Action Plan for Schools during Influenza A H1N1 Pandemic

To all parents

• All students must provide contact number of their parents or home to this respective school. Information must be up to date.
• All schools must have 3 person-in-charge’s contact number in case of emergency.

When School Closure Announced

• All students must observe home quarantine guideline by the authority (1 week). Eg. cannot attend tuition, school co-curricular activities, shopping, visiting etc.
• During this quarantine period, if you have the following symptom eg fever, cough, sore throat, you must seek medical advice immediately at the designated hospital. i.e Sg Buloh Hospital, UMMC, Klang Hospital or telephone 03-26983757, 019-2299397
• During this quarantine period, students are adviced to eat a balanced diet and to have sufficient rest.
• If you have any query, you can contact KKM (Kementerian Kesihatan Malaysia) or respective school office
• During the school closure period, only authorized personnel are allowed to be in the school.

When Index Case Is Confirmed

• Contact tracing to be done by KKM and assisted by the respective schools. This includes close contact like car pooling/bus, tuition, co-curriculum activity etc.
• Parents must make full disclosure and cooperate fully with KKM and school officials.
• Air conditioning should not be used in classrooms and windows should be opened for ventilation.
• Personal hygiene must be observed at all times, eg. cough etiquette (coughing into tissue), hand washing, no shaking of hands, no sharing of fork and spoon, chopsticks etc.

What should I do if I get sick?

If you live in areas where people have been identified with novel H1N1 flu and become ill with influenza-like symptoms, including fever, body aches, runny or stuffy nose, sore throat, nausea, or vomiting or diarrhea, you should stay home and avoid contact with other people. Staying at home means that you should not leave your home except to seek medical care. This means avoiding normal activities, including work, school, travel, shopping, social events, and public gatherings

If you have severe illness or you are at high risk for flu complications, contact your health care provider or seek medical care. Your health care provider will determine whether flu testing or treatment is needed

If you become ill and experience any of the following warning signs, seek emergency medical care.

In children, emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:

• Fast breathing or trouble breathing
• Not drinking enough fluids
• Severe or persistent vomiting
• 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 worse cough

In adults, emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:

• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
• Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
• Sudden dizziness
• Confusion
• Severe or persistent vomiting
• Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough

What can I do to protect myself from getting sick?

• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way.
• Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
• Stay home if you are sick for 7 days after your symptoms begin or until you have been symptom-free for 24 hours, whichever is longer. This is to keep from infecting others and spreading the virus further.

Other important actions that you can take are:

• Follow public health advice regarding school closures, avoiding crowds and other social distancing measures.
• Be prepared in case you get sick and need to stay home for a week or so; a supply of over-the-counter medicines, alcohol-based hand rubs, tissues and other related items might could be useful and help avoid the need to make trips out in public while you are sick and contagious.

What is the best way to keep from spreading the virus through coughing or sneezing?
If you are sick, limit your contact with other people as much as possible. If you are sick, stay home for 7 days after your symptoms begin or until you have been symptom-free for 24 hours, whichever is longer. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. Put your used tissue in the waste basket. Then, clean your hands, and do so every time you cough or sneeze.

What is the best technique for washing my hands to avoid getting the flu?
Washing your hands often will help protect you from germs. Wash with soap and water or clean with alcohol-based hand cleaner. CDC recommends that when you wash your hands -- with soap and warm water -- that you wash for 15 to 20 seconds. When soap and water are not available, alcohol-based disposable hand wipes or gel sanitizers may be used. You can find them in most supermarkets and drugstores. If using gel, rub your hands until the gel is dry. The gel doesn't need water to work; the alcohol in it kills the germs on your hands.