Res. No. 418
Resolution calling upon the New York City Department of Education to place hand sanitizer in all public school classrooms and to install hand sanitizer dispensing machines in all such classrooms.
By The Public Advocate (Mr. de Blasio) and Council Members Barron, Dromm, Gentile, Palma, Cabrera, Nelson and Mendez
Whereas, The Office of School Health (OSH) within the New York City Department of Education (DOE) is a joint program with the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) and is responsible for providing health services and preventive services to DOE students; and
Whereas, DOE policy provides that, in suspected cases of communicable disease, environmental illness or food-borne illness, schools will immediately notify OSH; and
Whereas, According to DOE policy, upon notification of a suspected communicable disease OSH will investigate; and
Whereas, DOE has issued recommendations which promote good hygiene which include keeping hands clean by washing thoroughly with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer; and
Whereas, In a letter to parents on May 26, 2009, the Chancellor stated that H1N1, also known as swine flu, has become more common and that many schools reported high absenteeism rates and students with flu-like symptoms; and
Whereas; The DOHMH released a fact sheet advising parents, teachers, and school principals to wash hands frequently with soap and water and adding that alcohol based hand cleaners are also effective; and
Whereas, According to an article published by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) studies have shown that hand sanitizers were effective in curbing absentee rates in elementary schools; and
Whereas, A total of 57 New York City public schools temporarily closed as a result of the swine flu epidemic in the spring of 2009; and
Whereas, Ensuring the availability and use of hand sanitizer by students will decrease the spread of swine flu and other communicable diseases; and
Whereas, The health and well being of school children is pertinent to their ability to learn; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls upon the New York City Department of Education to place hand sanitizer in all public school classrooms and to install hand sanitizer dispensing machines in all such classrooms.
LS# 4304/7529
AES
6/23/09
6:00pm
LS# 742
Res. No. 2048-2009
JA
5/19/10
8:35 pm