To everyone,

In view of the current H1N1 Outbreak in Singapore, I have come up with a Protocol for everyone to follow. I have uploaded it, so simply scroll down to view. Do take a look to better understand it.

This is to ensure that we are aware of how to protect ourselves when performing public duties. The aims of the protocol is listed below:

1.  Allow duty personnel to minimize chances of contracting H1N1 virus from the community during their external public duties.

2.  Prevent duty personnel from transmitting H1N1 virus to the community, if they are suspected of an infection.

3.  Reassure parents, teachers, seniors and cadets that a systematic protocol is in place to reduce the chances of community transmission of H1N1 virus to the minimum.

To all cadets: By the time this Protocol was done, HQ and School have already stopped all CCA activities, including public duties. Hence you may not have heard of this document yet. But my guess is that as the current situation shifts towards that of accepting H1N1 into our community, CCA may resume soon. As a result, we may also resume public duties as external events have to carry on and they still need our first aid coverage. Don’t worry about the protocol for now, a briefing will be given to you when the need arises.

To all seniors: All active seniors who are allocated public duties during this period of time, please kindly follow the protocol accordingly. Thank you.

Be safe, not sorry.

PROTOCOL AGAINST COMMUNITY TRANSMISSION OF H1N1 VIRUS FOR EXTERNAL PUBLIC DUTY

1        OBJECTIVES

1.1  Allow duty personnel (teachers, seniors, cadets) to minimize chances of contracting H1N1 virus from the community during their external public duties, via strict precautionary measures and proper hygiene practices.

1.2  Prevent duty personnel from transmitting H1N1 virus to the community, if they are suspected of an infection.

1.3  Reassure parents, teachers, seniors and cadets that a systematic protocol is in place to reduce the chances of community transmission of H1N1 virus to the minimum, during the course of an external public duty.

2        PROTOCOL

2.1              Prior to Day of Duty

2.1.1        Letter to Parents (see Annex A)

Letters will be issued to parents of duty personnel at least two week in advance of duty, to inform them of the precautionary measures in place and proper hygiene practices that will be taught to their child prior to the external public duty.

 2.1.2        Consent Forms (see Annex B)

The letter, stated above, will be accompanied by a consent form. Parents can withdraw their child from the external public duty if they are still concerned about their child’s safety. This is to address concerns that parents may have, since there are news of community transmission of H1N1 virus. Public Duty Officer-in-Charge (Elizabeth) and Duty Officers are to be made known of any withdrawal at least one week in advance of duty.

 2.1.3        Conditions for duty personnel to attend external public duty

(from http://www.moh.gov.sg, updated as of 26 June 2009)

Duty personnel will not attend the pre-allocated public duty, if he/she belongs to any of the following groups. Responsibility is on any duty personnel to inform the Public Duty Officer-in-Charge (Elizabeth).  A leave application is required.

1. Returned from the following countries that has confirmed community transmission of H1N1 virus in the last 7days.

• Argentina
• Australia
• Canada
• Chile
• Dominican Republic
• Hong Kong
• Indonesia
• Japan
• Mexico
• New Zealand
• Panama
• Philippines
• Spain
• Thailand
• United Kingdom
• United States of America

      2. In close contact (eg. household members, domestic helpers) with confirmed H1N1 cases within the last 7days.

      3. Given home quarantine order by MOH.

      4. Symptomatic with flu-like symptoms including the following:

• Fever >38.0
• Cough
• Sore throat
• Runny or Stuffy nose
• Body aches
• Headaches
• Chills
• Lethargy

2.2              Day of Duty

2.2.1        Temperature Recording Sheet (refer to Annex C)

All duty personnel will be told to bring along their digital thermometers for duty. Before the start of the public duty shift, everyone is required to take their own temperature and report to the Duty Officer for recording on the Temperature Recording Sheet.

 2.2.2        Precautionary measures to follow

All duty personnel are to follow the guidelines strictly.

1.  Put on N95 / surgical mask at all times when on duty

• The use of N95 or Surgical masks will be determined before the duty, depending on its availability and the nature of duty
• Duty Officer will demonstrate the putting on of N95 / surgical mask before duty starts
• Duty personnel are not to remove N95 / surgical mask until the duty ends
• Duty personnel are advised not to touch the mask after putting on
• Duty personnel are to throw away the N95 /surgical mask when duty ends
• If there is a need to remove the mask during the course of duty (eg. eating, drinking) duty personnel may do so, but away from crowded areas

     2. Wear gloves when handling casualties

• Duty personnel are only required to wear gloves when handling casualties with open wounds and/or casualties with flu-like symptoms and fever
• Duty personnel are to change gloves when handling different casualties, even if the gloves appear clean

     3.  Wear full Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

• Duty Officer will demonstrate the putting on of a full PPE before duty starts
• Duty personnel are only required to wear full PPE when handling casualties with flu-like symptoms and fever, comprising of
• N95 / surgical mask
• Gown
• Gloves

     4. Wash hands after duty

• Duty personnel are required to wash their hands with soap and water after the duty even if they appear clean
• Duty personnel are also advised not to touch their face, eyes, nose and mouth

     5. Moving around the venue of public duty

• Duty personnel can move around the place of duty to patrol for casualties, but will stay vigilant when in crowded areas to prevent contact with any public with flu-like symptoms and fever, unless when attending casualties

2.3              Post Duty

2.3.1        Monitor temperature and for flu-like symptoms

If any duty personnel develop flu-like symptoms within 7 days after the duty, they are required to immediately inform the Public Duty Officer-in-Charge (Elizabeth) and see a doctor. Duty personnel are required to monitor for flu-like symptoms including the following:

• Fever >38.0
• Cough
• Sore throat
• Runny or Stuffy nose
• Body aches
• Headaches
• Chills
• Lethargy

 2.3.2        Guideline for suspected cases

1. Suspected duty personnel to inform Public Duty Officer-in-Charge (Elizabeth) as soon as possible
2. Public Duty Officer-in-Charge (Elizabeth) will inform Ms Lee and Mdm Ong within a day
3. Meanwhile suspected duty personnel to see a doctor immediately, advised not to take public transport

ANNEX A

27 June 2009 

Dear Parents/Guardians,

RE: Precautionary Measures Taken In This Period Of Influenza A (H1N1) Virus Outbreak

Dunman High School St. John Ambulance Brigade has been providing first aid coverage for many major organizations and events. As a result, your child may have been allocated to attend a public duty for the service of the community. We thank you for your support all these while.

In view of the current Influenza A (H1N1) Virus outbreak, with the rising number of confirmed cases reported each day in Singapore, we have put in place a set of precautionary measures for all duty personnel to follow by strictly. This will happen before, during and after the duty, supervised by the Public Duty Officer-in-Charge. These measures are formed after consulting the MOH’s policy for healthcare workers. (http://www.moh.gov.sg/mohcorp ) We are also geared to prevent the community spread of Influenza A (H1N1) Virus.

Here are the precautionary measures that we will be taking for all external public duties performed.

1. Temperature taking before start of duty.
2. Protective equipment for every duty personnel when necessary, including N95 mask, gloves and gown.
3. Proper hygiene practices taught.
4. Duty personnel to monitor for fever and flu-like symptoms within 7days after duty.
5. Report any suspected case to the Public Duty OIC and seek medical attention immediately

To be responsible citizens, we also help prevent the possible spread of Influenza A (H1N1) Virus into the community. Your child will be advised not to attend the public duty if he/she fulfils any of the following:

1. Returned from countries that has confirmed community transmission of H1N1 virus, within the last 7days.
2. In close contact with confirmed H1N1 cases, within the last 7days.
3. Given home quarantine order by MOH.
4. Developed flu-like symptoms and/or fever regardless if/she fulfils the above criteria.

In this period of uncertainty, we understand that you may have concerns regarding your child’s safety.  Currently our standards are above those set by MOE and MOH, hence chances of contracting Influenza A (H1N1) Virus when performing duty is reduced to the minimum. Furthermore, MOH has set the DORSCON level at YELLOW at the present moment so there is no need for undue worry.

With this, I ask for your continuous support for every activity that we planned for your child. Your child’s safety comes first and it will not be compromised. However, if you still feel uneasy about the current situation of Influenza A (H1N1) Virus, you may withdraw your child from the public duty. We have attached a consent form behind. Please fill it up and submit it via your child accordingly.

The situation is currently changing quite rapidly too. If circumstances call for it and we are instructed by the school to stop all public gatherings and events, we will do so immediately. Hence, we seek your understanding in this if we have to cancel the public duties.

If you have any doubts to clarify, you may contact Lee Wei Chee (Service Learning Officer-in-Chrage) at 97960203. Thank you.

Yours sincerely,

Ms Lee Yin Teng

Overall Teacher-in-Charge

ANNEX B

Dear Principal,

RE: CONSENT FORM FOR EXTERNAL PUBLIC DUTIES      

(*please tick accordingly)

PART 1:

I have already read and agreed to the above stated precautionary measures that my child will be required to follow by strictly. I understand that the risk of contracting Influenza A (H1N1) Virus from the community will thus be reduced to the minimum.

Do you give consent for your child to attend the allocated external public duty?

YES                                                                         NO

PART 2:

1. Did your child return, within the last 7 days, from a country that has confirmed community transmission of H1N1 virus according to MOH guidelines?

YES (pls circle)                                                                  NO

 2. Did your child come into close contact (eg. household members, domestic helpers) with confirmed H1N1 cases, within the last 7days?

YES (pls specify________)                                       NO

3. Given home quarantine order by MOH.

YES (pls specify________)                                       NO

4. Currently developed flu-like illnesses including the following:

YES (pls circle below)                                             NO

ANNEX C

PUBLIC DUTY TEMPERATURE RECORDING SHEET

Date of duty:

Venue of duty:

Time of duty:

Name of event:

No. of first aiders:

 Checked by Duty Officer:

 Rank/Name/Signature