The Cloverleaf Elementary nurse and staff are eager to partner with parents to reduce illness this winter. As student absences due to the common cold and influenza increase, we want to share some tips with families and some reminders regarding school policies.
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the best way to prevent the spread of illness is to practice good hand hygiene, including washing hands with soap and water or using hand sanitizer. We have been reminding students to wash their hands, cough and sneeze into their arms (instead of into their hands), and to let their teachers know if they are not feeling well. Please remember students with fevers should stay home for at least 24 hours after they are able to be fever-free without a fever-reducing medication. The nursing section of the Cloverleaflocal.org website is a great resource for answering all of your school-related nursing and health questions. You can access the nurse section by visiting the Cloverleaflocal.org website, clicking on “parents” and then “nurse,” or you can click HERE.
Please also see the article below from our school nurse regarding children and the flu:
Tips From the School Nurse:
Help Keep Your Child Healthy And Flu-Free
With flu season upon us, it is important that we work together to keep our children healthy. Viruses spread easily among children in schools, and families with school-age children have more infections than others, with an average of one-third of these family members infected each year. By keeping our children flu-free, we benefit the community as a whole. You can help prevent the spread of flu or help your child get better if he/she does get sick by following a few simple steps:
- If possible, you and your child should get a flu shot
- Remind your child to cover his/her nose and mouth with a tissue when sneezing or coughing and dispose of the tissue immediately
- Have your child wash his/her hands frequently with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds
- Disinfect frequently-touched surfaces and shared items at least once a day
- Ensure that bathrooms are stocked with soap, hand towels and tissues
- Teach your child not to touch his/her mouth, nose and eyes
- If your child is sick and has a fever, keep him/her at home to prevent the spread If you are concerned about your child’s flu symptoms, call your doctor early. Common symptoms of flu include high fever, severe headache, muscle and body aches, exhaustion, and dry cough. Additionally, children often exhibit other flu symptoms that are rare in adults, such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.
- Refer to the “NURSE” section at the Cloverleaf Local Schools website for more information on when your child is able to return to school.
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