Flu season has started early this year, and with the threat of H1N1 – otherwise known as swine flu – looming, Logan County schools are doing all they can to keep from becoming breeding grounds for the illness.

“We are taking some precautionary steps,” said Claudia Crump, director of pupil personnel for Russellville Independent Schools.

Crump was one of over 1,000 educators and other civic leaders who recently attended the Governor's Pandemic Influenza Summit in Frankfort. At the summit, public health experts discussed the current H1N1 situation and what to expect in the fall. Representatives from schools, businesses and health care organizations discussed current pandemic flu plans and preparedness activities.

“They gave us a lot of different tools to use,” Crump said.

Several people from both local school systems attended the summit and returned ready to make sure the schools are prepared to deal with the H1N1 flu if they need to.

“We know what we are supposed to do,” said Logan County Schools Superintendent Marshall Kemp.

Crump said she put together a letter for parents and an H1N1 fact sheet. The district is also developing a pandemic flu policy.

“We are taking all the steps the the Centers for Disease Control recommends,” Crump said.

Kemp said many simple steps can be very helpful in preventing the spread of swine flu and other illnesses.

“We’re supposed to encourage hand washing, social distancing and using common sense,” Kemp said.

Crump said they are making sure things that are touched by lots of people, such as door knobs and desks, are cleaned more often and more thoroughly than usual. The school district has also ordered hand sanitizer dispensers to be put on walls at the schools.

School officials urge parents to keep their children home if they are sick.

Chip Kraus, public health services coordinator for the Barren River District Health Department, said both the seasonal flu and the swine flu are out there but they are both very preventable if you know what to do.

“If people are worried about it, the best thing you can do is wash your hands,” Kraus said. Washing for 20 seconds with warm soapy water is best.

“And if you cough or sneeze, do it in the sleeve of your shirt so the germs don’t get on your hand and then get transferred to door knobs and other places,” Kraus added. Like the school officials, health officials encourage people to stay home if they are sick and not return to school or work until they have gone 48 without a fever without medication.

Although there is a lot of concern about the swine flu, Krause said there is not much difference between it and the seasonal flu.

“You’re gonna feel just as crummy either way,” Kraus said.

School and health officials recommend that people get the seasonal flu vaccine, which is out now, and the new H1N1 vaccine which is expected to be out in October.

Flu shots are currently available at the Logan County Health Department for $23. Appointments are currently being made and you can call 726-8341 for more information or to set up an appointment.

Other locations around town are also offering flu shots. Walgreens will have flu shot clinics on Oct. 1, 7 and 27 and Wal-Mart will have flue shots available on Oct. 7 and 8. Call the stores for more information or call your primary care physician to see if they offer flu shots.

For more information on how schools are dealing with the swine flu, go to www.education.ky.gov. To learn more about the flu in general, go to www.flu.gov.