April 28, 2009

Dear HBR Community Members,

Please be advised that the Hinckley-Big Rock CUSD #429 continues to monitor the recent health concerns associated with documented cases of swine flu. As of this posting, no known cases related to swine flu have been documented in the state of Illinois. According to the Illinois Department of Public Health, the following precautions need to be observed by all individuals:

1) Cover your mouth and nose whenever you sneeze or cough.
2) Wash your hands with soap and water frequently, especially after using the rest room.
3) See your doctor if you have a fever, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills or fatigue.
4) If you get sick, stay home and limit your contact with others.

For additional information, please see the attached documents from the Illinois Department of Public Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Sincerely,

Dr. Jim Hammack
Superintendent

January 30, 2009

Wellness Tip #2

Getting Started!

For many people, the thought of engaging in a regular program of exercise can seem to be difficult.  The many considerations for beginning a regular program of exercise include time, consistency, duration, intensity, and the chance of injury.

According to the United States Department of Health and Human Services, here are some common-sense and safe approaches to assist you in moving forward with your exercise program:

0. Choose an activity that you enjoy such as walking, riding a bike, or playing basketball.

0. Start with small amounts of time such as 10 minutes and gradually add more time as your fitness level increases.

0. You don't have to spend a lot of money to get healthy.  You may join a gym or club, but you may also walk around a park or do exercise at your home.

0. Remember the benefits of physical activity when you are making a decision to pursue a program.  These benefits include, but are not limited to weight loss or control, better muscle tone, increased cardiovascular health, lowered blood pressure, lowered levels of stress, and improved sleep patterns.

0. A good schedule is 2 hours and 30 minutes a week of moderate activity to build heart and lung capacity and time spent on two days per week to build muscular strength and flexibility.

0. Some good examples of fitness activity include hiking, biking, canoeing, dancing, gardening, tennis, water aerobics, and swimming.  Please remember to start at a moderate level and then to increase duration and intensity levels.

Note:  Whenever beginning a regular fitness and exercise program, please consult your physician regarding the applicability of that program to your personal health needs and condition.

April 30, 2009

To:  Parents and Guardians of Hinckley-Big Rock School District Students
From: Dr. Jim Hammack
Re: Update on School District Procedures Regarding Swine Influenza

Dear Hinckley-Big Rock School District Parents and Guardians,

Please be advised that the school district is taking appropriate steps to provide for the health and well-being of all students and staff members. To that end, the following information should be noted:

 1) All individuals should practice appropriate health habits in order to stop the spread of germs.
  Those habits include, but are not limited to, covering your mouth and nose and using a tissue when
you cough or sneeze, washing your hands with soap and water often, and avoiding contact with 
people who are ill. 

2) If your child exhibits any of the following symptoms (sore throat, muscle ache, cough, headache and a temperature of 101.5 degrees Fahrenheit or higher) he or she should be referred to a physician for proper care. Children should not attend school if they are sick. In addition, if a child presents flu-like symptoms while at school, his/her parent(s) will be contacted and the student will be sent home immediately. Prior to the child's return to school, the parent(s) should obtain a physician's statement of release.

3) In the event that a case of Swine Influenza is documented or a probable case coupled with higher than average absenteeism is documented by the school district, the district will enact immediate steps to protect the health and safety of all students and staff. Those steps will include the following:

 A) The immediate closure of a particular school, schools or of the school district
  facilities and programs (to include all extra-
  curricular and athletic programs) for a specific period of time.
B) The closing of a particular school, schools or of the school district for community events during that same periodof time.
C) The disinfecting of the appropriate district busses and facilities to take place during the
  time of the closure

4) Should the closure of a particular school, schools or the school district be necessary prior to the start of a regular school day, parents, guardians and students will be notified of the closure through the regular emergency closing channels. These would include the school district website, radio and television announcements.

5) Should the closure of a particular school, schools or the entire school district be necessary during the regular school day, the school district will make every attempt to contact an individual child's parent or guardian prior to the release of that child to his/her home. To assist us in this process, the district is asking that parents and guardians update all of their contact numbers through the office of their respective school(s).

Please be assured that the school district will work closely with the Illinois Department of Public Health, the DeKalb County Health Department, the Kane County Health Department and the Regional Office of Education to provide for the health and well being of your child.

Sincerely,

Dr. Jim Hammack