When I think of autumn, I imagine crisp apples, colorful leaves, cool weather, carving pumpkins . . . but this year, H1N1 is stealing the show. Hand sanitizer is as plentiful as pumpkins, and even an apple a day can't keep the doctor away. Every sniffle is scrutinized, every ache causes alarm. Flu-fear is spoiling our fall!
So what can you do to flu-proof your church, and fight the flu-fear that's spreading more quickly than the virus? Here are a few ideas:
Prevention
Staying Home is OK!
Send home a note to parents and caregivers letting them know they can have a free pass on perfect attendance if they keep their kids home when they're feeling sick. Assure them that protecting their kids from catching a cold or the flu is your priority too, so sniffling kids will be asked to stay with parents instead of entering the nursery or Sunday school programs.
If you communicate with families via email, or have space on your church website, link this music video from Dr. Clarke to inspire kids and parents to stay healthy:
Disinfecting at the door
Supply each room with hand wipes and a pump hand sanitizer for kids to use as they enter the class/nursery. Use hand wipes with small children and keep the pump out of reach from the kids except when it's time to use it. Remind teachers to encourage kids to wash/sanitize their hands after they blow their nose and to avoid touching their nose, mouth, and eyes as much as possible.
Keeping clean
Before and after kids arrive and after they leave, wipe down surfaces and doorknobs with a household cleaner, and wash all the toys that have been in toddlers' mouths.
Planning
Scheduling substitutes
Remind your teaching team who to call if they're sick when they're scheduled to serve. Let everyone know about plan C--a video, a combined class activity, or a way to cancel class--in case subs can't be secured. Decide what would happen if schools close for sickness in your area--would that mean church programs would close as well? How would that be communicated to families?
Communication station
Partner with a doctor or nurse from your congregation or a local clinic to get information you can use to set up a billboard or booth for families. Post helpful fliers and handouts on how to stay healthy as the flu season approaches, and highlight the worship, church school, and nursery policies involving illness.
Perspective
The flu doesn't have the final word!
With all this talk of sickness it's hard not to feel anxious about H1N1! That's when it's time to take a deep breath, whisper a prayer, and reset our focus. The God who knows every hair on our head is still in control--which means precaution is necessary, but paranoia is not. After all, not even the flu can separate us from the love of God--"neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:38-39).
So what can you do to flu-proof your church, and fight the flu-fear that's spreading more quickly than the virus? Here are a few ideas:
Prevention
Staying Home is OK!
Send home a note to parents and caregivers letting them know they can have a free pass on perfect attendance if they keep their kids home when they're feeling sick. Assure them that protecting their kids from catching a cold or the flu is your priority too, so sniffling kids will be asked to stay with parents instead of entering the nursery or Sunday school programs.
If you communicate with families via email, or have space on your church website, link this music video from Dr. Clarke to inspire kids and parents to stay healthy:
Disinfecting at the door
Supply each room with hand wipes and a pump hand sanitizer for kids to use as they enter the class/nursery. Use hand wipes with small children and keep the pump out of reach from the kids except when it's time to use it. Remind teachers to encourage kids to wash/sanitize their hands after they blow their nose and to avoid touching their nose, mouth, and eyes as much as possible.
Keeping clean
Before and after kids arrive and after they leave, wipe down surfaces and doorknobs with a household cleaner, and wash all the toys that have been in toddlers' mouths.
Planning
Scheduling substitutes
Remind your teaching team who to call if they're sick when they're scheduled to serve. Let everyone know about plan C--a video, a combined class activity, or a way to cancel class--in case subs can't be secured. Decide what would happen if schools close for sickness in your area--would that mean church programs would close as well? How would that be communicated to families?
Communication station
Partner with a doctor or nurse from your congregation or a local clinic to get information you can use to set up a billboard or booth for families. Post helpful fliers and handouts on how to stay healthy as the flu season approaches, and highlight the worship, church school, and nursery policies involving illness.
Perspective
The flu doesn't have the final word!
With all this talk of sickness it's hard not to feel anxious about H1N1! That's when it's time to take a deep breath, whisper a prayer, and reset our focus. The God who knows every hair on our head is still in control--which means precaution is necessary, but paranoia is not. After all, not even the flu can separate us from the love of God--"neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:38-39).
Posts
Here's an update on this article—visit http://www.crwrc.org/pages/crwrc_pandemic.cfm
ReplyDeletefor great ideas and resources for use in the fight against the flu. This webpage was developed by the Pandemic Preparedness Committee under the leadership of the Christian Reformed World Relief Committee (CRWRC). Please post other websites you've found helpful!