• SWINE FLU


PENSACOLA - It's Friday night, and that means high school football.

That also means lots of athletes in crowded locker rooms, long bus rides, and players piled up on the field...prime conditions for a virus to spread.

Channel Three's James Jackson shows us the game plan this season to keep the swine flu in check.

Here at Pensacola High School, the stands are packed with people, as you can see behind me, and the school is taking precautions to make sure no one gets infected.

Under the Friday night lights, Pensacola High was taking on Pine Forest.

While the teams battled it out on the gridiron, PHS is tackling a health issue...the threat of H1N1.

Long snapper Jarris Whitaker says he hears about it in class.

Jarris Whitaker/PHS Football Player: "My Health Academy Teacher, she made me do a project on it and she talks about it a lot because we've got to control our infections."

People at the game say the thought of swine flu spreading is troubling.

"Anything in that situation or that serious can cause concern and be worried about it. But I think everything is starting to get handled in the right way."

Custodians at PHS have wiped down athletic equipment, doorknobs and stairwells.

David Williams/PHS Principal: "I think precaution is probably the strongest ally that we can have at this time."

PHS principal David Williams says his players are well prepared.

David Williams/PHS Principal: "We do not share water bottles at the football games or any athletic contests. We use the cups that they can throw away into the trash containers and also the trainers that we have on staff. They wear gloves when they're treating kids."

Jarris Whitaker/PHS Football Player: "They say whenever we're drinking out of the spigot, not to put your mouth on the mouthpiece of the water fountains. Don't put it on the cooler."

School officials are also urging players to follow common sense practices, like washing your hands and staying home if you're sick.

School District officials say once the game is over, custodians will clean each locker room, one more time, as a precaution. Reporting from Pensacola High School, James Jackson, Channel Three News.

President Obama's council of advisors on science and technology says swine flu could infect between 30 to 50 percent of the American population during fall and winter, and lead to as many as 1.8 million hospital admissions.

A vaccine against H1N1 is not expected to be available until at least mid-October.Pensacola High Taking Precautions Against Swine Flu
The nation reacts as the swine flu spreads throughout the United States.  Keep up to date on the latest information and what you need to do to keep your family safe.

Posted: Saturday, September 5 2009, 01:40:38 AM

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WGME News 13 Cellcast

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Tonight: Clearing and still breezy. More clouds in the mountains.  Lows 35 to 40.  W winds 10-15 mph.

Saturday: Mostly sunny and mild. More clouds in the mountains.  Highs in the 50s.  Breezy with NW winds 10-15 mph.

Saturday night:  Mostly Clear. Lows 24 to 34.



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