Cold and flu season is upon us, and this is a great time to remind students how to help prevent the spread of germs. Please remind your child to:
Cover their mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing, and promptly throw the tissue in the trash.
Use the inside of their elbow if a tissue isn’t available.
Wash hands frequently with soap and water. (Soap and water is always best, but if not available, an alcohol-based hand sanitizer is a good alternative.)
IMPORTANT: If your child is sick, please keep them home until they have been fever-free (fever >100°F) for 24 hours without the use of Tylenol or Motrin (DISTRICT POLICY). A healthy child is a better learner, and keeping sick children home helps prevent the spread of illness to other students and staff.
Encourage plenty of rest, drinking fluids, humidified air, and comfort measures such as warm salt-water gargles for sore throats and saline nasal spray for dry noses (to help prevent nosebleeds).
Common Flu Symptoms
Contact your doctor if your child has chest pain, trouble breathing, a fast heart rate, decreased urination, confusion, inability to drink or keep down liquids, or any symptoms that seem unusual or severe.
If you have any questions about whether your child is well enough to attend school please do not hesitate to contact me.
Head Lice:
The following information is helpful to keep in mind about head lice:
Head lice can happen to anyone. It is not a sign of poor hygiene habits or of being dirty. Even though they do not jump or fly, lice can spread from one student to another by sharing combs, brushes, clothing, and hats.
Please do your part to prevent the spread of this communicable condition by checking your child(ren) on a regular basis. Lice infestation is much easier to treat if caught early. If you should discover a case of head lice, please notify the health office, as well as the parents of your child’s close contacts. This is the best way to protect your family and community.
https://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/from-insects-animals/Pages/signs-of-lice.aspx
Here’s to a healthy and safe winter season!
Nurse Pappo
