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H1N1 Flu: Protecting Our Community, Testimony of Julie Polansky
Framework Heading: Special Issues – Pandemic Flu
Title: H1N1 Flu: Protecting Our Community, Testimony of Julie Polansky
Bibliographic Entry: U.S. Congress. Senate. Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. H1N1 Flu: Protecting Our Communities. 111th Cong., 1st sess., September 21, 2009. http://hsgac.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Files. View&FileStore_id=d292df06-b5e2-464d-867d-8ba32d861040 (accessed October 27, 2009).
Electronic Link: http://hsgac.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Files. View&FileStore_id=d292df06-b5e2-464d-867d-8ba32d861040
Key Words: H1N1, school closure, emergency notification system, community education, public schools, daycares, medical emergencies
Summary of Key Points, Issues, Conclusions: Ms. Julie A. Polansky, the mother of a student attending Vernon Public Schools, testified before the U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs regarding community communication during emergency situations, particularly regarding the 2009 H1N1 outbreak. Ms. Polansky stresses the need for the establishment and usage of an emergency notification system for the public school system in case of emergency. She also requests further definition of community guidelines in such situations. Ms. Polansky also cites the effect that school closures have on the entire community, and notes the possible inconsistencies of displacing children from possibly infected schools into daycares with similar risks of infection. She concludes with a request for further cleaning and sanitizing procedures in case of medical emergencies such as the 2009 H1N1 pandemic.
Date Posted: October 29, 2009