UPDATE 02-01-2012 - State Changes their rule on Immunizations again
Preventing Diarrheal Illnesses in Schools
by Chris Sabotta
March 11, 2009
When increased reports of diarrheal illnesses occur in schools and day cares, it is important for school administrators to review the basic prevention and control measures outlined by the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH):
•Request
that students and staff report any diarrheal illness to the
nurse's
office or the school's designee at the first sign of
symptoms;
•Ask that
students and employees with diarrhea (if thought to be infectious
in nature) not attend school until diarrhea has ceased;
• Maintain
adequate supplies of liquid soap and paper towels for hand washing
with adequate waste receptacles near sinks;
• Display
posters explaining hand washing in bathrooms and other hand wash
areas. Schools can obtain materials on hand washing from the local
health department or IDPH at http://www.idph.state.il.us/about/fdd/HandWash2.pdf
.
• Remind
students to perform proper hand washing,
supervise and assist younger children as needed, and be a model for
proper hand washing for students and co-workers;
• Consider
using alcohol-based hand hygiene products when hand washing sinks
are not nearby and hands are not visibly soiled. Dispensers, hand
rubs and related
products can be used if they comply with school code
requirements.
Alcohol-based hand gels reduce the amount of germs on hands but do
not remove dirt; and
•
Discourage use of common food bowls or shared servings of food
items that can be ingested. These measures, if applied, can reduce
the transmission of illnesses in schools and day cares. Your
assistance is greatly appreciated in applying illness management
practices
