NH Outlook — H1N1 and Dr. Montero

The NH Department of Health and Human Services is encouraging people to view the NH Outook episode on the H1N1 virus.

Steven Chamberlin

Superintendent of Schools

NH Outlook Episode

Automatic Call and Vaccination Survey

Please return the automatic call system form and H1N1 vaccination clinic survey to the main offices in the schools as soon as possible.

The link below is to the introductory letter, automatic call form, and survey.

Thank you for your help.

Steven M. Chamberlin
Superintendent of Schools

Call form and vaccination survey

Link to the NH DHHS School District Surveillance Data

This link connects you to NH DHHS School District data regarding H1N1 absences. Please feel encouraged to contact the central office or school nurses if you have any questions.  NH DHHS Site

Trying to prevent the flu

Below is a link to a hand washing poster that is being used to encourage practices which prevent the spreading of the flu.

A hand washing poster

A posting of the letter sent home with students regarding the flu

September 8, 2009

Dear Parents/Guardians and Students:
I hope you had an exciting first few days  of school. The purpose of this letter is to describe steps that can reduce the spread of the flu in the Hopkinton Schools.  As you may know, flu can be easily spread from person to person. If the schools and community work together, the schools can remain open during this flu season.
The administration is working closely with the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services Communicable Disease Control Section to monitor flu conditions and make decisions about the best steps to take concerning schools. Updates with new information will be made available. For now, everything is being done to keep our school functioning as usual.
Below are a few suggestions:
•    Encourage your children to wash their hands often with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub.
•    Encourage your children not to share personal items like drinks, food or utensils.
•    Teach your children to cover up their coughs or sneezes using their elbow, instead of their hand when a tissue is unavailable.
•    Know the signs and symptoms of the flu. Symptoms of the flu include fever (100 degrees Fahrenheit, 37.8 degrees Celsius or greater), cough, sore throat, a runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, and feeling very tired. Some people may also vomit or have diarrhea.
•    Keep sick children at home for at least 24 hours after they no longer have fever or do not have signs of fever, without using fever-reducing drugs.  Keeping children with a fever at home will reduce the number of people who may get infected.  Any child determined to be sick while at school will be sent home.
For more information, visit the Hopkinton School District web site (www.hopkintonschools.org), visit www.flu.gov, or call 1-800-CDC-INFO for the most current information about the flu. For more information about flu in our community and what our school is doing, visit the NH Department of Heath and Human services website or call Communicable Disease Control Section at the Division of Public Health Services (603) 271-4496 and speak to Public Health Professional on call if you have specific influenza related questions. The community will be made aware of any additional changes to our school district’s strategy to prevent the spread of flu.

Thank you for your support.

Steven M. Chamberlin
Superintendent of Schools

Helpful Hint: Cover Your Cough

One of the posters we are using to encourage students to help us prevent the spread of the flu.

Cover your cough poster