FLU-LIKE ILLNESS GUIDELINES

Dear Parent/guardian,

This last week the first confirmed cases of H1N1 Influenza (Swine Flu) have been reported in our district.  It is important to follow the guidelines listed below. 

If your son/daughter has symptoms of the flu – sneezing/coughing and/or fever of 100 or above, headache, sore throat, stomachache, body aches.

The Lake County Health Dept. recommends staying out of school for 7 days from the onset of illness AND 24 hours fever free (without the use of fever reducing medication).

Please contact your Doctor re: your child’s illness for diagnosis.

Students may return to school earlier with a Doctor’s note.

If you have questions you can contact our school nurse, Denise McDowell at 987-1488.

To keep the flu from spreading to more people, anyone who has a fever with either a cough or sore throat will be sent home from school immediately.

Please continue to prevent the spread of this illness by doing these things: 

ü  Check your children for symptoms of influenza (primarily fever with either a cough or a sore throat). 

ü  Keep sick people at home.  Don’t send them to school or childcare.

ü  Teach your children to wash their hands often with soap and water.

ü  Teach your children to cover coughs and sneezes with tissues or by coughing into the inside of the elbow.

ü  Teach your children to stay at least six feet away from people who are sick.

Individuals who are sick with influenza-like illness must remain at home seven (7) days and until at least 24 hours after they are free of fever (100° F [37.8°C]), or signs of a fever without the use of fever-reducing medications.   A doctor’s note is not necessary to return to school.

Contact your health care provider if you have questions, or if the sick person has a fever of 102° F or higher, or other signs of significant illness.  Households caring for family members sick with the flu can also do the following things:   

ü  Have them drink a lot of liquid (juice, water)

ü  For fever, sore throat and muscle aches, use ibuprofen (Motrin) or acetaminophen (Tylenol). Do not use aspirin with children or teenagers; it can cause Reye’s syndrome, a life- threatening illness.

ü  Keep tissues and a trash bag within reach of the sick person.

ü  Be sure everyone in your home washes their hands frequently.

ü  Keep the people who are sick with the flu away from the people who are not sick.