Officials' advice: Don't let swine flu crash the camp

School may be out, but summer camp is in session, and the Virginia Department of Health is advising camp directors to screen children and staff for flu-like symptoms.

The swine flu, or H1N1, is continuing its spread across the commonwealth, so health officials have made these recommendations to camp directors:

- Provide education to campers, parents and staff about symptoms, which include fever, cough and sore throat.

- Consider screening all newly arrived campers and staff.

- Separate campers with the symptoms from the general population and keep them away from others until they can return home or be taken for medical care if needed.

- Exclude campers and staff members with the symptoms from the camp a minimum of seven days after the onset of symptoms, or for 24 hours after symptoms have disappeared - whichever is longer.

- Discourage visitors who have flu-like symptoms from visiting the camp.

- Maintain up-to-date contact information for parents or guardians to make sure someone can pick up children if they're ill.

- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advises parents and guardians to ask in advance what the camp's

policy is if their children or others start showing flu-like symptoms. If your child gets sick, how will arrangements be made for treatment or for the family to take the child home?

Parents also should teach their children good habits, such as covering their nose and mouth with a tissue when they cough or sneeze, washing hands often with soap and water, and avoiding touching their eyes, nose or mouth.

Elizabeth Simpson, (757) 446-2635, elizabeth.simpson@pilotonline.com