Bellevue flu project: Outreach into schools and communities

Background:Emergency medicine is at the forefront during influenza outbreaks. Initiated during the H1N1 influenza outbreak in 2009, the emergency medicine department of New York University Medical Center and Bellevue Hospital Center initiated an art poster contest to educate elementary school children about hand washing and flu prevention. The project has evolved into service learning for medical students and residents as well as collaborations with public schools. Purpose:The Bellevue Flu Project is a public health education intervention linking an academic emergency department with New York City public schools to educate children on influenza prevention. Significance:Influenza outbreaks continue to be an important public health issue and academic emergency departments can provide public health education and public health behavioral modification. Methodology:The program involves flyer distributions, poster contests for 4th and 5th grade New York City elementary school students, school visits, classroom presentations, and an art exhibit. Finding/Results:The program demonstrated outreach to schools in all five boroughs of New York City resulting in over 700 poster contestant entries from more than 25 public schools over a two-year period. Influenza education outreach was conducted through the use of art activities and dramatic presentations across grade levels. Conclusions/recommendations:Collaboration with schools provides further linkages between hospitals and communities to educate the public both in and out of the hospital through a influenza poster contest and public health activities in the classroom and during the exhibit. Additionally, influenza prevention education could be combined with already successful influenza school vaccination programs.