School Preparedness In the Spotlight
School nurses--Our First Responders
Pandemic H1N1 Influenza Virus
No one knows for certain what the pandemic H1N1 influenza virus will do once the ’09-’10 school year gets under way but one thing is for sure, there is a wealth of information available to help schools prepare! It is essential that schools understand the virus, that children appear to be at greater risk for contracting and spreading the virus and are therefore a target population for vaccination, and the role that schools will play in monitoring, mitigation, and vaccination procedures this fall.
- H1N1: Responding to an outbreak in New York City schools
Lessons Learned from school crises and emergencies from the U.S. Department of Education – Readiness and Emergency Management for Schools (REMS) Technical Center - Difference Between Cold and Flu Symptoms
Lists some of the general differences between cold and flu symptoms in a 1 page table format. From the Kansas Department of Health & Environment. - H1N1 Flu (Swine Flu): Resources for Child Care Programs, Schools, Colleges, and Universities
Updated guidance for K-12 schools for the fall flu season from the CDC. - Flu.gov School Planning
One stop access to U.S. Government H1N1, avian, and pandemic flu information. - H1N1 Flu Information
From the U.S Department of Education, including recommendations for continuity of learning during school dismissals.. - 2009 Novel Influenza A H1N1 Information
Updated information from the Pennsylvania Department of Health including recent case counts and the power point slides from a joint webinar with the Pennsylvania Department of Education on H1N1 and schools. - School Dismissal Monitoring
The CDC and ED are implementing a school dismissal monitoring system for the ’09-’10 school year. This document contains FAQs related to that system and links to find further information and the reporting form. - 2009 Flu Summit
Watch the School Preparedness Panel Discussion to hear real-world experiences dealing with H1N1 in schools. Part of the H1N1 Flu Preparedness Summit. - Guidance for School (K-12) Responses to Influenza During the 2009-2010 School Year
Updated guidance to schools from the Pennsylvania Department of Health, includes a Flu Symptom Checklist for School Staff.
About the Program
The UPCPHP, the Pennsylvania Department of Health (PADOH) , and the National Association of School Nurses (NASN) recognize school nurses as first responders to all public health emergencies.
Therefore, we partner to provide key training to school personnel in planning for and responding to emergencies in schools. To date, approximately 810 school nurses in Pennsylvania have completed a day-long training specific to their role in disasters. An addition, 150 K-12 school personnel, such as administrators, security directors, counselors, and transportation directors, have been trained to the National Incident Management System standards established by Homeland Security Presidential Directive #5. Team training is also provided in "Responding to Public Health Emergencies in Schools." More trainings are scheduled for 2008 - 2009.
See Courses and Training for upcoming training dates. Contact us to schedule a training in your area.
In addition to school nurses, UPCPHP has expanded its training to include other school personel, such as administrators.
The partnership has spawned several more activities including:
- Action Guide to Protect Mental Health in Schools During Disasters (View pdf of Action Guide)
- CE-accredited online course for school nurses (LMS)
- An action chart for school nurses based on Department of Homeland Security color codes (View pdf of Color Code Guide).
Additional Resources
All resources have been reviewed and recommended by UPCPHP.
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