Pandemic Flu Response San Mateo County Office of Education Special Education Services October, 2009

Why Plan? Minimize disruptions Minimize disruptions Protect health and safety of employees and families Protect health and safety of employees and families Limit negative impact to community, economy, society Limit negative impact to community, economy, society

Pandemic Flu Can Get Out of Control

SMCOE Pandemic Influenza Flu Plan Superintendent – Contact Command for all public and private schools in San Mateo County with: Superintendent – Contact Command for all public and private schools in San Mateo County with: San Mateo County Health System San Mateo County Health System

Key Components of the Plan Coordination Coordination Communication Communication Prevention and Education Prevention and Education Monitoring and Assessment Monitoring and Assessment Responsiveness Responsiveness

Alert Levels Green Coordinate and plan Pandemic Influenza Response Plan Yellow Manage and monitor Implement prevention Red Respond and communicate Operate essential services Black Respond and communicate Operate essential services Self-protection strategies

Surveillance Level I Standard>10% Monitor and log daily attendance, Track absences due to flu-like symptoms – report to program Level II Heightened 10%- 30% Monitor and log daily attendance Daily “flu check” 1 st hour of class Screen for symptoms Weekly Absence Report to SMCOE Level III Intensive < 30% Monitor daily attendance, lot Daily Absence Report to SMCOE Prepare for possible closure

What Triggers a Level Change? A local outbreak = fewer than 10% A local outbreak = fewer than 10% Prevention letter out to parents Prevention letter out to parents Daily Census Log – Monitored at Program Level Daily Census Log – Monitored at Program Level A local outbreak of 10% to 30% A local outbreak of 10% to 30% Weekly Absence Report to SMCOE Weekly Absence Report to SMCOE Letter to parents – Stay home if sick Letter to parents – Stay home if sick Local outbreak of more than 30% Local outbreak of more than 30% School Closure letter and Media Release School Closure letter and Media Release LEVEL 1 LEVEL 2 LEVEL 3

What can programs do to prepare for flu? What can programs do to prepare for flu? Review the SMCIE Flu Plan Review the SMCIE Flu Plan Update contact information Update contact information Be aware of underlying health conditions Be aware of underlying health conditions Have back up plans when staff are sick Have back up plans when staff are sick Identify a site contact person Identify a site contact person Have a place for sick student(s) Have a place for sick student(s) Distribute informational materials Distribute informational materials Help families understand their role and the importance of a backup plan Help families understand their role and the importance of a backup plan

Teacher Responsibilities Monitor health of students Monitor health of students Monitor student absences Monitor student absences Probe for reasons for absence Probe for reasons for absence Instruct students and staff on health procedures Instruct students and staff on health procedures Provide information to parents and staff Provide information to parents and staff Stay healthy Stay healthy

What are Prevention Strategies? Education Education Students Students Staff Staff Families Families Healthy procedures (hand washing, etc.) Healthy procedures (hand washing, etc.) Social Distancing Social Distancing

Ideas and Resources SMCOE letter for parents – Preventing Flu (to be sent when notified by SMCOE). SMCOE letter for parents – Preventing Flu (to be sent when notified by SMCOE). Website resources Website resources Posters, classroom supplies Posters, classroom supplies Para training materials Para training materials Sample “Daily Health Check” Sample “Daily Health Check” Other? Other?

Special Circumstances Field trips Field trips Group activities with close proximity Group activities with close proximity Other situations with high contact Other situations with high contact Consider limiting outside contact unless necessary to protect the health students, staff and community Consider limiting outside contact unless necessary to protect the health students, staff and community

What is a Daily Health Check? A Daily Health Check is a process whereby staff observe all students during the first hour of class to monitor possible flu symptoms. A Daily Health Check is a process whereby staff observe all students during the first hour of class to monitor possible flu symptoms. The purpose of a Daily Health Check is to be able to respond appropriately to student needs and monitor possible illness. The purpose of a Daily Health Check is to be able to respond appropriately to student needs and monitor possible illness.

Questions? What questions do you have about... What questions do you have about... SMCOE Pandemic Influenza Flu Plan? SMCOE Pandemic Influenza Flu Plan? Your responsibilities? Your responsibilities? Other? Other?

Website Resources SMCOE Website: SMCOE Website: SMCOE Newsletter: SMCOE Newsletter: San Mateo County Health System San Mateo County Health System Flu Hotline (650) Flu Hotline (650)