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CHS students, faculty cope with meningitis death

By Amber Peabody

This document was published online on Wednesday, March 05, 2008

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Following the recent death of sophomore Darren Collins after a brief battle with meningitis, students and faculty at Cody High School are doing “as well as can be expected.”

“We've had a few students struggle, as happens anytime someone passes away,” principal Dave Treick said. “But for the most part they're doing well.”

Counselors have been on hand for students wishing to talk and follow-up has been done with both students and faculty.

With two cases of meningitis in less than one month some parents have called to express their concerns, Treick said.

“If you feel like your son or daughter is ill then take them to the doctor,” Treick said. “And work with your kids on things like proper hand washing techniques.”

The two cases were not related, except that both were 15-year-old CHS students. On average there is one case of meningitis in the area every three years, Park County Health Officer Charles Jamieson said earlier.

Dr. Jamieson says teens are often more susceptible to the disease because of poor health habits.

“They don't take good care of themselves,” he added. “They go and go and go, so they don't eat right or sleep right. They share water bottles and chap stick and go to practice when they're sick.”

Adhering to good personal hygiene is one of the best ways to reduce chances of becoming infected, according the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Jamieson also emphasized the importance of staying home when people are sick so they don't spread illness.

Students also can get the vaccine Menactra, which is available through local physicians and prevents all types of the meningococcal disease.

Treick said the Crisis Management Team put together a plan Sunday for the coming days. The staff was provided with information about meningitis on Monday morning to present to students.

“They reminded students about the proper ways of doing things like coughing and washing hands to protect them,” he said.

They've also increased their cleaning regimen, although Dr. Jamieson said there was “nothing wrong with it.”

“Cody High School does a good job of cleaning but has done additional cleaning and checking to make sure,” Treick said. “We're doing everything we can.”

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