Influenza…
It’s that “fun” time of year again with the cold and flu season. Our school has seen an increase in students exhibiting rapid onset of elevated oral temperature (over 100 degrees) and cough or sore throat. These symptoms are typically referred to as, “influenza like illness” or ILI. As you are involved with our students at school, I need your help in reinforcing these steps to try to help all of us stay healthy as possible.
As a reminder per the CDC (and our district policy)
If you are sick with flu-like illness, CDC recommends and district policy is.. you should stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone except to get medical care or for other necessities. Your fever should be gone without the use of a fever-reducing medicine.
Here is a link for additional information from the CDC: http://www.cdc.gov/flu/pdf/freeresources/general/take3.pdf
CDC 3 min Handwashing Video
Steps to staying healthy:
1. Please remind and encourage your students to wash their hands thoroughly and often….
- Wash hands after:
- using the toilet
- before eating or handling food
- after playing outside
- after blowing nose, etc.
- Wash hands at least 20 seconds using plenty of soap, water & friction (make a good lather before rinsing) – 20 seconds is about the length of time to sing the alphabet or the “happy birthday” song to oneself
- Use an alcohol-based sanitizer & rubbing hands together until the lotion has evaporated if handwashing is not available.
2. Remind students to….
- Cover their mouth & nose with their elbow, not their hands, if coughing or sneezing.
- Cover their mouth & nose with a tissue. Throw the tissue away in the trash after used.
- Not share drinking glasses or eating utensils with others
- Avoid touching their eyes, nose and mouth. Germs are passed on this way.
3. Take some extra time every day in your classroom to:
- Clean and disinfect surfaces and objects that may be contaminated with germs like the flu, such as: classroom faucets, door handles, counters, phone receivers, light switches, desk tops, etc.
- Encourage and practice steps 1 & 2.
- When cleaning: Staff or students should not use disinfectant wipes without wearing gloves to protect their skin. Hands should be washed with soap and water after gloves are removed.
- Only staff is to handle or clean with disinfectant sprays. Best to use sprays when students are not present in the room.
Thanks for your help with this!
Mandy Reitmeier, RN