Obama says schools should consider - closing for swine flu

mckayleesmom wrote: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090429/ap_on_...obama_swine_flu


I wonder what some parents will do if this happens. Alot of people don't make daycare arrangements for emergency school closeing.

MommyToAshley replied: If children in Ashley's school had it, then I would want them to close. And, I know I wouldn't put her in daycare... that would probably be worse than the schools themselves.

Calimama replied:
Exactly.

mckayleesmom replied:
I hear ya. Actually Obama states that they should avoid daycare if that happens also. I'm just saying that alot of people might find themselves in a jam since they work during the day and probably don't have arrangements made this early in the year.

Kentuckychick replied: We have schools close in Kentucky every year for something... usually it's norovirus or the flu (I haven't seen any this year... but I'm sure there have been). It's really no different.

If a confirmed case is reported in a school then the school closes down for several days, so that the germs can die and the staff can clean.

This is usually enough to at the very least help stop the spread.

I understand that having a school close it's doors unexpectedly is a pain for the parents, but as a teacher I also know that the ramifications of keep the school open and having an outbreak could be far worse.

As a teacher I personally would want our center closed immediately. We have children ages 6 weeks - 6 years... many of whom have health issues (we're situated in a rehabilitation hospital).

I also feel if I were a parent I would want my child at home with me.

Boo&BugsMom replied: These types of situations make me glad I made the choice to work at night and not have to deal with daycare.

Crystalina replied: I would want them closed for sure.

Cece00 replied: They closed a private school in my city today. 6 or 8 kids tested positive for the flu (swabs) and one of them had been in Mexico directly prior for 2 weeks. So they closed the school pending the results of the swabs being regular flu or swine.

coasterqueen replied: Thank goodness school is almost over for all our kids this year. We have gotten so many sicknesses this past year and I know they've been brought home from school. In December, the time Kylie got severe strep, they had over 140 kids out that day and had another 50+ puking all over the school. The second day they had 150+ kids out of school. This was right before Christmas break and so they didn't cancel school, but wouldn't allow the kids to eat any food brought from home for the Christmas parties. It was terrible.

Our Lil' Family replied:
Crystal, let me know if that test comes back positive for swine! Which school was it?

mckayleesmom replied:
wow..that is insane.

wcs40110 replied: I think missing a few days work is worth my child's health so I would have no problem with this.

luvmykids replied: They've closed the FW schools until May 8....it's pretty close to us but not close enough that I'm worried. If they closed our school it wouldn't bother me, better safe than sorry, but if I was a working mom it would probably send me into panic mode.

Boo&BugsMom replied: 4 schools are being closed in Milwaukee.

Kentuckychick replied: When I arrived at work today the first message in our emails was one from the head of the hospital that had a FAQ about the "swine flu" and what symptoms to watch for. It said that the hospital has the capability to test 16 people and if anyone shows symptoms that they should be tested immediately.

It also said that if an incidence of the illness was to occur in our daycare or preschool (which is located in the pediatric building) that the entire facility (the pediatric half) would be shut down for 7 days.

Of course they also said everything about it not being as bad as it seems and that we will take extra precautions because we're a hospital.

My grandfather was admitted to the hospital today with pneumonia (he has congestive heart failure and lung issues and isn't expected to live much longer so it wasn't a huge surprise) but my dad said that anyone in the ER with cold/flu like symptoms was being forced to wear a mask. So I guess they're taking it pretty seriously.

The doctor did say to my dad and I thought it was pretty intelligent that while most people can simply overcome this flu by staying home in bed and getting well, instead they drag themselves out to the emergency rooms and doctors offices where there are already individuals with compromised immune systems and spread the infection. He suggested anyone who shows symptoms should call their primary caregiver and get their advice over the phone before going to an office.