COMANCHE CO., Okla_ The flu has
shut down one school in northeastern Oklahoma
today.
Our 7News team checked out the impact of the flu at schools in southwest Oklahoma. So far, it's
not that bad. Lawton Public Schools said their absentee rate was about 7%
Thursday, and most of the absentees were away with flu-like symptoms. They said that's just a little higher than
the average number of absentees for this time of year. Meanwhile Altus and Frederick
school systems are reporting even lower absentee rates connected to the flu.
School
officials said many things factor into a student's likelihood of getting sick
at school, from the size of the school to the health measures they've taken.
One thing is for so sure: officials hope their safeguards keep up.
Out of the 253
students that attend Frederick
High School, one only has
come down with the flu so far this season. Principal Randy Biggs said he and
school staff is constantly reminding students of what to do so that number
doesn't increase.
"We
encourage our kids to wash their hands," Biggs said, "Above and beyond anything
else."
He said while
that may sometimes be impossible for students, the school is offering an
alternative method: hand sanitizers in all 19 of their classrooms.
"Those
stay full. As a matter of fact, we've checked them recently and their all
working."
He said the
school has had them for quite some time, but Frederick High School
teacher Phyllis Allee said she's seeing students take time to use them even
more these days.
"When we
do hall duty our kids come by and slap the dispenser," Allee said. "You know,
they get the gel on their hands and wash their hands."
Local health
experts said Frederick High is right on track. They said washing your hands or
a quick dab of hand sanitizer is a great way to keep the flu from spreading.
Allee said
another thing teachers do to keep the flu virus at bay is clean classroom
desks.
"We just
wipe them down," Allee said. "Try to keep everyone healthy as possible."
Principal Biggs
said whatever methods the school is using to stay healthy, they're glad it's
paying off.
"We take
precautions for our kids," Biggs said, "And encourage them because sometimes
they're in a hurry. Just take the time and do it real quickly. They may not
think it does much good, but it does."
Health experts
do say not to rely on solely on hand sanitizer. They still encourage washing
your hands with soap and water as a number one preventative measure for
spreading the flu.
The State Health
Department indicates 325 Oklahomans have been hospitalized with the flu, and
eight have died.
The Comanche County Health Department has asked the Lawton/Fort Sill Chamber of Commerce to provide information regarding the widespread flu activity in Oklahoma.
Please consider reading, distributing and posting the attached messages and help stop the spread of flu in your business:
