
this and that
hand sanitizers would not help at all. all they do is kill off the bacteria on your hands designed to defend against intruders. use soap, once you santize you have natural protection from the virus.
as far as soap and paper towels, many of you have not set foot in a public school in a while. schools cannot afford to put these things in bathrooms, not because of money but because of the time it takes to clean up after kids stuff the sinks full of paper towels and leave the water running, they break the soap containers, they throw wet paper towels on the ceiling. if your kid wants to dry their hands pull out the TP and get busy. you will not see any additional paper towels or soap in any public school bathrooms for that reason.
Jumping all over the place....
that's Ivy for ya....take everything out of context and make it something else. Do you wait for Obama to call you and tell you 'goodnight' before you get in bed, too?
Good info
Thank you for the information. I appreciated the phone call from the Chesapeake schools my children attend. The increased efforts at keeping the schools clean is an excellent precaution and I'm confident the hard working custodial staffs in Chesapeake are doing their part to minimize this virus. For those complaining about the supplies, how about sending some hand sanitizers for teachers to use in the classroom. We do this on a regular basis and the teachers certainly appreciate the contribution to the class.
Not really
Third world countries can do better than this.
Not the ones I've been too.
how ironic
That Portsmouth can spend 50 million on welfare yet can't put soap and paper towels in the school bathrooms. Third world countries can do better than this.
iqdou, you're kidding right?
"it's amazing how much government has intruded into our lives to 'protect' us from ourselves. gone are the days when little johnny or jane just suffered the consequences of their own stupidity -- even if it was death."
You're kidding, right? So govt is at fault for trying to protect us? Guess we don't need the FAA, FDA, CDC, National Highway Safety Commission, etc. People are so scared of govt that we go to extremes and get downright irrational. Next time you step on a plane or take a prescription drug, thank govt for having some controls in place to make sure you and little Johnny are safe. Or go to Mexico and get your prescriptions if you don't want govt to be involved in your safety. Then you can "suffer the consequences of your own stupidity."