Park Hill Taking Steps on STAPH
With recent news coverage of staph infections in other area schools, the Park Hill School District announced they would be taking additional precautions to protect students and employees from the illness.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, “staphylococcus aureus, often referred to simply as ‘staph,’ are bacteria commonly carried on the skin or in the nose of healthy people… Sometimes, staph can cause an infection. Staph bacteria are one of the most common causes of skin infections in the United States.”
Staph infections are a regular occurrence in schools, especially high schools. This year, the district said it is being more alert because of a strain of staph that is resistant to the usual treatment.
Three students at Park Hill High School reported possible staph infections to the school. All three of the students, who have no sports or classes together, are receiving medical treatment, but none of their doctors confirmed that their conditions were indeed staph infections.
Park Hill School District custodians and coaches already take extensive precautions to clean and sanitize any surfaces, such as wrestling mats, which might spread illness. In the wake of news coverage of MRSA (methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus) in the last two weeks, employees took additional precautions, sanitizing all surfaces. The district said plans are to continue this additional sanitization in order to prevent any spread of illness in the schools.
Stopping the Spread of Staph
• Keep your hands clean by washing thoroughly with soap and water or using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
• Keep cuts and scrapes clean and covered with a bandage until healed.
• Avoid contact with other people’s wounds or bandages.
• Avoid sharing personal items such as towels or razors.