Educate .. don’t create hysteria

In light of the recent swine flu epidemic, I think teachers must be the voice of reason and use this opportunity as a “teachable moment” to discuss disease prevention but also how the media can cause mass hysteria.

Technology is great for having the most up-to-date information but it can also over feed the news frenzy.  Here are a few resources that I am using to educate my students about disease prevention and the swine flu.

For students:

CDC YouTube channel.  “Put your hands together” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZlDqcmY_EV8

Questions & Answers from CDC:  H1N1 Flu (Swine Flu) and You http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/swineflu_you.htm

HealthMap – Map of Global Disease alerts http://www.healthmap.org/

Slideshow:  Top Hot Spots for Germs http://life.familyeducation.com/slideshow/hygiene/61567.html

Good advice:

• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hands cleaners are also effective.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way.
• Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
• Influenza is thought to spread mainly person-to-person through coughing or sneezing of infected people.
• If you get sick, CDC recommends that you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.

Media Hysteria:

Student editorial

CNN commentary:  Its time to end flu hysteria http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/05/01/navarrette.biden.flu/

Swine flu hysteria spreads faster than virus http://www.prisonplanet.com/swine-flu-hysteria-spreads-faster-than-actual-virus.html

For schools:

Information from CDC about school’s response to swine flu http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/k12_dismissal.htm

School District (K-12) Pandemic Influenza Planning Checklist http://www.pandemicflu.gov/plan/school/schoolchecklist.html

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