Calif. Schools To Get H1N1 Masks

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Calif. Schools To Get H1N1 Masks

California Buys 23 Million Disposable Masks, Gloves

POSTED: 10:38 am PST December 4, 2009

SANTA FE SPRINGS, Calif. -- California schools will be getting millions of masks and gloves to block the spread of H1N1 flu.

State schools chief Jack O'Connell on Friday announced that California has bought 23 million disposable masks and gloves for distribution to school districts around the state.

Children with symptoms of the H1N1 flu will be asked to wear a surgical mask while they are examined or kept in a sick room until their parents can arrive to take them home.

More Information: H1N1 Frequently Asked Questions, Resources

The school nurse or other school staffer will wear a different style of mask and gloves to avoid exposure.

Federal grants paid for the items.

State health officials said there have been more than 7,200 cases of H1N1 flu reported this year, including 366 deaths.

http://www.kcra.com/health/21844378/detail.html

 

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Re: Calif. Schools To Get H1N1 Masks

Knight Ridder/Tribune 12/05/2009 7:12 AM ET

Southland schools get free face masks, gloves to guard against flu

[The Whittier Daily News, Calif.]

Dec. 5--SANTA FE SPRINGS -- More than 1 million surgical masks and gloves made their way Friday to Southland school districts as part of a statewide effort to combat the spread of swine flu.

"Despite the best efforts of our public health and public school systems, we know some will become ill" this season, said State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell, who gathered Friday with several state and county leaders at a Santa Fe Springs warehouse where the supplies were being stored.

"That's why we're providing schools with additional equipment to help students and staff minimize their exposure" to the flu virus, he said.

According to federal guidelines, the best way to prevent the spread of viruses is by staying home if sick, covering coughs and sneezes, washing or sanitizing hands frequently, and getting a flu vaccine.

However, if a student becomes ill at school, the guidelines say the child should be taken to a supervised sick room separate from others and wear a surgical mask if they can tolerate it.

It's also recommended that school nurses wear gloves and a respirator mask.

Ann Rector, coordinator of health programs for Pasadena Unified School District, said the district will be following those guidelines.

"Of course, we welcome these new supplies -- and they will indeed help us as we try to prevent the spread of the H1N1 virus."

At the East Whittier City School District, Assistant Superintendent Linda Low said officials weren't sure if they'd be able to afford the supplies on their own.

"For us, it was looking to be cost-prohibitive to have all the masks available at all of our sites," she said. "So this is really helpful."

The state Department of Education, Emergency Management Agency and Department of General Services were able to buy more than 23 million masks and gloves for California schools with two federal grants.

They also participated in Friday's distribution to Los Angeles County school districts, made possible with help from private shipping companies including <WSODTAGGING BridgeSymbol="US;FDX" WSODIssue="105814">Fedex</WSODTAGGING>, Golden State Overnight, Mountain Valley Express and OnTrac.

"We're still in the midst of the flu season, and we've seen peaks and valleys" since the first swine flu outbreak, said Cal EMA Secretary Matt Bettenhausen.

"No one knows how it's going to end up," he said. "But Gov. Schwarzenegger has stated that public safety has to be the No. 1 priority."

And given the tough economic times, Montebello Unified School District Superintendent Edward Velasquez said the face masks and gloves are a particularly "helpful gesture to schools."

"There is no better gift than the gift of prevention," he said

http://investing.businessweek.com/r...Tribune||provider||ACQUIREMEDIA&symbol=FDX:US

 

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Re: Calif. Schools To Get H1N1 Masks

SMMUSD To Receive Surgical Masks To Prevent H1N1 Spread


<HR SIZE=1>Posted by Bridget Kwok on Dec 27, 2009 - 11:04:10 PM

<?XML:NAMESPACE PREFIX = ST1 /><ST1:CITY w:st="on"><ST1LACE w:st="on">SANTA MONICA</ST1LACE></ST1:CITY>?The SMMUSD is scheduled to receive thousands of surgical masks in an effort to stop the flu outbreak from spreading.
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The Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District is set to receive roughly 22,000 surgical masks to distribute to local schools from the federal government?that?s about 2 surgical masks per student. Students as well as instructors will also be receiving rubber gloves and several respirator masks for adults who are caring for kids who have already been infected by the virus.
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The California Emergency Management Agency spent roughly $2.5 million in federal grant funds on 23 million masks and gloves for the state?s schools as part of its fight against the spread of the H1N1 virus.
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SMMUSD doesn?t believe that it be using all the masks that the Federal Government has planned on providing as flu cases have dropped among students this month since its spike in October.
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The Center for Disease and Control advises that children who are sick, whether with the H1N1 strain of flu or the seasonal flu, should be separated from other children as well as wearing a surgical mask to prevent the spread of the virus. The washing of hands with soap and water as well as covering mouths with a tissue while sneezing and coughing are also among the Center for Disease Control?s guidelines for preventing the spread of the flu.
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As of current protocol, the SMMUSD keeps students who present flu-like symptoms in isolation until their parent or guardian can take them home. The surgical masks are considered a possible aid in stopping the spread of the virus from students to the staff. For example, students may be provided with a mask if they show up in the nurse?s office with flu-like symptoms as a precaution.
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Surgical masks and gloves are being stored in Santa Fe Springs until the school districts pick them up. The SMMUSD is expected to obtain their supply before students return for classes in January.

http://www.canyon-news.com/artman2/...ive_Surgical_Masks_to_Prevent_H1N1_Spread.php