Sick/Absent FAQ: This page contains answers to common questions of
students and parents.
- How is the flu virus spread?
- How long does the flu virus live away from the body?
- How is the school preparing for the Flu season?
- HOW CAN MY CHILD RECEIVE MEDICATION DURING THE SCHOOL DAY?
- SICK DAYS: WHEN IS MY CHILD ABLE TO RETURN TO SCHOOL AFTER A FEVER?
- WHAT IS THE SCHOOL DOING ABOUT THE MRSA INFECTION PROBLEM.
How is the flu virus spread?
Primarily through respiratory droplets:
Coughing, sneezing, or touching resp. droplets from another
person or object & then touching your mouth, nose & eyes without
washing hands.
How long does the flu virus live away from the body?
Virus lives for 2-8 hours.
How is the school preparing for the Flu season?
Student & staff who have flu like symptoms will be sent home.
Exclusion period is 24 hours after fever free without fever
reducing medications.
Students will wash hands or use hand sanitizers before lunch and
after recess.
Children and staff exhibiting flu like symptoms will use surgical
masks until sent home, and will be kept away from well children.
Children are being instructed on proper, thorough handwashing,
and the proper way to cover mouth (using crook of arm).
HOW CAN MY CHILD RECEIVE MEDICATION DURING THE SCHOOL DAY?
TEMPORARY MEDICATIONS (ANTIBIOTICS): send in the pharmacy
container with
the
child's and the doctor's name on the label, and the medication
can be given
for the period of time required.
MEDICATIONS FOR THE ENTIRE SCHOOL YEAR: obtain a medication form
from the
nurse to be filled out entirely by the doctor. Bring in the
medication in
the original pharmacy container, with this completed form,(be
sure to sign
the front of the form) and the child can receive this medication
as needed.
REMEMBER THAT CHILDREN ARE NEVER ALLOWED TO CARRY MEDICATION
THEMSELVES.
SICK DAYS: WHEN IS MY CHILD ABLE TO RETURN TO SCHOOL AFTER A FEVER?
The School has a policy that requires a child to be fever-free
for 24 hours
WITHOUT MEDICATION, before he/she may return to school. In other
words, if
you have a fever today, you stay out tomorrow.
WHAT IS THE SCHOOL DOING ABOUT THE MRSA INFECTION PROBLEM.
MRSA (Methicilllin resistant staphlococus aureus) has been in the
papers a
lot lately. The majority of the cases have been found in
hospitals, mainly
affecting the elderly, with a few cases in schools affecting
athletes. The
main way to avoid this disease is by good hygiene, mainly
handwashing. The
children in all grades at Lawrence Brook will be reminded of
proper
handwashing technique, and encouraged to wash hands frequently.
Tables in
the classrooms are regularly washed down twice a week with a
germicidal
cleaner.
Signs of a skin infection are redness, swelling, warmth at the
site, pain
and/or tenderness. There may or may not be pus draining from the
wound. If
these symptoms are present, consult your doctor immediately.
Most
infections are NOT MRSA, but all infections should be checked by
your doctor.
This problem is not a new one, since cases have been reported for
many
years, but the numbers are rising so it is good to be informed.
If you have any further questions or concerns, please give me a
call
