Schools' prevention of H1N1 'impressive'
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Updated: November 04, 2009 7:00 AM
Hallways are lined with posters shouting: "Handwashing is very groovy, baby." Hoodies, speckled with buttons featuring clean hands making a peace sign.
It's either retro-revival week at Greater Victoria schools – or it's flu season.
"We asked our (school) leadership groups to design posters," said John Gaiptman, superintendent for Greater Victoria school district.
"We really want our students to be reminded constantly about handwashing, coughing into the crook of their elbow, using disposable tissues. We're seeing better hygiene practices in schools than anywhere else."
Dr. Richard Stanwick, chief medical health officer for the Vancouver Island Health Authority, agrees, calling hygiene at schools "impressive."
"They are doing very well," he said of South Island schools. "We used to use our schools as a way to see whether influenza had arrived. The good news is (schools are) a poor indicator this year, which is a great phenomenon."
Gaiptman said schools have been recording more absences than last year. A policy of "if you're not feeling well, stay home" contributes partly to that, he said.
But the difference in absenteeism over last year isn't huge – 10 per cent in most cases, which in most schools translates to one or two students, in addition to the average number, staying home sick. The school district doesn't record why students stay home.
The school district has installed 380 hand sanitizer dispensers in its almost 50 schools, costing $5,000, and has asked teachers and staff to set an example for students by using the sanitizer and washing their hands often.
With a shortage of the H1N1 vaccine in Canada, Gaiptman wonders how long schools can keep up this pace of good hygiene.
"I gotta tell you, we are ready for the vaccine," he said. "We just feel like sometimes we're the finger in the dike holding back the water. I'm very worried that, at some point, it's going to hit many of us."
ecardone@vicnews.com
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