STUART, FL -- The first lesson of the day on the first day of class may sound familiar, but administrators say it's never been more important: wash your hands.
At Citrus Grove Elementary, students watched an animated video on how to combat germs and practice good hand washing. It's part of a new education campaign promoted by the Martin County Health Department and the school district in an effort to contain the spread of swine flu.
"We hope this hand washing campaign will ward it off, but seeing our camps and colleges – we’re going to see it in the schools," said Tracey Bowsman, a health department nurse who works at Martin County schools.
Fifth grade teacher Sharon Windsor greeted all of her new students at the door by squirting hand sanitizer into their palms.
"Squirt and sit," she said.
If students to become ill, and are suspected of having swine flu, schools will outfit the infected child with a surgical mask to try and stop the spread of the virus. Sick children will be placed in an "isolation room" until their parents arrive.
Bowsman says the swine flu virus is spread by droplets that can remain active on desks and table tops for up to 8 hours.
Health experts say most swine flu cases are no more severe than seasonal flu, but they are likely to be more common until a vaccine is developed later this fall.
For more information on swine flu, you can log onto:
www.MyFluSafety.com or call 877-352-3581.
