IS IT A COLD OR THE FLU?
a cold |
regular flu |
H1N1 flu |
|
head congestion |
body aches |
body aches |
|
No fever |
fever |
fever |
|
sore throat |
sore throat sometimes |
sore throat sometimes |
|
post nasal drip cough |
dry cough |
cough |
|
nasal congestion |
headache |
headache |
|
no muscles aches |
muscle aches |
muscled aches |
|
no vomiting |
vomiting/ diarrhea |
vomiting/diarrhea |
Keep sick children home for at least 24 hours after they no longer have a fever, without using fever-reducing medications (Tylenol or Motrin). Please err on the side of caution and give your child an additional day(s) to recover after a fever. Just because the fever has been gone for 24 hours does not mean that 26 hours later they should be returning to school. Consider keeping them home for 36 hours after they no longer have a fever.
LINKS TO FLU INFORMATION
How Flu Travels (pdf download)
ICS RESPONSE TO THE CURRENT FLU OUTBREAK
Dear ICS Parents, Immanuel Christian School has seen a large increase in the number of students absent due to illness in the last week. We have also had many teachers and office staff who have become ill. The increase in the number of students who have been sick with influenza-like illness and other illnesses has also risen in Fairfax County schools this week. Consequently, we need to communicate the additional steps we are taking at this time and guidelines for when to keep your child home from school and when to send them back to school.
Signs of influenza-like illness may include some of the following symptoms:
- A fever equal to or greater than 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Note that it is possible to have the flu and not be running a fever of 100 degrees.
- Headache, tiredness, cough, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, vomiting and diarrhea.
What parents can do if their child becomes sick:
- Keep sick children home for at least 24 hours after they no longer have a fever, without using fever-reducing medications (Tylenol or Motrin). Please err on the side of caution and give your child an additional day(s) to recover after a fever. Just because the fever has been gone for 24 hours does not mean that 26 hours later they should be returning to school. Consider keeping them home for 36 hours after they no longer have a fever.
- People who are sick should stay home from work, school and all other social activities and stay away from others.
- If your child has been diagnosed with the flu, plan on staying home with your child for 5-7 days. The student who contracts H1N1 can be contagious for 5-7 days after the first onset of symptoms.
- If your child develops a secondary infection such as pneumonia, bronchitis or a sinus infection, they must be on an antibiotic for at least 24 hours before returning to school.
- Notify your childs teacher and the school office by email if your child is sick. Email your child's teacher before noon if you would like class assignments sent home at carpool that day.
- The teacher will be generous in granting extra time for students to make up missed assignments. Please do not send your child back to school earlier than they should just because "they feel O.K." or because of concern that they will miss too much work. Adherence to the above guideline will decrease the exposure of other students, faculty and staff to those who have been sick.
We are continuing to take steps to reduce the spread of flu-like illness in our school.
- We are asking for every student to bring in a container of Clorox wipes and bottle of hand sanitizer to school on Monday, October 26. These will be used to wipe down their desks and other surfaces in the classroom daily and for personal hand cleaning at their desks.
- Teachers continue to reinforce frequent hand washing and correct coughing/sneezing etiquette. * Hand sanitizer use continues to be encouraged at the lunchroom tables before and after eating.
- We now have a sick-child and well-child clinic area which separates those children coming to the clinic with flu-like symptoms from those with cuts, scrapes, daily medicine, etc.
- TAs will help screen students as they return to school following an extended period of illness. If they are found to feel warm to the touch, are excessively coughing or report having a fever the previous day, they will be sent directly to the clinic for further evaluation.
- We are evaluating the way in which corporate events (i.e. chapel, lunch, carpool dismissal, PE changing of clothes) are held.
We appreciate your cooperation in making sure that our school remains healthy and open during this time of increased illness. Please pray for the health of our students, teachers, and staff. Please check the Essentials for updates on flu clinics offered by Fairfax County Health Departments. Additional information can be found at the links listed above.
Blessings,
Cindy Houttekier, RN
School Nurse