State agencies team up for educational H1N1 videos

The Virginia Department of Education and Virginia Department of Health produced two new educational videos explaining some steps to prevent the spread of the H1N1 virus and seasonal flu at home and school, urging school officials to post the link on their Web sites to better inform the community.

Culpeper County Public School posted the link on its home page Wednesday morning, according to Russell Houck, director of administrative services for CCPS.

The “H1N1 for Educators” video — directed toward educators — opens with a teacher demonstrating how to sneeze or cough into an elbow instead of the hands.

“Students really watch what teachers are doing and it’s important for teachers to model hand washing throughout the day,” said Tia Campbell, a nurse and school health specialist for VDOE. “It’s important for them to model coughing and sneezing appropriately into a tissue or into their sleeve.”

The nearly four-minute video for educators suggests designating an isolation-type room for sick children until their parents are able to pick them up from school.

The announcer reminds educators that the flu season is no time to allow soap and paper towel dispensers to go empty.

“That is one of the best mechanisms to stop the spread of any virus is hand washing so making sure that soap is in its dispensers. That we have paper towels and if a school division is using the antiseptic hand sanitizers that those receptors are also well stocked,” Campbell said.

Health experts urge parents to stay home from work and to keep their children at home if they are suffering from any flu-like symptoms.

“You are not doing anybody any favors by bringing a communicable disease to the workplace,” said VDH Dr. Mark J. Levine.

The “H1N1 for Parents” video — about three minutes long —suggests that parents stay informed, follow guidance and by be accessible during the school day.

During the video for parents, the announcer reminds them to provide updated complete, accurate contact information.

“We need to have work phone numbers, cell phone numbers if that’s appropriate and some school divisions will even contact parents via e-mail if that is a system that the school division has put into place,” said Campbell. “So it’s really important for parents to let the school know where they can be reached during the day.”

Once a parent is notified about a sick child, Campbell says, they need to pick that child up immediately.

“The videos focus on practical steps that should be taken in homes and schools to reduce the risk of infection and minimize the disruption of instruction,” said Patricia I. Wright, superintendent of public instruction for the commonwealth. “VDOE and VDH will continue to work in partnership to make sure parents and schools have accurate and up-to-date information on H1N1 influenza.”

VDH Commissioner Karen Remley said the videos remind the public to stay home until they are fever free without the aid of a fever reducer for at least 24 hours.

“By following this and the other practical steps features in these brief videos, parents, teachers, principals and other school employees can have a real impact on the spread of H1N1 and seasonal influenza,” Remley said in a news release.

The video was shot at Alexandria Public Schools and Fluvanna County Public Schools.

On the Web:
The videos — “H1N1 for Parents” and “H1N1 for Educators” — are available on the VDOE H1N1 influenza Web site at this address: http://www.doe.virginia.gov/support/health_medical/influenza/index.shtml