Addressing the Unique Needs of Schools K-12


Thursday, April 5, 2007

Ensuring that children are safe when they are in schools is one of the most important goals for any teacher or administrator. However, the challenges of a comprehensive emergency response plan for schools are unique, given preparedness requires coordination with diverse groups such as parents, children and law enforcement officials. The American Public Health Association (APHA) conducted a preparedness poll that found that in light of recent national emergencies, including the September 11 terrorist attacks and Hurricane Katrina, 94 percent of school districts have emergency response plans in place, but only 50 percent have a plan for an infectious disease epidemic. This lack of preparedness is a grave concern since a serious infectious disease could spread rapidly through schools and communities.

Since 91 percent of most school administrators rate preparing for a public health emergency as a priority, the primary obstacles for emergency preparedness among schools appear to be costs and lack of resources. Only 6 percent of surveyed schools report sufficient funding to make substantial investments in student health and safety, while 66 percent report their budgets are ‘tight’ or in ‘crisis.’

School administrators and teachers can take steps to assess their school’s level of preparedness. School officials should review if they have prepared safety drills for students and faculty, emergency communication plans and a process for educating parents about emergency evacuation procedures. Schools should have plans in place for distance learning if their facilities are closed for an indefinite period of time. Communities surrounding schools may establish committees that will continually review and revise emergency response plans.

In This Issue
  • What’s Happening Today
  • NPHW in the News
  • Take Action Today!
  • NPHW Blog Series
  • Resources

What’s Happening Today

  • CDC Pandemic Flu Satellite Broadcast, Atlanta, Ga.
  • Public Health Symposium, Piscataway, N.J.
  • Linn County Public Health Recognition Banquet, Marion, Iowa
  • 2007 Public Health Heroes Celebration, Portland, Ore.
  • Current Issues in Public Health, Brookline, Mass.
  • Capturing Sneezes and Recognizing Strokes, Brookline, Mass.
  • Macon County Health Department Health Fair-Be Prepared, Decatur, Ill.
  • Univ. of S. Florida College of Public Health “Lost Boys of Sudan” Film Screening, Tampa, Fla.
  • Public Health Preparedness Fair, Corpus Christi, TexasFood Safety and More, Brookline, Mass.
  • The Heat is Rising: What You Need to Know About Climate Change and Public Health, Baltimore, Md.
  • Anderson County Chamber of Commerce Coffee, Clinton, Tenn.
  • Run Drugs Out of Town 5K Run/Walk, Yuba City, Calif.
  • Rabies Clinic, Brookline, Mass.

Other events may be accessed at www.apha.org/nphw/calendar. There is also a list of government agencies, health organizations, resources for teachers and other tools.

National Public Health Week in the News

Take Action Today!

THURSDAY: Schools serving children in kindergarten through 12th grade
Support initiatives to direct the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to provide funds to local governmental agencies (emergency medical services, fire departments, law enforcement agencies, hospitals, and school nurses) that provide emergency response, medical services, training, and life supporting first aid to children.  Click here to contact Congress.

The following is a list of legislative policies, programs and initiatives that correspond with APHA’s National Public Health Week campaign to address the issue of preparedness for public health threats and emergencies.  Click on the links below to contact your elected officials in support of these bills and programs. 

Policy Asks to Improve Overall Preparedness:

  1. Invest in the public health infrastructure.  Fully fund comprehensive public health programs and infrastructure, which ensure access to basic primary health services for millions of Americans on both a day-to-day and emergency basis - addressing the diverse needs of urban, rural and underserved areas; and training health care personnel to provide needed services.   Click here to contact Congress.

  2. Develop Trauma Care Planning Systems for States and Localities.   Support H.R. 727, Rep. Gene Green’s (D-TX) ‘‘Trauma Care Systems Planning and Development Act’’, which directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to develop systems of care through sharing information among agencies and individuals involved in the study and provision of trauma care; and provide to State and local agencies technical assistance to develop, implement, and sustain emergency medical services.  Click here to contact Congress.

  3. Help first-responders communicate with one another.  Support S.385, Senator Inouye’s (D-HI) “Interoperable Emergency Communications Act”, which provides the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) with guidance as it awards $1 billion in interoperable emergency communications grants to police, firemen, and emergency medical personnel.  This bill would establish technology reserves to assist emergency response agencies in pre-positioning communications equipment in states or regional facilities. These reserves can be activated quickly in the event of a major emergency or natural disaster. Click here to contact Congress:

National Public Health Week Blog Series

 In conjunction with APHA's Get Ready for Flu Campaign (link to www.getreadyforflu.org) we will be featuring daily entries related to the daily themes and focuses of National Public Health Week on our Get Ready for Flu blog.  Click here to read today's!

Click here to sign up to receive Get Ready for Flu blog entries delivered right to your e-mail inbox.

NPHW Resources

Resources for Teachers:

APHA would especially like to thank our financial supporters who helped make this week possible.