VIDEO: South Lamar Fights Flu Outbreak

MILLPORT, Ala. (WCBI) – You don’t need a statement from the health department to know the flu has been rampant in the area.

With students starting class after the long winter holiday, school administrators are doing their best to make sure viruses don’t come through their doors.

The number of people catching the flu continues to rise.

At South Lamar School, class started back up, and teachers try to keep their students from being a part of those numbers.

“You hear about the things the hospitals are having to do to quarantine and to keep it from spreading to some of their patients and things like that,” said school principal, Jason Williams. “Schoolwide, we’re just providing as much stuff as we can for our students.”

To fight the foreseeable outbreak, school nurse Mashella Crowley sent out fliers to county families before students left for the holidays.

“…comparing the signs and symptoms of a cold, compared to the flu,” said Crowley. “Then, we’ve been trying to monitor kids if they’re running fever or are having any kinds of problems like coughing continuously.”

South Lamar isn’t taking any chances with this flu season and has installed hand sanitizer dispensers into all of the hallways.

Inside of classrooms, teachers make sure high-traffic surfaces are cleaned regularly.

“During the day, we make sure that we wash with soap and water,” said first grade teacher, Kristy Allbritton. “After school, I make sure I wipe down the desks with Clorox wipes, and then I use Clorox wipes on surfaces such as the door knobs, pencil sharpeners, just things kids touch throughout the day.”

South Lamar has dealt with viruses before.

Constant reminders keep an outbreak from happening.

“We are aware of when it hits the school or hits the hospital, you know, a virus of some type. It’s real. You know, it can impact a big group,” said Williams.

“We are in such close proximity throughout the day, you know. Even a simple sneeze can spread germs throughout the classroom,” continued Allbritton.

So far, the precautions seem to be working.

“We haven’t seen a huge impact here at the school. Hopefully some of the things we are doing will prevent that,” said Williams.

Mashella Crowley also commented that parents should keep their kids home if they are showing any symptoms of the flu or the common cold and visit your local health care provider.

It’s better safe than sorry.