ESCCO H1N1 Information

The Educational Service Center is committed to the safety and well being of our students and staff. As part of this commitment, it is our goal to be prepared in event of a health-related emergency. Contained within this document is guidance on the procedures the ESC of Central Ohio will follow in response to the novel H1N1 virus. Information contained within this document is based on recommendations and guidelines established by the US Centers for Disease Control, the World Health Organization, the Ohio Department of Health, and the Franklin county Board of Health.

Recommended Strategies for Minimal or No H1N1 Flu Occurrence Will Include:

- Education and encouragement of students and staff to cover their mouth and nose with a tissue when they cough or sneeze. Convenient access to tissues and running water and soap or alcohol-based hand cleaners will be maintained. Reminders will be posted to encourage both students and staff to cover coughs or sneezes using their elbow instead of their hand when a tissue is not available. 

- Teachers, staff, and students will be reminded to practice good hand hygiene and the time and supplies for them to wash their hands as often as necessary will be provided. 

- Sick students, teachers, and staff will be sent home and advised to stay at home until at least 24 hours after they no longer have a fever or signs of a fever (without the use of fever-reducing medicine).

- Cleaning of surfaces and items that are more likely to have frequent hand contact such as desks, door knobs, keyboards, or pens, will be done frequently with an effective cleaning agents (Note: CDC recommends standard household cleaners).

- Students, teachers, and staff will be moved to a separate room if they become sick at school until they can be sent home. The number of staff caring for the affected person will be limited and a surgical mask will be provided for the sick person to wear. 

- Early medical evaluation will be encouraged for sick students and staff at higher risk of complications from flu.

Ongoing and consistent communication with local and state public health officials will be maintained. Please see links to the right for more information. 

As additional news becomes available, this page will be the central location for all ESC of Central Ohio information related to the H1N1 Flu.

Information may be found at the following H1N1 Related Web sites:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention http://www.cdc.gov/FluSchoolDismissal
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services http://www.flu.gov/
Center for Disease Control:  http://www.cdc.gov
World Health Organization:  http://www.who.int/en/

Franklin County Board of Health:  http://www.co.franklin.oh.us/board_of_health/
Delaware County Board of Health:  http://www.delawarehealth.org/
Union County Board of Health:  http://www.uchd.net/
The Ohio Department of Education:  http://www.ode.state.oh.us/