Pathfinder
Editor, Senior Moderator
from The Times-Picayune
<LINK href="http://media.nola.com/design/baseline/css/mt4_impact.css" type=text/css rel=stylesheet><LINK href="http://blog.nola.com/opinions_impact/atom.xml" type=application/atom+xml rel=alternate><SCRIPT src="http://blog.nola.com/opinions_impact/js/mt.js" type=text/javascript></SCRIPT>Jefferson schools go the soap-and-water route: an editorial
By Editorial page staff, The Times-Picayune
October 18, 2009, 8:01PM
The figures health officials released Friday on the H1N1 flu effects show an unprecedented impact for this time of year.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, flu-like illnesses account for 6.1 percent of all doctor visits, and 43 children died between Aug. 30 and Friday. That's almost as many pediatric deaths as occur in some entire flu seasons.
"These are very sobering statistics," said Dr. Anne Schuchat, director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases.
School officials across most of the nation, including Southeast Louisiana, have been seeing these effects. So it's easy to see why Jefferson Parish School Board member Judy Colgan last month asked administrators to find out how much it would take to furnish the parish's 87 schools with hand-sanitizer stations.
The answer was an eye-popping $132,479 per year. And that was just to provide one application daily for each of the system's 44,000 students. Multiple applications, as would probably be necessary, pushed the price higher.
"It was outrageously expensive," Ms. Colgan said.
With the district facing a budget crunch, Ms. Colgan said she decided not to pursue a hand-sanitizer purchase, and that was fiscally prudent. But she did not give up.
Instead, she talked to Superintendent Diane Roussel about an alternative plan. The system has instructed schools to reinforce proper hand hygiene and regular use of soap and water throughout the day. Ms. Roussel said the district also is making sure all schools have enough soap for students to wash their hands to their heart's content.
Like other flu viruses, the swine flu spreads when a sick person coughs or sneezes. But people also may catch it by touching a contagious person or surface and then touching their mouth or nose. That's why health officials say washing hands often is one of the most important prevention measures.
Jefferson officials clearly understand that -- and they are wise to emphasize that message for teachers and students.
http://www.nola.com/opinions/index.ssf/2009/10/jefferson_schools_go_the_soap-.html
<LINK href="http://media.nola.com/design/baseline/css/mt4_impact.css" type=text/css rel=stylesheet><LINK href="http://blog.nola.com/opinions_impact/atom.xml" type=application/atom+xml rel=alternate><SCRIPT src="http://blog.nola.com/opinions_impact/js/mt.js" type=text/javascript></SCRIPT>Jefferson schools go the soap-and-water route: an editorial
By Editorial page staff, The Times-Picayune
October 18, 2009, 8:01PM
The figures health officials released Friday on the H1N1 flu effects show an unprecedented impact for this time of year.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, flu-like illnesses account for 6.1 percent of all doctor visits, and 43 children died between Aug. 30 and Friday. That's almost as many pediatric deaths as occur in some entire flu seasons.
"These are very sobering statistics," said Dr. Anne Schuchat, director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases.
School officials across most of the nation, including Southeast Louisiana, have been seeing these effects. So it's easy to see why Jefferson Parish School Board member Judy Colgan last month asked administrators to find out how much it would take to furnish the parish's 87 schools with hand-sanitizer stations.
The answer was an eye-popping $132,479 per year. And that was just to provide one application daily for each of the system's 44,000 students. Multiple applications, as would probably be necessary, pushed the price higher.
"It was outrageously expensive," Ms. Colgan said.
With the district facing a budget crunch, Ms. Colgan said she decided not to pursue a hand-sanitizer purchase, and that was fiscally prudent. But she did not give up.
Instead, she talked to Superintendent Diane Roussel about an alternative plan. The system has instructed schools to reinforce proper hand hygiene and regular use of soap and water throughout the day. Ms. Roussel said the district also is making sure all schools have enough soap for students to wash their hands to their heart's content.
Like other flu viruses, the swine flu spreads when a sick person coughs or sneezes. But people also may catch it by touching a contagious person or surface and then touching their mouth or nose. That's why health officials say washing hands often is one of the most important prevention measures.
Jefferson officials clearly understand that -- and they are wise to emphasize that message for teachers and students.
http://www.nola.com/opinions/index.ssf/2009/10/jefferson_schools_go_the_soap-.html