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Current Location:  PHCS » General Info » School Safety

• Tylenol Recall Info
• Swine Flu Information
• Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in Schools
• How Parents Can Help Improve Bus Stop Safety
• Student Responsibilities At Bus Stops
• My Rules For Online Safety

You may have heard that McNeil Consumer Healthcare (the makers of TYLENOL®) is voluntarily recalling certain lots of Children's and Infants' TYLENOL® liquid products that were manufactured between April, 2008 and June, 2008. All products manufactured met internal specifications. However, the company is implementing this recall because during this period, an unused portion of one inactive ingredient did not meet all quality standards. Therefore, as a precautionary measure, it was decided to recall all Children's and Infants' TYLENOL® liquid products listed on the website (link below), which were made during this time.

Parents and caregivers who have questions or concerns should contact their child's health care provider or our consumer call center at 1-800-962-5357 (available Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern Time). Consumers can find the lot numbers on the bottom of the box containing the liquid product and also on the sticker that surrounds the product bottle. The lot numbers of the affected products are listed on the website (link below).

These actions do not apply to Children's TYLENOL® Meltaways and Junior Strength TYLENOL® Meltaways. The voluntary recall applies only to select lots of Children's and Infants' TYLENOL® liquid products.

For a complete list of products recalled, please visit this page:  http://www.tylenol.com/page.<wbr>jhtml?id=tylenol/news/<wbr>subpchildinfantnews.inc

Please see the attached letter and other important information about the Swine Influenza (Flu) from New York State Education Commissioner Richard Mills and New York State Health Commissioner Richard Daines.

Dear Parents,

This letter is to inform you that the State of New York has entered a heightened surveillance stage resulting from the presence of a swine flu virus that is making people sick in several states, including New York State, and also in Mexico. Although, to date, only mild illness has occurred in the United States, we realize that many people are worried and we hope this letter will help address your concerns. Despite confirmed cases of swine flu in a private school in Queens, New York City, we believe students can safely attend classes and schools will remain open at this time (with the exception of the school in Queens at which confirmed cases were discovered).

At this time, the state and local health departments have advised us that students can continue to come to school, as long as they are not sick and do not think they have flu symptoms. Flu-like symptoms include: fever (over 100 degrees F.), feverishness, cough, sore throat, runny nose, or stuffy nose. Additional symptoms may be experienced with swine flu, including muscle pain, fatigue, and sometimes vomiting or diarrhea.

Flu spreads easily. If you suspect your child is getting the flu, it is important that he/she does not attend school or go anywhere else—such as group childcare, the mall, or sporting events—where other people would be exposed to flu germs. It is also important to teach your children how to reduce their risk of getting the flu and protect others from infection.

• Teach your children to wash their hands often. Washing with soap and hot water for at least 20 seconds is ideal (that’s about as long as it takes to sing the “Happy Birthday” song twice).

• Teach your children the proper use of hand sanitizer. Gels, rubs, and hand wipes all work well, as long as they contain at least 60% alcohol. Hand wipes must be disposed of properly. Always read and follow label instructions when using hand sanitizer.

• Teach your children to keep their hands away from their face and avoid touching their mouth, nose, or eyes.

• Teach your children to cover coughs and sneezes with tissues or by coughing into the inside of their elbow. Cough or sneeze into your sleeve—not your hands!

• Help your children to learn these healthy habits by setting a good example and always doing them yourself.

If we all practice good hygiene, health officials believe we can limit the spread of swine flu in our school at this time. We are consulting with local health officials regarding best cleaning practices for infection control in our buildings.

While the current situation does not warrant school closure, if swine flu continues to spread and more students become ill, it may become necessary to close schools for a period of time. We are working with our School Medical Director and County Health officials to monitor the situation here and will make all decisions in consultation with them and state officials. We will inform parents immediately if the situation changes and it becomes necessary to close schools.

If schools are closed, please do not make arrangements—such as sending children to a friend’s home or group childcare—that will put them in close contact with other children. It is important to plan ahead. Have a family discussion now to consider options in advance of the event of a school closing.

Please stay informed by paying attention to media reports. You may also get information at www.cdc.gov, www.nyhealth.gov, www.schoolhealthservicesny.com, or the 24 hour toll-free hotline that New Yorkers across the State can use to get answers to their questions. The hotline is 1-800-808-1987.

Thank you for your cooperation in keeping our children and our schools healthy.

 

 

 

The following article is from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention website, www.cdc.gov, regarding Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections.

MRSA infections are skin infections that may appear as pustules or boils which often are red, swollen, painful, or have pus or other drainage. These skin infections commonly occur at sites of visible skin trauma, such as cuts and abrasions, and areas of the body covered by hair (e.g., back of neck, groin, buttock, armpit, beard area of men).

Almost all MRSA skin infections can be effectively treated by drainage of pus with or without antibiotics. More serious infections, such as pneumonia, bloodstream infections, or bone infections, are very rare in healthy people who get MRSA skin infections.

How is MRSA transmitted? MRSA is usually transmitted by direct skin-to-skin contact or contact with shared items or surfaces that have come into contact with someone else’s infection (e.g., towels, used bandages).

In what settings do MRSA skin infections occur? MRSA skin infections can occur anywhere.

Some settings have factors that make it easier for MRSA to be transmitted. These factors, referred to as the 5 C’s, are as follows: Crowding, frequent skin-to-skin Contact, Compromised skin (i.e., cuts or abrasions), Contaminated items and surfaces, and lack of Cleanliness. Locations where the 5 C’s are common include schools, dormitories, military barracks, households, correctional facilities, and daycare centers.

How do I protect myself from getting MRSA? Practicing good hygiene (e.g., keeping your hands clean by washing with soap and water or using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer and showering immediately after participating in exercise); covering skin trauma such as abrasions or cuts with a clean, dry bandage until healed, avoiding sharing personal items (e.g., towels, razors) that come into contact with your bare skin; using a barrier (e.g., clothing or a towel) between your skin and shared equipment such as weight-training benches; and maintaining a clean environment by establishing cleaning procedures for frequently touched surfaces and surfaces that come into direct contact with people’s skin.

Should schools close because of an MRSA infection? The decision to close a school for any communicable disease should be made by school officials in consultation with local and/or state public health officials. However, in most cases, it is not necessary to close schools because of an MRSA infection in a student. It is important to note that MRSA transmission can be prevented by simple measures such as hand hygiene and covering infections.

Should the school be closed to be cleaned or disinfected when an MRSA infection occurs? Covering infections will greatly reduce the risks of surfaces becoming contaminated with MRSA. In general it is not necessary to close schools to “disinfect” them when MRSA infections occur. MRSA skin infections are transmitted primarily by skin-to-skin contact and contact with surfaces that have come into contact with someone else’s infection.

When MRSA skin infections occur, cleaning and disinfection should be performed on surfaces that are likely to contact uncovered or poorly covered infections. Cleaning surfaces with detergent-based cleaners or Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-registered disinfectants is effective in removing MRSA from the environment. It is important to read the instruction labels on all cleaners to make sure they are used safely and appropriately. Environmental cleaners and disinfectants should not be used to treat infections. The EPA provides a list of EPA-registered products effective against MRSA: epa.gov/oppad001/chemregindex.htm

Should the entire school community be notified of every MRSA infection? Usually it should not be necessary to inform the entire school community about a single MRSA infection. When an MRSA infection occurs within the school population, the school nurse and school physician should determine, based on their medical judgment, whether some or all students, parents, and staff should be notified. Consultation with the local public health authorities should be used to guide this decision.

Remember that staphylococcus (staph) bacteria, including MRSA, have been and remain a common cause of skin infections.

Should the school be notified that my child has an MRSA infection? If your child has, or you suspect your child may have, an MRSA infection, please contact Sandy Goliber, our School Nurse, at 265-4642, ext. 415.

Should students with MRSA skin infections be excluded from attending school? Unless directed by a physician, students with MRSA infections should not be excluded from attending school. Exclusion from school should be reserved for those with wound drainage (“pus”) that cannot be covered and contained with a clean, dry bandage and for those who cannot maintain good personal hygiene. Students with active infections should be excluded from activities where skin-to-skin contact is likely to occur (e.g., sports) until their infections are healed.

I have an MRSA skin infection. How do I prevent spreading it to others? Cover your wound. Keep wounds that are draining or have pus covered with clean, dry bandages until healed. Follow your healthcare provider’s instructions on proper care of the wound. Pus from infected wounds can contain staph, including MRSA, so keeping the infection covered will help prevent the spread to others. Bandages and tape can be discarded with the regular trash. Clean your hands frequently. You, your family, and others in close contact should wash their hands frequently with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer, especially after changing the bandage or touching the infected wound. Do not share personal items, such as towels, washcloths, razors, clothing, or uniforms that may have had contact with the infected wound or bandage. Wash sheets, towels, and clothes that become soiled with water and laundry detergent. Use a dryer to dry clothes completely.

We are passing this information along to you to hopefully alleviate some of your concerns regarding MRSA while providing you with accurate and helpful advice on what to look for and how to properly treat MRSA. Please take this opportunity to reinforce the importance of good hygiene with your children.  If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Sandy Goliber, our School Nurse, at 265-4642, extension 415.

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Please have your child ready and at the bus stop at least five minutes early.
If your child’s not riding that day, a courtesy call is very much appreciated!
Provide your child with a backpack to keep school items safely inside and reduce the chance of something dropping near or under the bus.

Check your child’s clothing for long drawstrings or other dangerous items that could get snagged in the bus door or in playground equipment. Long drawstrings are very dangerous.

Provide brightly colored outerwear for your children whenever possible. Brightly colored jackets and jackets with reflective tape make the children more visible in low-light conditions.

Insist on safe behavior at the bus stop – Children should wait in an orderly fashion, safely back from the roadway. They shouldn’t move toward the bus until it’s come to a full stop and the driver signals it’s safe.

Reinforce safe loading and unloading behaviors – remind your child to wait for the bus driver’s signal before crossing the street.

Reinforce safe ridership – remind your child to not distract the bus driver. Driver distraction could cause an accident.
 
 

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Arrive 5 minutes early in the morning and wait in an orderly fashion, safely back from the road at your designated stop.

Wear safe clothes – avoid long drawstrings or other clothing that could get snagged in the bus door. Bright clothing makes you more visible to motorists.
As your bus approaches, do not move toward it until it’s completely stopped and your driver signals you.

If you’re late, never chase after your bus – it’s very dangerous – go back home and ask an adult to help you get to school.

Keep all possessions inside your backpack while on the bus.

Stay in your seat until the bus is stopped at school or your bus stop.

“Check before you step” off your bus (for vehicles passing on the right side).
If you don’t have to cross, move away from the roadway and wait until your bus has left the area, and then go directly home. If you must cross, go far enough in from of the bus to see your driver’s face.

Wait for the bus driver’s “universal crossing signal” before starting across.
If you’re crossing with other students, stay together – don’t straggle across.
If your parents let you get the mail, wait until your bus has left the area and you can see traffic in both directions.

If your parent or a friend is across the street waiting for you, pay attention to your driver until you’re safely across.

Older children should hold younger children’s hands if they are crossing together.

Before entering the unprotected part of the roadway, pause and look carefully left, right, and left again, and listen carefully for approaching cars.
If your bus driver honks the horn while you’re crossing, return to the side of the road you started from at once!
 

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• I will not give out personal information such as my address, telephone number, parents’ work address/telephone number, or the name and location of my school without my parents’ permission.
• I will tell my parents right away if I come across any information that makes me feel uncomfortable.
• I will never agree to get together with someone I “meet” online without first checking with my parents. If my parents agree to the meeting, I will be sure that it is in a public place and bring my mother or father along.
• I will never send a person my picture or anything else without first checking with my parents.
• I will not respond to any messages that are mean or in any way make me feel uncomfortable. It is not my fault if I get a message like that. If I do I will tell my parents right away so that they can contact the online service.
• I will talk with my parent so that we can set up rules for going online. We will decide upon the time of day that I can be online, the length of time I can be online, and appropriate areas for me to visit. I will not access other areas or break these rules without their permission.
   

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