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Friday, May 1, 2009

Lights, Camera, Over-reaction!

Okay - I'm giving in... we've GOT to talk about this Swine Flu thing...

Ooops, I mean the N1H1 Virus that has NOTHING at all to do with  processed pork products - my apologies to the pork industry...

I've gotten notes home from the elementary school about what symptoms to look for and how to teach your kids to wash their hands and sneeze into their sleeve.  I don't have a problem with this.

The kids have all watched videos DEMONSTRATING the whole sleeve/cough thing.  and if it's HALF as funny as when W re-enacted it for me at home - this was probably a great diversion from their regular educational endeavors!

I've been called in to a meeting to discuss the pandemic emergency response plan put in place by the school district.  I was okay with this although I spent a good portion of the meeting wondering why I wasn't freaking out enough.  Maybe because so many OTHER people were freaking out for me?  Maybe there just isn't enough freak to go around?

Turns out that the local Health Dept is "considering" the closure of our schools.  I personally don't think this is a big possibility as the nearest confirmed case of swine flu is hundreds of miles away.  Combined with the fact that those confirmed cases are actually surprisingly mild - I'm chosen to conserve my freak.  

If... errr... that's a big if - IF the schools are cancelled - the plan is that the kids will finish the rest of their school work via phone/internet and we won't go back until next August.  As nice as this sounds... my font selector won't get the "if" get any larger... it's probably not going to happen.

The schools have bought out all the hand sanitizer and disinfecting wipes from all of the local stores (I kid you not).  I'm even okay with this - because there IS a lot of pneumonia, regular flu, and even whooping cough going around.  Hey, sanitizing is just fine by me!

HOWEVER - what I am NOT okay with is the way some of the local kids are using freak willy nilly by claiming that so and so and so and so's cousin's hairdresser just went to Mexico and so we should probably quarantine them.  

and it's not just the kids.  My third grader came home with his backpacked CRAMMED full - apparently his teacher made them clean out their desks today - sent EVERYTHING home - art projects, etc...  just in case school was cancelled.  She told the class that the swine flu was worse than Cancer...  or at least that's what my son thought after her class.  I'm going to save all of my extra freak for her now...  not for her to USE, but I'm pretty sure I'm going to go ballistic with her at some point...  she is the same sweet teacher that informed the class last month that there is no such thing as the Easter Bunny.  What?  Did he catch N1H1?  Grrrr...

21 comments:

Kristina P. said...

MARIO LOPEZ!!!!

Heidi said...

Yeah, I would say they are over reacting. The school my husband teaches at was closed today due to a confirmed case of the flu but even though everyone knew his school was a high risk for infection (lots of immigrants there) they haven't done anything close to as obsessive as you are describing. Well, except for close the school for two weeks but that was only b/c the state health department ordered them to.

April said...

Hello!!! Flu is flu is flu! Thousands of people die a year from it! We'll see how it goes on Mon when my work is hosting an open house....free entry from 6-9. Free food, free swimming, drawings, etc. I can't wait to see what that will stir up! Cough...cough....sniff...sniff.....aaaaaachoooooo! oh, sorry.....i'll get that off the screen. Sorry!

roy/elisabeth dean said...

There have been confirmed cases in Bama about 15 miles from us (in Montgomery). I'm not really panicky just yet. The thing is, people are contagious a full 24 hours before they get sick, so how are you going to avoid that? We wash our hands a lot more, but that's about it. We'll see.
Of course, on the other hand if it is to come here, it will probably start with me.....
uh oh.....i'm not feeling so well~
hahaha...snort!
I'm such a ham!
♥,Lilly

Suzanne Benner said...

Have to agree on the over-reaction thing. Man. It's the flu. It isn't typically deadly, even... not saying it isn't something to be careful of or anything like that... just that people are treating it like it is a Biblical plague, or the disease that wipes out 90% of the population at the beginning of the Stand. ... Just asking for a little more logic and a little less histrionic. (That last line sounds like good song lyrics, eh?)

Tonya said...

M.O.T.H. and I were driving home from our morning date (all you can eat breakfast - turns out I can't eat that much) and passed a neighbor wearing a surgical mask and with his arm in a sling... he's protecting against swine flu AND pork shoulder maybe?

AND no kidding - my word verifier says baconse... the pork industry is REALLY trying to get their product out there if they're using WV to advertise!

Chelsi said...

I'm with you on the not freaking out route. They keep reminding people that they regular flu kills 36,000 people every year. Fortunately, our school hasn't freaked out too much. No talk of closing schools, just a big focus on hand-washing and keeping sick kids home. I'm good with that.

Barbaloot said...

I'm just amazed that finishing school by phone/internet is an OPTION! Can you believe that? I mean, that is completely changed from even 5 years ago.

But I hope they don't have to. I think Swine Flu is a myth... :)

H.K. said...

Talk about an over reactive teacher, wow! I guess she has not heard that the confirmed swine flu cases in the U.S. have ALL been mild.

Megz said...

I like to take advantage of the situation and will be selling bedazzled face masks. Since everyone is wearing them we may as well look a little fabulous right? I just need some startup funds though...any takers?

April said...

We were out to dinner last night and passed two people in a car wearing face masks. SERIOUSLY! If you are that worried about it....STAY HOME! The hubby and I just laughed!

mariann and Tory said...

It drives me crazy hearing people freak out about it! Honestly the media is totally freaking people out!! Drives me NUTS!

Melinda said...

I can't even comment about the swine flu thing, I'm SO SICK OF IT! But I will say, they should be careful with the hand sanitizer, it's really bad for small children. Because there's alcohol in it, if they put it on their hands and then wipe their face, after awhile they can get alcohol poisoning. And thats not me freaking out, my friend's a nurse and see's it at the hospital. Sad huh?

just the five of us said...

We've had 2 schools close in the area for the flu. I had a girl out all week with some stomach virus, her brother was telling his teacher that they hope that it isn't swine flu! ME TOO! I already have head lice going on (3 months now) this would top the cake for my class's reputation. I am so sick of the news overreacting!!

Becky said...

I'm with you. Swine flu is registering at about .5 on my things-to-worry-about-toady scale. And yes, maybe it's because I'm in Alaska, and maybe it's because I'm not well informed, but mostly because I'm just not an excitable person. I'll save my drama for other stuff - like if I ever meet Hugh Jackman or win the lottery or lose 10 pounds.

Shawn said...

Hey there----Just swinging over from SITS! Beautiful blog!

We just got some swine flu here a few days ago---New England...but I am not freaking out yet!!


So over it, already.

Have a great day!!

LC said...

Sending all the kids stuff home??? I think the REAL disease going around is Spring Fever.

Online school isn't so bad...no hand sanitizer necessary.

Kollen Marchant said...

Amen to your blog. Aden's teacher has him all freaked out and frankly I'm a little ticked about that. Really, C'mon, Really let's just all settle down.

The Blonde Duck said...

It's crazy down here. They've shut down several school district and cancelled all major sporting events and concerts. Everyone is acting like they need a quarantine!

Shelle-BlokThoughts said...

NNNNOOOOOOO... I don't want my kids to be out of school... are you kidding me, that is MY TIME!!!

What kind of a mom are you... wishing for them to be home and hanging out with yoU!!! :)

Yea... the teachers gotta go!

Heather B said...

I have a nephew serving a mission in Mexico City; they have been stuck in their apartment for over a week now. Yikes! No fun for them--I mean, what is there to do once you've studied, prayed, exercised, and studied some more? No known cases in our area, but I'm just hoping we can hold out for those last precious three weeks of school... And grrr to the over-reactors!