What steps can schools take to keep students and staff from getting sick with the flu?

Schools should take the following steps to help keep students and staff from getting sick with flu. These steps should be followed ALL the time, and not only during a flu pandemic.

• Encourage respiratory etiquette by providing staff and students:
  • Remind staff and students to practice good hand hygiene and
  • provide the time and supplies for students and staff to wash their hands when needed.
     
• Send sick students and staff home. Advise students, staff, and families that sick people should stay at home until at least 24 hours after they no longer have a fever or signs of a fever. This should be determined without the use of fever-reducing medicines (any medicine that contains ibuprofen or acetaminophen). They should stay home until at least 24 hours after they no longer have a fever even if they are using antiviral medicines.  Schools should revise their policies and incentives to avoid unknowingly penalizing students who stay home when they are sick (e.g., perfect attendance awards).
   
• Clean surfaces and items that are more likely to have frequent hand contact with cleaning agents that are usually used in these areas. Additional disinfection beyond routine cleaning is not recommended. Some states and localities have laws about specific cleaning products used in schools.  School officials should contact their state health department and department of environmental protection for additional guidance.
   
• Move students and staff who become sick at school to a separate room until they can be sent home. Limit the number of staff who take care of the sick person and provide a surgical mask for the sick person to wear if they can tolerate it.
   
• Have Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) such as masks available and ensure it is worn by school nurses and other staff caring for sick people at school.
   
• Encourage sick students and staff at higher risk of complications from flu to get a medical evaluation as soon as possible. Taking antiviral medicines early might prevent severe complications from the flu, such as hospitalization or death.

See additional information for schools at: http://www.flu.gov/plan/school/index.html.

• Consider dismissing students if a large proportion of staff are at higher risk of flu-related complications. Settings where this strategy might be appropriate are in schools for pregnant women and schools with many medically fragile children.

Last Updated: 08/07/2009

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