Local officials are gearing up preparations to take on the potential outbreak and spread of the H1N1 virus as flu season approaches.

“We’re hoping for the best, but preparing for the worst,” said Brian Lockard, the town’s health officer. “We try to recommend recognizing the illness, covering coughs, washing hands and those kinds of things. Social distancing as well – keeping your distance from people – especially if they might be ill so you don’t come in contact the virus.”

That means implementing a public education policy at town hall and other popular locations around town, like the public library, according to Lockard. Fliers with tips on how to avoid getting sick or spreading an illness have been posted, and Lockard said he is coordinating his plans with school administrators and emergency and health officials from across the region.

Superintendent Michael Delahanty said the district has had to take a reactionary position for the time being, emphasizing preventive measures and monitoring for any signs of the virus. According to Delahanty, the district will likely draft a plan to provide continued academic support for students were a significant amount of the school staff to fall ill.

“I’m hopeful we’re not going to reach the point where we’re going to close the schools,” he said. “Right now we’re just kind of in a waitand- see mode and, again, providing as many precautions as we can and taking all the prevention measures we can.”

According to Delahanty, there are no plans in place to require either students or employees to receive vaccinations for the swine flu once they become available from the state, but the district will be holding a flu clinic for school staff and retirees.

Delahanty has also been discussing the possibility of using the schools as distribution points for mass public vaccinations with Lockard, Fire Chief Kevin Breen and regional officials.

“If they decided or state officials decided there is a need for wide-spread vaccinations and they want schools to be points of dispersion then we will coordinate with them on how to do that,” he said.

Planning for the possibility of mass vaccinations is part of Garrett Simonsen’s job as Public Health Network coordinator, based in Derry and encompassing 10 communities in the area, including Salem. Simonsen said health and emergency officials from across the greater Derry area have been meeting monthly to coordinate training, resources and preparations for a potential public health emergency.

With the emergence of the H1N1 virus this past spring, Simonsen said he has also spoken to school district officials to reinforce preventive measures to slow the possible spread of the illness. A Point of Dispensing (POD) site drill – essentially a public clinic where residents can receive medication or vaccinations in response to a public health event – scheduled around that time was pushed back to mid- October to give health officials a test run on coordinating public flu vaccinations, according to Simonsen.

“Regionally, we would be looking to continue to coordinate information across the communities about key prevention methods and that way we can control or slow the spread through the community,” he said. “Vaccination is one of the key prevention strategies that we have. Once the vaccine becomes available we will be coordinating information about who should be receiving vaccine, how they can access services and as the situation evolves as more vaccine becomes available you may see vaccine move outside of the health care sector and into public sector.”

For the moment, Simonsen said the emphasis remained on reinforcing preventive measures, like hand-washing, covering coughs and sneezes and staying home from work or school if suffering from flulike symptoms and getting a seasonal flu shot, now available from health-care providers.