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How are you responding to the news that swine flu is spreading?
Are you taking extra precautions or simply re-emphasizing already established health and safety policies? Wellness policies, sanitation procedures, etc.
Do you have procedures in place in case a child presents with symptoms while at church?
If outbreaks already in your area, are you closing programs? If so for how long?
What plans are in place to sanitize your facility if an outbreak happens?
Lisa B from NC
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| Lisa- I'm sorry to say I haven't really thought about it all that much. We are close (10 miles) to the first outbreak in Northern CA. I did have a little boy come in last Wednesday and he made me giggle. He immediately came from the door to my feet. He asked, "Ms. Kate, will we be touching anything tonight? If so I have some special wipes to use so I don't get the illness that is hurting people." We use FWF so of course we touch things. He was wiping his hands all night. Our nursery toys are sanitized each week by our nursery staff. I'll have to take better precautions in case something does happen here. Thank you for making me think!  Kate
Kate Radford
Children's Ministry Coordiator
Carmichael, CA 
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We put a notice on our website as to our health policies and procedures and I sent home a letter to parents in my department reminding them of our health policies (if your child has displayed any of the following symptoms in the past 24 hours please don't bring them to our children's programs). Our teachers know to page a parent if their child appears sick. We will ask them to take the child and provide some toy/coloring page if needed. Most parents don't mind taking their child.
These are our standard practices and for the time we'll just increase vigilance.
We have hand sanitizer in every classroom as well as a disinfectant spray (non-aerosol). Children are encouraged to use the sanitizer when entering the classroom, before snack and after wiping a nose.
Tables are sprayed down at the beginning of each class. In toddlers and twos any toy that goes in the mouth, once put down goes into the dirty toy bucket. All toys are sprayed at the end of the morning. In infants, toys are washed between children and all equipment at the end of each class.
We use Pursue (by Amway?). It is safe to let dry on the toys or you can wipe after it sits for a few seconds. I also use Lysol wipes while doing large toy cleaning (won't be going in a mouth).
If it became hazardous in our area, we would probably suspend children's cl.
LC
CM Nursery and Midweek Director
N. CA
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Hi Lisa! As a Pediatric Nurse, I am using just common sense...LOTS OF GOOD HANDWASHING...I keep hand gel and antibacterial wipes everywhere. Also boxes of tissues to cover little mouths and noses. We ask parents not to send sick children...we are not going into Nsg homes or hospitals for outreach where there is SUCH a risk of a child touching something. Additionally, I have prepared a little talk to present at coffee hour after worship...not just for this, but also for MRSA which is also a problem. I would encourage you to ask a nurse or physician in your congregation to do the same for your congregation. We had an outbreak of swine in our hospital in June and my 15 yr old had it as well. Scary stuff, but manageable if you use your head. Hope this helps! Kimberly
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Thanks for the sensible advise on swine flu and good hygiene in general!
Last September, we do hands on training on our diapering and hand washing procedure for all those that change diapers. We talked about guarding against MRSA, but Swine flu was not a concern yet. It's time to do that again and mention swine flu.
We also go over the hand washing procedures at SS Orientation & Training with our Sunday School teachers. This year we added that teachers need to make sure that they cover coughs and teach the children to do the same. Rooms that do not have sinks or bathrooms will be provided hand sanitizer and training on proper use.
Our directors also make sure that we have tissues, soap and hand sanitizer in each classroom. (I just purchased a dozen boxes, so we have back up boxes.)
Lisa B from NC
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| All good ideas! As I tell everyone who asks me...use common sense...a little handwashing goes a LONG way! I know that immunizations are not always popular w/ the "church crowd", but I am a FIRM believer in the flu shot also...anyone who tells you they "got the flu" from the flu shot was already getting sick...the flu shot just coincided w/ that illness...when I see the devastation the flu causes in even healthy people, I cannot emphasize it enough. My teenager HAD the flu shot and then got swine...it was not a pretty picture...she was SO sick...missed 2 weeks of school and lots of end of the yr activities...no fun. Ditto for MRSA...much of the general population is probably walking around colonized w/ it...I carry hand sanitizer for after touching rails on stairs, shopping carts, etc...it just needs an "invitation" (ie: open scratch on your hand) OR for you to touch it and then touch your face..esp your nose. Blessings! Kimberly
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| Interesting...I got this update in my email this AM...it is from the CDC and is specific for daycare re: Swine Flu...thought you all might like to take a look...for those who don't know, H1N1 is Swine...Kimberly http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/childcare/guidance.htm
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| This was in our local newspaper this week. One area church has decided to be ahead of the curve, I guess. Peace be with you, but keep your germs to yourself. Parishioners at SS. Peter and Paul Church in Ottawa will be asked to not hold hands during the Lord’s Prayer, to forego the standard handshake after it and not clasp paws with the priest following Mass. The Rev. Matt Jozefiak said the policies, precautions to stymie a possible relapse of swine flu, will go into effect next weekend. The church will also stop giving wine from the cup during Communion. “I don’t know if it’s an overreaction or not,” Jozefiak said. “I just want to protect people the best we can.”
Pictures taken on vacation at Lake Junaluska, NC.
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