OPINION: Schools, hospitals take important steps in planning for swine flu

The vaccine for H1N1, commonly known as swine flu, has begun arriving in South Carolina, but precautionary measures by school districts, hospitals and individuals are still crucial in lessening the novel virus’ impact on our region and state.

Hospitals have begun limiting visitation by children and youths under certain ages. McLeod Health has closed its children’s hospital to visitors younger than 14, although the hospital’s newborn nursery and its labor and delivery units are open to symptom-free siblings from 4 to 8 p.m.

Carolinas Hospital System has restricted visitors ages 12 and under and placed signs at its entrances asking anyone with a cough or fever over 100 to wear a mask provided by the hospital, said Donna Miller, Carolinas’ infection control nurse.

Lake City Community Hospital decided Thursday to display signs making the “strong suggestion” that children 12 and younger, for their safety, shouldn’t visit the hospital, said Cindy Moon, a registered nurse who works in infection prevention at the hospital.

Florence School District 3, in southern Florence County, held two tabletop exercises Sept. 29 at Lake City High School for district and school leaders to discuss responses to a hypothetical H1N1 outbreak.

Attending the exercises along with district and school leaders was Fran Hall, a disease surveillance and response coordinator with the Florence Public Health Office of the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control.

DHEC says 25,500 doses of the nasal spray vaccine for H1N1 are on their way to the South Carolina. That’s the first of expected multiple shipments to the state, DHEC spokesman Thom Berry said earlier this week.

People who get a seasonal flu shot also should get vaccinated against H1N1, according to DHEC’s recommendations.

Unfortunately, the Medical University of South Carolina said it had to destroy 10,000 doses of the H1N1 vaccine because it was frozen and therefore rendered ineffective.

Pregnant women can’t receive the nasal spray, so they’ll have to wait for an injection of the vaccine possibly as soon as next week, according to DHEC.

Once again, everyone also can take commonsense health and hygiene measures to keep themselves — and others — well. It’s as simple as washing your hands thoroughly and frequently and covering your cough with your sleeve.

DHEC also recommends getting plenty of sleep, staying home when sick, and staying away from people who are sick — all of which are good practices any time of year.

— Unsigned editorials represent the views of this newspaper. Editorial Board members are Mark Laskowski (regional publisher), James Bennett (regional editor), Sam Bundy (sports editor), Kimberly Ginfrida (news editor), David Johnson (regional circulation director), Charles Tomlinson (Lake City News & Post editor) and Jackie Torok (metro editor).