school preparedness School Preparedness

Additional Resources

All resources have been reviewed and recommended by UPCPHP

Government - PA Specific

A Guide to Infectious Diseases for Schools
Developed by the Allegheny County Health Department, this document “provides information on incubation period and symptoms, method of spread and minimum control measures for selected diseases and conditions which are of public health importance.”

Pennsylvania Department of Health (PADOH) School Health Program

Provides for school age children attending public and non-public schools in Pennsylvania.

"This program prevents and detects health problems, and maintains and improves the health status of students."

PADOH PA Pandemic Flu Preparedness for Schools

School preparedness for pandemic influenza. Also offers a Pennsylvania Pandemic Planning Toolkit of Schools

Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) County EMA Coordinators

Contact list of County EMA Coordinators

PA Department of Education

Map of Pennsylvania School Districts and Intermediate Units

School Emergency Operation Plan - Basic Plan
School Emergency Operation Plan - Checklist

Government

Joint Guidance on the Application of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) to Student Records
Guidance from the US Departments of Education and Health and Human Services on the relationship between FERPA and HIPAA and what it means for schools.  Also has FAQs.

Safe Schools & FERPA
US Department of Education website about FERPA guidance on emergency management for schools.  Various resources including brochures and model disclosure forms.

 

National MRSA Education Initiative: Preventing MRSA Skin Infections

Developed by the CDC, the goal of the initiative is to help people better recognize and prevent MRSA skin infections.  Free materials to download include fact sheets for schools and athletes and consumer educational materials.

Legal Preparedness for School Closures in Response to Pandemic Influenza and Other Emergencies

This report presents a summary description and authors' analyses of express state laws concerning school closure.

Poison Help

Poison Help teaches about poison safety and prevention. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) funds it.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Cover Your Cough poster

Printable form of poster in several languages for health care settings and community & public settings like schools & child care facilities

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Evaluating Patients for Smallpox poster

This poster provides information on evaluation protocol, risk evaluation, comparison of chickenpox (varicella) and smallpox, and comparison of common conditions.

Contra Costa Health Services Pandemic Flu School Action Kit

Includes school action steps, sample letters to parents, and sample media materials in addition to other resources

Department of Homeland Security Fact Sheet: Creating a Culture of Preparedness Among Schools

DHS offers several planning and training resources to help local schools prepare comprehensive all-hazard emergency preparedness plans that are exercised regularly and developed in partnership with their community leaders and first responders.

District of Columbia Department of Health, Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Plan, Prevention and Control of Communicable Disease in the DC School System, pp. 89-99

Includes interim actions for schools based on syndromes to control infectious diseases within the school and preventive measure before & after class resumption in the event of an infectious disease outbreak, in addition to other resources

Iowa Department of Public Health, Pandemic Influenza Planning Guide for Iowa Schools

To assist schools in developing their own pandemic influenza plans, note p.7 for social distancing guidelines to reduce the spread of an infectious disease

List of Emergency Planning resources

U.S. Department of Education - Emergency Planning Resources

Balancing Student Privacy and School Safety: A Guide to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act for Elementary and Secondary Schools

U.S. Department of Education - School officials are regularly asked to balance the interests of safety and privacy for individual students.  Understanding the law empowers school officials to act decisively and quickly when issues arise.

Protecting Children from the Flu

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - Information for Parents, Schools, and Childcare Providers

CDC Pre-Pandemic Planning Guidance

This document provides interim planning guidance for State, territorial, tribal and local communities that focuses on several measures other than vaccination and drug treatment that might be useful during an influenza pandemic to reduce its harm.

Community Measures Prevent Deaths During Pandemic

CDC press release emphasizing the importance of timely closing schools during a pandemic.

 

Non-Profits

American Academy of Pediatrics, Children and Disasters

"The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) is an organization of more than 60,000 pediatricians committed to the attainment of optimal physical, mental, and social health and well-being for all infants, children, adolescents, and young adults."  They have been involved in disaster preparedness for many years and have resources devoted specifically to schools including policy statements.

Infectious Diseases Society of America – Patient Stories

Several stories to read about families who have had a loved one contract Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA)

School Network for Absenteeism Prevention

Healthy Schools, Healthy People - It's a SNAP is a grassroots, education-based effort to improve health by making hand cleaning an integral part of the school day.”  Download a free toolkit to introduce hand cleaning activities into your school.  Established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and The Soap and Detergent Association.

American Association of Poison Control Centers

The American Association of Poison Control Centers (AAPCC), founded in 1958, is a not-for-profit nationwide organization of poison centers and others interested in the prevention and treatment of poisoning. Poison centers provide immediate treatment advice for poison emergencies. They also provide information about poisons and poison prevention, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Childhood Influenza Immunization Coalition

"Established by the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID) to protect infants, children and adolescents from influenza.”  Many free resources available as downloads including practice resources such as a guide for speaking with parents, fact sheets, and posters.  There is also an expert video from the National Association of School Nurses.

Nurse Associations

Pennsylvania State Nurses Association

The PA State Nurses Association, a professional organization, advances the identity, integrity and continuity of the nursing profession by: Providing access to education, improving knowledge and skills; Advocating and supporting the nursing profession with Commonwealth policymakers, legislators and regulators; and Offering valued information and services for professional practice.

Pennsylvania Association of School Nurses and Practitioners (PASNAP)

The mission of the Pennsylvania Association of School Nurses and Practitioners is to provide the structure and leadership necessary to promote unity among all school nurses, to advance the practice of school health and health education, and to provide leadership in the delivery of quality health programs to the school community.

National Association of School Nurses (NASN)

NASN offers its members online resources designed to educate school communities about the dangers of meningococcal disease, help school nurses plan and conduct school-based immunization clinics and respond to media inquiries about meningococcal disease and prevention.

This radio clip being broadcast on American Airlines Sky Radio features Donna Mazyck, NASN President, as she discusses the flu season, as well as ways to fight the flu throughout the school community.

Model School Response Plans and Web sites

Promising Practices: Pandemic Preparedness Tools

This project aims to enhance public health preparedness for an influenza pandemic and conserve resources by sharing promising practices.  There are several pandemic planning toolkits for schools from different states listed.

Broward County Public Schools, Avian Flu Information

Avian Flu Questions & Answers and Checklist

Lincoln Intermediate Unit No. 12, Pandemic Influenza Emergency Response Planning Resources

Provides a planning matrix and a plan template that outlines the steps and procedures that a school system should take in response to the possibility of pandemic flu

Fairfax County, VA Public Schools Crisis Management Workbook

.pdf of the Model school emergency response plan.

Fairfax County, VA Public Schools Emergency Web page

Model school preparedness web page.

Marin County Schools Emergency Preparedness Services

The Marin County Office of Education (MCOE) has been working closely with Marin's public and private schools to support emergency preparedness. This web site is part of the effort to provide an effective plan and resources to improve emergency response procedures in all local schools. Note: Standardized Emergency Management System (SEMS) is another term, specific to this organization and their partners, for the National Incident Management System (NIMS).

Literature

The 2008  American Preparedness Project: Why Parents May Not Heed Evacuation Orders and What Emergency Planners, Families, and Schools Need to Know

Columbine 9th Anniversary: School Safety Lessons and Legacies

School Security and Emergency Preparedness Trends: The Lessons and Legacies of Columbine Nine Years Later

A CDC Review of School Laws and Policies Concerning Child and Adolescent Health

The CDC’s Division of Adolescent and School Health and Public Health Law Program along with legal scholars and researchers at the Centers for Law and the Public’s Health: A Collaborative reviewed the use of law as a tool for improving and protecting the health and safety of children, adolescents, and staff in public elementary and secondary schools.  It is intended to help practitioners and policymakers in public health and education at the federal, state, and local levels enhance their knowledge of relevant laws and policies.

American Public Health Association Get Ready Campaign

The American Public Health Association (APHA) provides the most recent articles aimed at helping Americans prepare for pandemic flu and other emerging infectious diseases.

Pediatric Terrorism and Disaster Preparedness: A Resource for Pediatricians

Increases awareness about the unique needs of children and encourages collaboration among pediatricians, state and local emergency response planners, health care systems, and others involved in planning and response efforts for natural disasters and terrorism incidents. Released by the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), in partnership with the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).

PubMed.gov

Lists School Preparedness publications over the last year

Courses

Understanding and Responding to the Needs of Children After Large-Scale Disasters
Created by the South Central Public Health Partnership, this course details “how children may respond to traumatic events.”  Main points include preparations that can be done to “improve outcomes and promote resilience, and ideas for interventions.”

PEMA Event Calendar

A month-by-month calendar of emergency preparedness courses offered across the Commonwealth

PADOH LMS Act 48 Courses for School Personnel

Courses for PA School Personnel ACT 48 hours are now available on the Pennsylvania Department of Health Learning Management System! The Department of Health, Office of Public Health Preparedness, facilitates the Pennsylvania Department of Health Learning Management System (LMS). The LMS is a web-based system for training programs and information-sharing regarding public health threats and emergencies. The LMS allows school personnel and other health and emergency preparedness professionals to complete training and share information 24/7 in the convenience of their workplace or home. Registered users are assigned a unique User ID and Password and are given access through the URL: www.pahealthinfo.net. For registration and additional information, go to www.health.state.pa.us/lms. When registering, click on "Public Health Professional," enter email address, and click on PA School Personnel.

Care of Children Exposed to Chemical Agents: A Resource for School Nurses
The purpose of this course is to enhance school nurses' knowledge of chemical agents to which school age children may be exposed in the school setting. A basic overview of children's susceptibility vis-à-vis physiologic and psychosocial responses is provided. Common chemical agents are described, and the symptoms produced in children are discussed. Using an all-hazards approach, school nurses' assessment, triage, treatment and evaluation of children exposed to selected chemical agents is reviewed. Ways to promote chemical safety in the schools is presented.

This course is approved for: Continuing Nursing Education (CNE) ACT 48 Hours for Pennsylvania School Personnel

South Central Center for Public Health Preparedness
Mass Casualty Incident Triage

This course is intended for pre-hospital care providers who may be called on to respond to a mass casualty incident resulting when a large number of victims are injured or exposed to hazardous materials or WMD agents. The course will prepare trainees to use the Simple Triage and Rapid Treatments (START) system, along with the "All Hazards" or "All Risk" Triage Tag. The course will also cover use of the Incident Management System (IMS) to respond with maximum effectiveness to a mass casualty event. Previous training of trainees may range from Medical First Responder or EMT-Basic to Paramedic.

South Central Center for Public Health Preparedness
Pediatric Issues in Disasters and Emergencies

Conferences

PASNAP Annual Education Conference
4/9-4/11 - Pittsburgh, PA - Info

 

UPCPHP Related Project Links

Pittsburgh Influenza Prevention Project

The Pittsburgh Influenza Prevention Project (PIPP) helps students, families and schools prevent sickness due to flu.

Previous School Preparedness Spotlight Topics

Click on a title to expand the list.

» 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.
» 2009 National School Nurses Day

National School Nurse Day was established in 1972 to foster a better understanding of the role of school nurses in the educational setting.  School nurses promote health and safety; intervene with actual and potential health problems; provide case management services; and actively collaborate with others to build student/family capacity for adaptation, self management, self advocacy, and learning.  In addition to all of this, school nurses are usually the only health care professional in the school building giving them the added responsibility of first responder and leader in the event of a public health emergency in the school, such as the recent outbreaks of H1N1 flu in several schools across the country (H1N1 flu in schools).  To this end, over 800 school nurses in Pennsylvania have been trained in Disaster Preparedness for School Nurses through the University of Pittsburgh Center for Public Health Preparedness. 

We recognize all of the school nurses throughout Pennsylvania who we have worked with and say “thank you” for all that you do!  For more information on National School Nurse Day, visit the National Association of School Nurses website.
» Pertussis - (Whooping Cough)

Pertussis, or whooping cough, is an infectious disease spread easily from person to person.  It causes severe coughing which can last up to 100 days.  The classic cough ends in a “whooping” sound and can also have vomiting associated with it. 

The disease is especially dangerous in young children.  Adolescents and adults can also get whooping cough though it is less severe and often misdiagnosed.  Unknowingly, they can act as reservoirs of the disease for younger children. 

The National Association of School Nurses has launched Give Your Kids a Boost! – Whooping Cough Prevention Education Program to “help raise awareness about the recommended vaccinations for preteens and teens.”  The Web site has several resources including fact sheets, checklists, and testimonials from teens who have had the disease.
» Herpes Gladiatorium

  • Herpes gladiatorium is a skin infection caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV1). It is a variation of the virus that causes cold sores and often occurs in wrestlers. It is transmitted through direct skin-to-skin contact. Read more in this fact sheet from the Pennsylvania Department of Health.

  • Guidance for athletic programs was written by the Allegheny County Health Department and includes prevention and cleaning guidelines.

  • Herpes Gladiatorium Position Statement and Guidelines was written by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS), Sports Medicine Advisory Committee, to provide guidance on ways to treat and prevent the virus.
» Food Safety in Schools

  • Eating Safely at School: What Education Policymakers Need to Know and Do to Prevent and Respond to Food-Related Illness in Schools
    Written for the National School Boards Association, this document provides information for establishing food safety policies and practices to ensure that foods available at school are safe to consume.  It “also addresses how to prepare for and manage a crisis resulting from a food-related illness.”  “Guidance and tools for developing, implementing, and monitoring policies to promote the safety of foods and beverages” are listed, including a checklist.

  • Food Safety for School Nurses
    Website from the National Coalition for Food-Safe Schools.  Lists recommendations school nurses can follow to prevent and respond to food-related illnesses.  Also lists other resources for school nurses.

  • A Biosecurity Checklist for School Foodservice Programs: Developing a Biosecurity Management Plan

    Developed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service, this document provides guidelines on how to “form a school foodservice biosecurity management team, use the checklist to prioritize measures to strengthen biosecurity inside and outside the primary foodservice area, and create a school foodservice biosecurity management plan.”  Several checklists and forms are provided.
» School Nurses and Preparedness and Response

There is an array of situations that can cause stress to school aged children. Whether it is a family death, a house fire, flooding, or a family illness, it is important for school nurses to understand the behavior changes seen in school and how to relate to children under these circumstances.
» MRSA

Containing MRSA infections is at the top of every ones minds, with so many new cases of this antibiotic resistant bacteria reported in schools and in Pennsylvania’s communities. Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) is a type of bacteria resistant to some antibiotics, usually transmitted by direct skin-to-skin contact or contact with shared infected items. MRSA infections can look like a pimple or boil. It may be swollen, painful and/or have pus and other drainage from the infected site. According to the National Institute of Health (NIH), school nurses should pay particular attention to minor skin problems-especially in children and athletes. If the wound appears to be infected, see a healthcare provider. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides school nurses with more information on prevention and containment of MRSA. Parents, athletics directors, gym teachers and coaches can download this PDF file of a MRSA Information sheet to learn more on how to work with infected individuals.

The CDC also provides educational materials to help teach your students about MRSA identification and prevention.
» Meningitis

Meningococcal disease is a serious, potentially fatal bacterial infection that strikes nearly 3,000 Americans annually. In particular, adolescents and young adults are at increased risk of contracting meningococcal disease. Therefore, schools should include policies and procedures for identifying and containing infectious diseases such as Meningococcal disease in their all-hazards preparedness plan.  For information specific to Meningococcal disease, visit the following sites:
» Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease

Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease (HFMD) is caused by viruses from the group called enteroviruses. The enterovirus group includes the polioviruses, coxsackieviruses, echoviruses, and other enteroviruses. HFMD is often confused with foot- mouth disease of cattle, sheep, and swine. The two diseases are not related and are caused by different virus. Hand, foot, and mouth disease is a common illness of children in the summer and fall seasons. It is characterized by fever, sores in the mouth, and a rash with blisters.
» Comprehensive School Emergency Response Plans
» National School Nurse Day

National School Nurse Day is May 9, 2007
Theme: “Healthy Children Learn Better”

The National Association of School Nurses (NASN) – “National School Nurse Day was established to foster a better understanding of the role of school nurses in the educational setting. Since 1972, National School Nurse Day has been set aside to recognize school nurses.” Please visit NASN for more information.
» CDC Pre-Pandemic Planning Guidance

CDC Pre-Pandemic Planning Guidance (view)