Flu strikes Head Start
Jenni Garcia
Issue date: 10/26/09 Section: News
The latest student case of the H1N1 virus at the Brookhaven College Head Start Center was diagnosed Oct. 7. There have been a total of nine Head Start students diagnosed with swine flu, Christina Deleon, health assistant of Head Start, said.
CDC's Advisory Committee recommended all people from 6 months through 24 years of age should get vaccinated. With many children in school or day care settings in close contact, the likelihood of disease spread increases.Anita Jackson, site manager of the Head Start Center, said every morning she carries out procedures when children arrive at school. She said she makes sure the children appear to be in good physical health.
"This is more like a visual check," Jackson said. "If I notice something unusual after doing a check, I send them home."
She said the teachers and other staff members also check the students. If she discovers a student has a fever, Jackson said the student is then isolated into a separate room where the nurse monitors the student through a window until the parents come to take the child home.
Christina Deleon, medical assistant, said the isolation of the student is an act of precaution. When a student is diagnosed with swine flu, Deleon said she has to use gloves and a mask to check the student. Jackson said after the infected child has left the school, the area must be disinfected.
Jackson said, "We try to have the sick kids out and the healthy ones in." She said out of 152 students, the most to be absent in one day was 33.
According to Dallas County Health and Human Services, if a child has flu or any symptoms of flu, the child should remain at home and parents should notify the school the same day so the employees know to take necessary precautions.
Jackson said the school is taking as many precautions as possible. Teachers wash their hands frequently and use hand sanitizer. Teachers also instruct students about how to properly cover their coughs or sneezes. Parents are encouraged to have everyone in their families vaccinated.
Precautions are not just taken with the children, Deleon said. She also said the same precautions are followed by the Head Start staff.
"We need our staff here to operate regardless of the number of students we have in a day," Jackson said.
She said when a child or staff member of Head Start has the flu or even a fever, they must go home and not return back until they have been fever free for 24 hours and are finished with their prescriptions.
Ortensia Ricano, Head Start parent, said he's worried his son could catch the virus from other children. Castano said he has had tried to vaccinate his child, but could not because the vaccine ran out. He said his son missed eight days of school because he had contracted the seasonal flu.
CDC's Advisory Committee recommended all people from 6 months through 24 years of age should get vaccinated. With many children in school or day care settings in close contact, the likelihood of disease spread increases.Anita Jackson, site manager of the Head Start Center, said every morning she carries out procedures when children arrive at school. She said she makes sure the children appear to be in good physical health.
"This is more like a visual check," Jackson said. "If I notice something unusual after doing a check, I send them home."
She said the teachers and other staff members also check the students. If she discovers a student has a fever, Jackson said the student is then isolated into a separate room where the nurse monitors the student through a window until the parents come to take the child home.
Christina Deleon, medical assistant, said the isolation of the student is an act of precaution. When a student is diagnosed with swine flu, Deleon said she has to use gloves and a mask to check the student. Jackson said after the infected child has left the school, the area must be disinfected.
Jackson said, "We try to have the sick kids out and the healthy ones in." She said out of 152 students, the most to be absent in one day was 33.
According to Dallas County Health and Human Services, if a child has flu or any symptoms of flu, the child should remain at home and parents should notify the school the same day so the employees know to take necessary precautions.
Jackson said the school is taking as many precautions as possible. Teachers wash their hands frequently and use hand sanitizer. Teachers also instruct students about how to properly cover their coughs or sneezes. Parents are encouraged to have everyone in their families vaccinated.
Precautions are not just taken with the children, Deleon said. She also said the same precautions are followed by the Head Start staff.
"We need our staff here to operate regardless of the number of students we have in a day," Jackson said.
She said when a child or staff member of Head Start has the flu or even a fever, they must go home and not return back until they have been fever free for 24 hours and are finished with their prescriptions.
Ortensia Ricano, Head Start parent, said he's worried his son could catch the virus from other children. Castano said he has had tried to vaccinate his child, but could not because the vaccine ran out. He said his son missed eight days of school because he had contracted the seasonal flu.
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