Pandemic Outbreak Management Measures

A school district’s ability to keep their students and staff safe and healthy is dependent on knowledge regarding pandemic flu and recommended strategies for illness management. This webpage contains resources and tools to assist with the following:

• Education of the illness prevention strategies with posters and pandemic flu curriculum,
• Awareness of illness outbreaks with surveillance guidelines and tools,
• Implementation of illness management strategies including exclusion criteria,
• School closure resources and tools.

School collaboration with local public health departments, medical providers and emergency management personnel is critical to providing safe and effective care.

Letters and Webcast

• Act 42 Letter to Superintendents (November 13, 2009)
• DHS School Closure Memo (October 30, 2009)
• H1N1 Back to School Letter from DPI, DHS. (August 26, 2009)
• Letter from Secretary Duncan and Secretary Sebelius re: H1N1 Flu Planning (June 11, 2009)
• "Here and Now" , Wisconsin Public Broadcast interview featuring Rachel Gallagher, School Nurse Consultant, WI Dept. Public Instruction (September, 2009)
• "Pandemic: What have we learned?" DPI webcast (September 1, 2009)
• Sample Back to School Parent Letter
  

Pandemic Flu Management

• Get CDC flu guidance for schools automatic updates
• U.S. ED’S FERPA Guidance in Response to H1N1 Flu Outbreak
• Preparing for the Flu: A Communication Toolkit for Schools (Grades K-12) August 2009
• H1N1 and Children - Vaccine and School Guidance August 26, 2009
• Technical Report for State and Local Public Health Officials and School Administrators on CDC Guidance for School (K-12) Responses to Influenza during the 2009-2010 School Year , August 7, 2009
• Q and A regarding H1N1 Management, August, 2009
• Fieldtrip Guidelines During H1N1 Influenza Outbreak
• Surveillance Guidelines
  • Daily Surveillance Tracking Tool
  • Surveillance Tool During Outbreak
  • Symptomatic Surveillance Tool
• Hygiene
  • CDC school materials and posters
    • Cover Your Coughs
    • Ounce of Prevention
    • Stop the Spread
  • MPS – Keep Clean and Healthy - English and Spanish

Vaccination Clinics

• Sample parent letter
• School vaccination checklist

School Closure

• Preparing for the Flu: Department of Education Recommendations to Ensure the Continuity of Learning for Schools (K-12) during Extended Student Absence or School Dismissal
• School/Day Care Center Closure Interim Guidance
• Continued Learning during a School Closure
• Continuity of Education
• School Closure Checklist
• Sample School Closure Order Template
• Sample School Reopening Announcement
• Sample General Parent Letter: Novel Influenza A H1N1/2009.
• Sample School Parent Letter: Notice of Confirmed Case.
• Sample General School Letter: Voluntary School Closure.
• Sample Press Release: Notification of Confirmed Case.
• Sample letters to parents if you have not closed any schools due to H1N1 Influenza; announcing a school closure; sample press releases, and signs.
• Sample letters to parents if you have not closed any schools due to H1N1 Influenza:
  • Sun Prairie
  • Madison Metropolitan School District, English, Spanish, Hmong
• Food and Nutrition Service Pandemic Guidelines
• USDE Guidance on Flexibility and Waivers for SEAs, LEAs, Postsecondary Institutions, and Other Grantee and Program Participants in Responding to Pandemic Influenza (H1N1 Virus), September 2009

Communicable Disease Prevention

Lessons on Communicable Disease Prevention K-12
New K-12 lessons on teaching about communicable disease prevention. Ten lessons, four elementary, three middle, and three high school that present this issue in a highly interactive and engaging way. A great way to bring this important topic to your classroom.


Wisconsin resources

• Wisconsin Local Health Departments
• Department of Health Services
• Wisconsin Pandemic Influenza Information
• Wisconsin Association of School Boards
• Wisconsin School Public Relations Association
• Pandemic Influenza Planning Electronic Toolkit for Wisconsin Schools
• Wisconsin Pandemic Influenza Toolkit for Families

CDC resources

• Center for Disease Control, key facts regarding swine flu (English)
• Center for Disease Control, key facts regarding swine flu (Spanish)
• Seasonal Flu Information for Schools & Childcare Providers
• Center for Disease Control Surveillance website
• Center for Disease Control, Stopping Germs at Home, School, and Work
• Pandemic Influenza Storybook
  This online storybook contains narratives from survivors, families, and friends who lived through the 1918 and 1957 pandemics. Stories from the 1968 pandemic will be added as they become available.

Other Resources

• National Association of School Boards H1N1 Information
• ASCD H1N1 Information
• Know What to Do About the Flu
• Responding to a Crisis
  This site lists a variety of resources and materials for use in crisis prevention and response, including a response checklist, and covering such topics as psychological first aid and coping with traumatic events.
• Schools Helping Students Deal with Loss
  This resource provides specific strategies for helping students deal with loss and build resiliencey.
• Psychological First Aid (PFA) for Students and Teachers: Listen, Protect, Connect--Model & Teach
  This resource focuses upon the response and recovery elements of a school district's pandemic flu plan.
• Michigan Schools Pandemic Planning Workbook and Online Toolkit for Educators
  This resource includes lesson plans at the elementary, middle, and high school levels to help students learn about pandemic flu.
• School Guidance During an Influenza Pandemic, December 2006
• Pandemic Influenza Toolkit for Ohio Schools, January 2007
• Pandemic Influenza Tabletop Exercise: K-12 School Closure as a Disease Containment Measure
• California Division of Public Health and the California Public Schools Pandemic Preparedness
• Pandemic Flu School Action Kit, May 2006, Contra Costa County, California.
• Pandemic Flu Action Kit for Schools in New York State, January 2007.
• Pandemic Influenza - All Hazards Planning for Schools - Minnesota Department of Education
• Emergency Planning Office for Safe and Drug-Free Schools
  U. S. Department of Education Web site suggestions on how schools can prepare for crises including pandemic flu.

  
  For questions about this information, contact Rachel Gallagher (608) 266-8857

  Last updated on 11/16/2009 2:20:08 PM