Please refer to the Flu Symptom Checklist that is on the school website and can be found at:
Flu Fact Sheet (PDF).
What should I do if my child is sick?
Flu spreads easily. If you think your child is getting the flu:
• It is very important that he/she does not go to school or other places where
they might make other people sick, such as group childcare, after school programs, the
mall, or sporting events.
• Call your doctor’s office and let him/her know your child’s symptoms and
history. Your doctor will advise you whether you should come to the office. It is best
to call ahead because several doctors’ offices have provisions in place to respond to
possible flu cases.
• When you call to the school to notify them that your child is sick, please
tell the school nurse if he/she has flu-like symptoms or tested positive for flu.
• Keep your school nurse updated on your child’s medical condition.
Some tips for keeping the rest of the family healthy include:
• Establish a rule in your house that everyone covers their coughs, and cleans
their hands with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub often, especially after
coughing and/or sneezing.
• Keep the sick person in a room separate from the common areas of the house.
(For example, a spare bedroom with its own bathroom, if that’s possible.) Keep the
sickroom door closed.
• Keep your child at home unless necessary for medical care and don’t have
playmates or other guests over during this time. Your child may be able to pass the
virus for 7 days or longer, so check with your doctor on recommendations for when
he/she can return to school
• Try to protect other people in the home. For example, if possible, have only
one adult in the home take care of the sick person (not a pregnant woman). Clean
surfaces regularly with a disinfectant and maintain good ventilation. Remember to wash
you hands.
• Monitor yourself and household members, including the elderly, for flu
symptoms and contact a health care provider if symptoms occur.
• Throw away tissues and other disposable items used by the sick person in the
trash. Wash your hands after touching used tissues and similar waste.
• Linens, eating utensils, and dishes belonging to those who are sick do not
need to be cleaned separately, but importantly these items should not be shared
without washing thoroughly first.
What can I do to keep my child from getting sick?
It is also important to teach your children how to reduce their risk of getting the
flu and how to protect others from becoming infected.
Teach your children to wash their hands often. Washing with soap and hot
water for at least 20 seconds is ideal (that is about as long as it takes to sing
the “Happy Birthday” song twice).
Teach your children the proper use of hand sanitizer. Gels, rubs, and hand
wipes all work well, as long as they contain at least 60% alcohol. Hand wipes must be
disposed of properly. (Monitor small children using gels as they may ingest it.)
Teach your children to cough or sneeze into your sleeve—not their hands!
Cover coughs and sneezes with tissues or by coughing into the inside of their elbow.
They should wash their hands after blowing their nose or coughing into a tissue.
Teach your children to avoid touching their nose, mouth or eyes. They should
keep their hands away from their face.
If we all practice good hygiene, health officials believe we can limit the spread of
flu in our schools and child care centers.
Where can I get more information?
Talk to your doctor.
Call 211, the information hotline.
Visit the DPH or CDC websites (listed above).
Thank you for your cooperation in keeping our children and our schools healthy.