“swine flu” alert Influenza A type H1N1

Letter from school :

"I am writing further to my previous communication of 28th April 2009 to update you on the situation regarding swine flu and the action the School is taking.

The Critical Incident Management Team (CIMT), whose responsibility is to manage critical incidents when they arise, is monitoring the situation on a daily basis to ensure that the school is taking the appropriate actions. Monitoring includes external agencies such as WHO, DCSF, HPA, www.direct.gov.uk/swineflu

and internal sources. Assessments are being undertaken on a daily basis on the key issues such as field trips, school events, hygiene and cleaning. Our response takes into account both external advice and our internal assessments. A summary of the actions currently being undertaken is below:

1. Communications
a. Daily internal communications monitoring the situation remain.
b. Regular updates to Parents advising them of the current situation.
2. Campus Access
a. Students, parents and staff who have visited Mexico should wait 7 days after leaving Mexico before returning to campus. This is the advice from the Health Protection Agency (HPA). After this period, they should return to campus provided they are not showing any of the symptoms listed below.
3. Educational delivery
a. Remains as normal.
b. Any students who are restricted because of visiting Mexico to be contacted by the school and home-based study work provided.
4. Extra-curricular programme
a. Remains as normal except see 2 above.
5. Field Trips / sports events off campus
a. Remains restricted. Risk assessments are undertaken for each trip on an individual basis. Trips off campus will only take place where the risk assessments identify the risk as low.
b. Any changes will be notified as soon as possible.
6. Staff issues
a. See 2 above regarding campus access. Otherwise normal working continues.
b. Staff with any symptoms (see below) are instructed to stay at home, seek medical advice and inform the school.
7. Emergency care
a. School and Departments are publicising the need for and encouraging high levels of hygiene, e.g. thorough hand washing, using tissues if coughing or sneezing and disposing of tissues carefully.
b. School nurses are monitoring the situation at campuses.
8. School transport
a. All bus routes run as normal.
b. See 2 above regarding bus drivers' access to campus.
c. Transport Managers have advised all drivers displaying symptoms below that they should not transport students unless they have received medical clearance.
9. School operations/catering etc.
a. Remains as normal, with added emphasis on hygiene, see 7 above.

• If students, parents and staff show any flu symptoms (see below) they should:

o Inform the school
o Stay at home and seek medical advice.

Advice from medical sources indicate symptoms may include:
o High fever
o Extreme fatigue
o Nausea and vomiting
o Headaches and muscle and/or joint pain
o Respiratory problems
o Diarrhea and dehydration.
o (Note, this list is not exhaustive)

• Everyone should continue to take general hygiene measures including:
o Covering your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing and sneezing
o Disposing of tissues carefully
o Washing hands regularly and thoroughly with soap and water
o Avoiding touching your eyes, nose and mouth etc.
o Wash surfaces regularly with disinfectant.

A number of additional steps are being taken as precautionary measures in the event that the response level increases in response to a growing pandemic.

• Should the school decide or be asked to close, the school will provide you with early notification through the telephone number you have registered for the clarion call system.
• This will be followed by an email communication providing further details.
• Ongoing regular updates will be provided.
• Additionally, an emergency educational website has been prepared, as a precaution, in the event of school closure, to provide students work assignments remotely for home learning.

The school will continue to provide regular updates to help the community respond to this situation as it develops. Your attention is also drawn to the advice from the UK Government who is currently undertaking a leaflet door-drop to every home. The leaflet is entitled “important information about swine flu”. This leaflet, together with other information can be found at www.direct.gov.uk/swineflu

We will continue to provide regular updates to help the community respond to this situation as it develops.