Hernando, MS—
FAST FACTS
- Scientists, Others Concerned About Upcoming Flu Season
- Schools Working Extra Hard to Disinfect Surfaces
- Mississippi School Nurses Getting Extra Training
Dennis.turner@wreg.com
(Hernando, MS 8/5/2009) School starts in the next couple of weeks for students all over the mid-south, and this year there's one extra concern.
Some fear this year's flu season could be extra bad, and that the H1N1 or "Swine" flu may complicate matters.
Parents like Michael Ann Dillinger know germs are everywhere and people bring more with them wherever they go, so you might think she'd be a little nervous about the start of school. She's not. "I know this is probably a lot cleaner than a lot of places that you go to, like the grocery store and things like that and they're always here cleaning." she said.
With the start of school just around the corner, schools are working harder than ever to get cleaned and ready, especially knowing the concerns many have about flu season in general and in swine flu H1N1 in general. "We're just giving things our regular cleaning process, cleaning door handles and doorknobs and making sure they're washed down and bleached," said Hernando Hills Elementary Principal Stephanie Gilder.
And the action here isn't just taking place in the hallways and classrooms.
DeSoto County has 16 school nurses that have just returned from the State Capitol for special training in dealing with and preventing swine flu.
And not only do schools have the knowledge to deal with this virus this year, they're also working to make sure they have the tools to help students deal with all kinds of bad germs. "Anytime they leave the classroom or enter the classroom they have the hand sanitizer there at the door available for them to enter and leave as well as standing at the restroom even though they're using the soap and water we have hand sanitizer for them to use as well," said Gilder.
She hopes this double dose of germ killers, and good common sense will lessen the chance of anybody getting or spreading the H1N1 virus.
Some parents say they know the risks and are taking similar action at home. "We talk about hand washing in general whether there are home or church or anywhere else that's just something we teach," said Dillinger.
So aside from the three R's, Students across the Mid-South will have another lesson to learn, how to stay healthy and flu free this fall.
For more information in Mississippi, Call:
Missississippi Department of Education 601-359-1336
Missississippi Department of Health 601-576-7667
