Flu Information

Dallas ISD H1N1 Plan

The Dallas Independent School District, in conjunction with the Centers for Disease Control and Dallas County Health and Human Services, is preparing for a potential challenge this fall dealing with H1N1 Influenza. Specific steps are being taken to protect students and staff from the flu, with the goal to minimize disruption of learning activities at every campus.

At each campus, the following will take place:

• Hygiene training for students regarding covering coughs and sneezes, washing hands, using instant hand sanitizer, social distancing, and reporting when they feel sick.
• Ensure an adequate supply of soap and paper towels in rest rooms.
• Ensure an adequate supply of tissues and instant hand sanitizer in classrooms.
• Ensure that water fountains, doorknobs, sinks, toilet bowls, cafeteria tables, and computer keyboards are disinfected daily.
• Training school staff to recognize the physical symptoms of the flu.

If a student is identified as having flu-like symptoms, such as fever, headache, cough, sore throat, muscle aches, that student will be separated from other students and will be sent home. Parents should plan ahead and have arrangements made to care for students who may be sent home and need to stay out of school for a week or longer.

Health care officials strongly recommend that all adults receive both the seasonal flu vaccine now and the H1N1 vaccine when available. Consult your physician or clinic as to when your child should receive the flu vaccines. Contact your school nurse regarding questions about the flu.

Excused Absences

To excuse student absences due to illness, the principal must receive a written excuse signed by the student’s parent or guardian no later than three days after the student returns to school. There is no requirement that a note signed by a doctor be submitted.

Further information can be found at the following links:

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
  http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/
• U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
  http://www.flu.gov/
• Texas Department of State Health Services
  www.dshs.state.tx.us/txflu
• Dallas County Health and Human Services
  http://www.dallascounty.org/department/hhservices/SeasonalInfluenza.html#AdditionalInformation