RSS | 
Twitter
| 
Be a fan!
Swine flu reported
Students attending an after-school activity not affiliated with the district were sent home early Monday evening and parents were alerted that a participant had been diagnosed with the illness.
Parents were urged by those in charge to take extra precautions with hand washing and to keep an eye on their children for the next several days for any symptoms of the flu.
"I have been in touch with the health department almost daily about what we can do to be as preventative as possible," Baily said. "Education is the key. We have had some nonconfirmed cases of the swine flu reported to us, but until we hear it from the CDC (Centers for Disease Control) or from a doctor it is still unconfirmed."
Rate This Story:
1 the lowest - 5 the highest
Current rating:
"Actually, we have a higher number of students in attendance. We are telling the students that if they are sick to stay home. All of the precautions are in place," he said. "We have hand sanitizers outside of every classroom and we are telling the students that they have to go wash their hands after the third time of using it."
The hand sanitizer is ineffective after the third usage and one must wash their hands before using it again, according to information Baily received from the CDC.
"We have been as proactive as we can, but once it is here it is up to the medical field. We have gone the extra mile and had the training with the staff and with the kids but it is up to the parents to continue to take that extra precaution at home," Baily said. "I am sure that every other superintendent in the county would say the same thing."
In the event of a confirmed report, Baily said, even more diligence would be taken to sanitize the school.
"Our maintenance staff is the best in the world. They sanitize on a daily basis, but if there were a confirmed case there would be extra attention paid to every place that that child has been," he said. "We sent a letter home to the parents about the swine flu, and it is on our Web site, but anyone who has any questions should call us. We have an open-door policy."
According to the CDC, the emergency warning signs for children are:
• Fast breathing or trouble breathing
• Bluish skin color
• Not drinking enough fluids
• Not waking up or not interacting
• Being so irritable that the child does not want to be held
• Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and a worse cough
• Fever with a rash
The emergency warning signs for adults are:
• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
• Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
• Sudden dizziness
• Confusion
• Severe or persistent vomiting
Although fever can be a symptom of the swine flu, it is not always accompanied by a fever, according to the CDC.
The CDC only suggests visiting the emergency room if you are experiencing the emergency warning signs.
Persons who believe they are infected with the swine flu should stay home for 24 hours after any fever has passed and refrain from leaving their home during that time. If one must leave the home for any reason, they should try to stay away from others as much as possible and wear a mask, according to the CDC.
Related articles:
Burgettstown confirms four cases of swine flu
Vaccination deadline expires; most schools in compliance
Swine flu vaccinations available in SW Pa soon
Home
Everywhere! : 10/14/2009
My daughter was at the doctor Monday and was diagnosed and her doctor said McGuffey and Trinity have tons of cases. Basically, if you have the flu in SW PA, you have H1N1. It's everywhere, and if you are a healthy individual it is not that big a deal. Stop trying to panic the public!
: 10/14/2009
carmichaels school district didnt notify the parents about this case.
They Will Handle It : 10/14/2009
No reason for everyone to freak out...you make it worse than it is...take your kids to get a check up....My daughter goes to school there and its best to just be cautious..its like anything else that is passed around....no need to get panicked about it!!!
H1N1 Media Scare : 10/14/2009
How much money have the pharmaceutical companies paid the various media in advertising fees to join the CDC in scaring the public into getting flu vaccines. This reminds me of the terror alert scheme. It's not helping the health insurance debate, that's for sure. Somebody has stockpiled all kinds of medicine and now they need to use it up to justify another outrageous expenditure on some "pandemic" to they can spend more and get even bigger next year. Stop trying to scare the public
Parent notice not schools responsibility : 10/14/2009
Since when is it the schools job to tell parents a student has the flu. That comment was probably made by the same type of parent who thinks it's the school's job to raise their children. Blame the flu on the school for God's sake. How about some parental responsibility. And stop overreating, it the flu season, just like every other flu season.
not aware : 10/14/2009
this is the first time i heard of the flu at the school. i think that we as parents should be notified.
unconfirmed : 10/14/2009
I think the word UNCONFIRMED needs to be emphasized here!
swine flu : 10/14/2009
I think the parents should be sent a letter, they send a letter home for lice. Why not something that the media is making bigger than it is?
Swine Flu : 10/15/2009
The swine flu is alot more serious then the regular flu. Look at how many children have died already. So I DO believe the schools should notify parents of a POSSIBLE outbreak in the schools. Even if it is unconfirmed. Woudln't you like to know if your child was exposed to headlice or scabies? If you don't think you should be notified, then obviously, you as a parent should not be degrading the ones that do care!!
Confirmed. : 10/15/2009
The boy that was "unconfirmed" has been "confirmed" since this article was published.The school was probably waiting for it to be confirmed, before sending all of the nervous parents into a frenzy. Guess noone thought of that before they started complaining about what a terrible job the school is doing.
swine flu : 10/15/2009
My daughter was diagnosed today with the flu...basically I was told that since she tested positive for the flue to assume that she has the swine flu. She has been ill all week and most likely won't be able to return to school until Monday or Tuesday. Our middle school has many abscences due to the flu and strep throat.
confirmed : 10/15/2009
How long do you think it takes to confirm it. Get real. It and a few more has been confirmed. Its not Panic, its concern.
think... : 10/16/2009
Think about it. My daughter was taken to the E.R. last night and within an hour confirmed to have swine flu. Now we are all basically quarantined because we have been in close contact with her. They knew this student has swine flu. They are being dishonest if they say otherwise. Yes, we live in Carmichaels. Yes, it is all over the place here. We take all precautions, hand sanitizers, antibacterial soap, etc. and my daughter is a healthy teen. She still got it. Yours coudl be next.
Conirmed : 10/16/2009
If Mr. Bailey had called the doctor, he would have known immediately it was confirmed..He obviously never checked. This student is now over the swine flu, but probably got it at a public function.
Get Prepared! : 10/17/2009
Families need to consider the following preparations: Have alternative child care options, if the adult members still have to report to work. Those options should be for SMALL groups of 6 or less children • Have a well stocked pantry of AT LEAST two-weeks of ADDITIONAL groceries (in addition to what is already in stock in their homes!). o Parents may not be able to shop due to illness in their family (taking care of a sick child or the adult member becoming sick) o Stores *may* have reduced hours, if illness starts to affect employees o Families may decide NOT to shop, if the have a child or other family member at home in the ‘high risk’ category that makes getting the virus more dangerous to their health/life • Have all the necessary ‘over-the-counter’ meds necessary for home treatment of the flu already purchased. o Hospitals and Doctor offices will be overwhelmed with more serious cases o Stores may run out of the needed meds & supplies (just look at England & Australia for examples of that!) o Pharmacies are generally smaller stores than grocery stores and number of employee are smaller. Those stores may have reduced hours due to employee shortage due to illness. • Have a ‘Flu Buddy’, having another adult available to care for the children of their household, should one or both adults in a household become ill. • Looking in on the Elderly or Infirmed o They may be ill with the flu and need help o They may have other health issues that they could not get help with, if our hospitals and doctors become overwhelmed with flu patients o They may need you to shop for them, if they are afraid to go out
swine flu : 10/17/2009
well my daughter has been out all week and i had her at the hospital and they told her that 40 percent chance that she had the swine so every parent should be notified of this and be very concerned this is not a joke it is daedly so yeah we should know.........
drugs : 10/18/2009
If more parents were more aware of what, where, and when their child is doing there would not be a drug problem children need disciplineand love which they do not get, out of sight out of mind is todays parent....,
drugs : 10/19/2009
What does the drug problem have to do with lack of responsibility of the school notifiying folks of swine flu? Protect your kids from the swine flu... keep a close eye on them... in the process you will be watching for the drugs as well... geez
lol : 10/22/2009
swine flu tests are not possible in 1 hour.. test of A is possible in an hour but an official swine flu test must be sent away. and well i guess i should be upset i was never notified when so and so got sick when i was in school.. maybe a letter should be sent home everytime a student sneezes.. it only makes sense right.. *sarcasm*
tests : 10/26/2009
This swine flu test, is it even being offered? My daughter was taken to the local Med Express and the only test that they have is the reg flu test. Basicly every one tells you that if you have flu like symptoms, and the fever lasts more then 2-3 days, it is probably H1N1. My daughter had a fever for 4 days straight. Should I assume???
