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Bethel Park School District Health Services

pandemic information

H1N1 (Swine) Flu

H1N1 Update--On October 14, the school district was notified of two test-confirmed cases of H1N1 at Bethel Park High School.  There have also been several students throughout the district who have exhibited flu-like symptoms and have been diagnosed by their doctors as having H1N1 or H1N1-like symptoms, but their conditions were not officially confirmed via laboratory testing. Please click here to read a letter to all Bethel Park families from Dr. Knight, that outlines what parents can do to help keep their children from getting/spreading H1N1 or other viruses.  If you or any member of your family experience flu-like symptoms, you are encouraged to contact your family physician.  As always, the best defense against communicable disease is proper hand washing. We ask parents to keep their children home if they are exhibiting symptoms or do not feel well.  Please click here to learn more about H1N1/Flu Tips.

Here are the Bethel Park Schools which have CONFIRMED cases of H1N1:

• Bethel Park High School
• Neil Armstrong Middle School
• Franklin Elementary School
• Lincoln Elementary School
• Memorial Elementary School

ALL Bethel Park Schools have students or staff who are experiencing flu-like symptoms and/or have been diagnosed as having the flu by their doctors, without confirmed laboratory testing.

The Allegheny County Health Department is offering free H1N1 vaccines.  For more information, please call 412-687-ACHD (412-687-2243).

Also, the Pennsylvania Department of Health will be offering mass vaccination H1N1 Clinics on January 8 and 9 from 8 AM to 4 PM at the following locations:
 

• Butler Auto Auction
• Indiana University of Pennsylvania
• Georgian Place Mall in Somerset
• Joseph A. Hardy Connellsville Airport
• Washington County Agricultural Fair
• The Event Center at Westmoreland Mall

You can register at www.H1N1inPa.com or call 1-877-PA-HEALTH.

Please click here to learn about action steps parents can take should their child contract the flu.

We encourage you to visit www.h1n1inpa.com  This website, created by the State, will provide you with valuable information about the status of the flu, what the State is doing to prepare for a possible outbreak, and what you can do to prepare yourself and your family as well.

Here are some tips you can use/talk to your child about to avoid contracting the swine flu:

• Emphasize frequent hand washing;
• Stress the importance of covering coughs and sneezes in one's sleeves, not hands;
• Keep hands away from eyes, nose and mouth;
• Use tissues and dispose of them after each use;
• Keep children and adults who are ill at home until symptoms subside;
• Get flu shots

Additionally, the Centers for Disease Control offers this advice:

• People who are sick should stay home until at least 24 hours after their fever ends, even if you are using antiviral drugs.
• Students and staff who become sick while in school should be separated in a clean, safe room and given protective gear such as a mask until they can go home.  Those who are caring for ill students and staff should wear protective gear, such as face masks.
• Only schools with large numbers of students who are especially at risk of illness, such as students who are pregnant or who have conditions such as muscular dystrophy or cerebral palsy, might want to close.
• Students and staff with high risk conditions such as diabetes and asthma should seek medical care immediately if they get a fever accompanied by coughs.

We will continue to update this site with additional information as it becomes available.