Swine Flu Precautions In Schools

dungeon

I heard somewhere that the HSE were to provode schools with similar solutions to hand hygiene as those found entering and leaving hospitals. Apparently, each class was to be provided with the hand scrub.
I have heard no more about it and as far as I know, schools have heard nothing either. Schools are reopening very soon so perhaps the HSE has it all under control - or perhaps not?
Has anybodyelse heard any updates?

sunstar

there is going to be an emphasise placed on cleanliness and as far as i can see the department of health are going to play it by ear and deal with an outbreak of swine in a school as it happens.

overmantle

Not good enough. Schools have enough to contend with at the start of each school year. At the very least HSE or Department of Education and Science needs to do is to organise similar precautions for hand cleaning as in hospitals. Talking about 'putting an emphasis on cleanliness' is passing the buck and literally, washing THEIR hands of it. The schools need support and direction here.

byhookorbycrook

we were quoted about €10 for a 1L bottle of hand antiseptic. No sign of HSE or DES coughing up (no pun intended. ) Will the HSE stand at each gate each morning to ensure each child uses this correctly?1 bottle into 475 children obviously doesn't go, it will fall to parents again to make the shortfall up and once again the DES will be off the hook.

What happens in a child presents with symptoms at school?Do we sned them home?If the parents are at work and unavailable where does the child go?Into one of those many spare rooms every school has, supplied with a school nurse:mad:

DES as usual dragging the heels.

Nevyn

I can't see it making a blind bit of difference making kids wash their hand on coming into the school. A person can have swine flu for 5 days before they have any symptoms and kids are kids and sit in close proximity, all a school can do it wait and see and if it hits deal with it then.

dungeon

Thaedydal wrote: »

I can't see it making a blind bit of difference making kids wash their hand on coming into the school. A person can have swine flu for 5 days before they have any symptoms and kids are kids and sit in close proximity, all a school can do it wait and see and if it hits deal with it then.

The problem is - who is going to have to 'deal with it'?? The HSE and Department of Education haven't exactly covered themselves in glory here and it's clearly being left to the schools to 'deal with it'.
Schools are not being given any extra financial support here to, 'deal with it'. If schools make no effort to 'deal with it' before it hits, where will the finger be pointed at?? - Yes, the school.
I also feel that a proper campaign of advice is needed in the media before schools reopen. It may also be a good idea to have a team of people to visit schools and talk to children about the helpful precautions. This woulld make a far greater impact and stand out for the children as being something that needs to be taken notice of. Another alternative is to put something online that could be shown to all the children on their first day back. Whatever it is, it is not being adequately dealt with at the moment and I say shame on the HSE and the Department of Education.

Myhairspray

As parents, we need to inform our children of what to do and not to do in order to help out the schools. We shouldn't panic though but just advise our kids about using a tissue, covering their mouths when coughing and washing their hands.

Lulu0706

As far as i know the HSE have launched a "catch it, bin it, kill it" and children are encouraged to wash their hands regularly and shown how to wash their hands and to cough away from people....this was in one school in Cork but I presume other schools were given the same info as this one. hope this helps....

overmantle

Yeah, that seems to be the slogan.

Nevyn

I got notes home with my two saying something similar, listing the symptoms of swine flu
and the hse flu information line number freephone 1800 94 11 00 and that visitors to the school are to be restricted.

overmantle

If visitors to schools are to be restricted, what about the Lisbon 2 Referendum?

overmantle

That's supposed to be on Friday 2nd October. Will this mean that many voters will stay away?

Fairdues

It would be brilliant if this didn't take hold. Hospitals have had huge initiatives, restricting visiting, hand gels etc etc to prevent the spread of bugs. Schools should be given every support available but it sounds as though it has been left to them to cope as well as they can.