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Local school districts will not be caught off guard if the H1N1 flu makes an appearance in Southwest Minnesota.

Deb Herrmann, Becky Esping and Mary Carter are three nurses who have been instrumental in helping prepare their respective districts.

"The community is coming together to plan," said Herrmann, R.N., lead nurse for the Marshall School District. Schools in the county have been meeting with Southwest Minnesota State University, Avera-Marshall Medical Center, pharmacies, and the Lincoln-Lyon-Murray-Pipestone Public Health Department. "Hopefully, we won't need the plans because it won't come to a pandemic."

Only a doctor can diagnose H1N1, but the nurses are prepared to handle all flu-like symptoms as if it is H1N1.

Esping, R.N., of Minneota said students will be evaluated in a separate room. Herrman said students would be isolated as much as possible.

"We might mask them if they are coughing a lot," she said.

"We're going by guidelines set by the CDC (Center for Disease Control) and the Minnesota Department of Health," Herrmann said. "There are three big things to look for to determine if it's an influenza-like illness, or ILL: a temperature of 100 degrees or more, a sore throat and a cough."

These are the same questions parents will be asked if they call the school to report their child ill, "so we can stay on top of it and be proactive," said Klint Willert, superintendent of the Marshall District.

"We don't want ill children in school because they're putting other children at risk," Herrmann said. "We watch not only that sick child, but those with compromised immune systems and chronic illness issues."

"If you're sick, stay home; same way with staff, so you don't come into school and infect everyone else," said Esping, R.N., of the Minneota district.

The reason they are super-vigilant with the kids is "the age range hit hardest is 5 to 24," said Carter, R.N., of the Tracy Area District. "There's a disproportionate number of cases in that age group."

Parents will be called to come get their child.

"Parents need to be prepared with a plan," said Carter. Day care operators won't want sick children or their siblings who might infect the others in their care. "Employers need to plan due to sick employees or people being home with sick family members," she added.

It could be a long process, Herrmann said.

"Five to seven, possibly as long as 10 days," she said.

Students should remain home until they are temperature-free for 24 hours without relying on medication to bring down the fever.

"Don't give them Tylenol or Motrin and send them to school," warned Carter. "If you have a fever, most illnesses are still contagious."

"When it comes, it will spread quickly," she said. "If one district gets it, it's likely we'll all have it."

The important thing is prevention, the nurses said.

"Hand washing, hand washing, hand washing," stressed Herrmann.

"Sneeze into your arm, avoid close contact, no handshakes, wipe your desk off at the end of the day," Esping said.

Get enough rest, drink plenty of fluids, eat fruits and vegetables "to keep your immune system healthy," Herrmann said. "Prevent the spread instead of having to deal with the consequences.

"Talk to your doctor about getting vaccinated," she added. "The flu vaccines will be out very soon."

School isn't the only place you can pick up flu, warned Carter. "People are really mobile in our society. You can pick it up at the grocery store, church, Scouts, athletic teams."

The nurses said the decision to close the schools or not will be made by the superintendents who will act after viewing all the information. Willert said criteria from the MDH will be considered.

"We're not going to close at the first sign of H1N1," he said. "The latest recommendation from MDH is we don't close without direction from them.

"The state will be pretty specific on guidelines they give us. If there are three or more kids in one classroom; the number of students with ILLs has doubled in one day; and more than 5 percent of the student body is absent," he said. "We will continue to monitor it closely with teachers and administrative support."

More information will be sent home with children after school starts.

"Don't be afraid to call the school or your medical provider and ask questions," Herrmann said.

"We want to provide assurances to parents that we will support the overall health and well-being of their child while they are in school, but we need their help," Willert said.