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Dear Parents,
Here is some general information regarding influenza (flu) you might find helpful:
Common Flu Symptoms:
- Fever of 100’F to 104’F, when symptoms first develop. Fever is usually continuous, but it may come and go. Fever may be lower in older adults than in children and younger adults.
- Headache.
- Shaking chills.
- Body aches and muscle pain (often severe), commonly in the back, arms, or legs.
- Pain when you move your eyes.
- Fatigue, a general feeling of sickness (malaise), loss of appetite.
- A dry cough, runny nose and dry or sore throat. You may not notice these during the first few days of the illness when other symptoms are more severe. As fever goes away, these symptoms usually become more evident.
- Diarrhea and vomiting also can occur, but are more common in children.
What To Do If You Get Sick:
- Get plenty of rest.
- Drink a lot of fluids.
- Consider taking over-the-counter medications to relieve the symptoms of flu (but never give aspirin to children or teenagers who have flu-like symptoms).
- Stay home and avoid contact with other people to protect them from catching your illness.
- Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze to protect others from your germs.
- Wash your hands after coughing or sneezing with either water or a hand sanitizing waterless gel.
Seek Medical Attention For:
- Prolonged fever.
- Fast breathing, difficulty breathing or shortness of breath.
- Pain or pressure in the chest.
- Not drinking enough fluids.
- Changes in mental status.
- Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough.Any concerns you have regarding yourself or your child.
I hope you find the above information helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact your own health care provider if you have any further questions or concerns.
If we here at Holy Family, can be of any help, please let us know.
Sincerely,
Liz Worden, RN Trish Ochenduszko, RN
IMPORTANT INFORMATION regarding head lice:
IF YOU DETERMINE AT HOME THAT YOUR CHILD HAS A CASE OF HEAD LICE, PLEASE NOTIFY THE SCHOOL NURSE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE TO LIMIT THE EXPOSURE TO OTHER STUDENTS AND SO THAT YOUR CHILD IS NOT RE-EXPOSED.
BEFORE YOUR CHILD CAN RETURN TO SCHOOL AFTER BEING TREATED, HE/SHE NEEDS TO BE CLEARED BY THE SCHOOL NURSE. THE NURSE IS IN THE OFFICE 9:30AM-3PM. WITH NOTIFICATION THE NURSE CAN BE IN THE OFFICE AT ARRIVAL.
THE FOLLOWING IS SOME INFORMATION FROM THE MASSACHUSETSS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH. PLEASE NOTE THAT THE REQUIRED TREATMENT IS A MEDICATED SHAMPOO.
ANY QUESTIONS FEEL FREE TO CALL US AT THE SCHOOL.
AS A REMINDER DURING THIS FLU AND COLD SEASON:
To avoid and prevent spread of infections and germs, remember the following:
Practice good hand washing
Use a Kleenex to cover both your mouth and nose when you sneeze or cough
If you have dry cracked skin, treat them with cream or lotion
No sharing of personal items, i.e., cups or utensils.
Keep your child home for:
A temperature over 100.0 degreees
Nausea, vomiting and/or diarrhea.
Severe cold: running nose, frequent sneezing and/or coughing, etc.
Your child may return to school after:
Fever free for 24 hours
Has been on prescribed antibiotics for 24 hours.
VISION AND HEARING UPDATE:
Vision and hearing screenings will be taking place in the upcoming weeks.
Letters will be sent home for any child having trouble passing the tests. MEDICATIONS
1. Please remember that all medications, prescription and over the counter, including cough drops, must be brought to the nurses office at the beginning of the school day. They must be in the original container with a note from the physician if a prescription, or from a parent if the medication is over the counter, stating how the medication is to be given, i.e. for what reason or at a certain time of the day.
2. Please let the nurses know if your child is on any prescription medication at home and when the medication is discontinued, if at all during the school year. This will help us in caring for your child. Many medications have side effects which we can monitor, but only if we know they are on the medication. 3. It would be helpful to the nurses if you can send a note in with your child if you gave him/her any medication, not routine meds, such as Tylenol (Acetaminophen), Motrin or Advil (Ibuprofen) or cold medications which contain acetaminophen or ibuprofen. This is especially true with children in the lower grades. This can be very helpful, for example, if your child came to the nurse’s office complaining of a headache before noon and we knew that they had received medication for this before school as we would not want to medicate again before the recommended time.
**Please continue to encourage your child to eat a nutritious breakfast to help enhance their learning and minimize the possibility of weakness and faintness. This is especially important on the days we attend Mass and go on field trips.
HEAD LICE - THE BUG THAT KEEPS ON GIVING:
Health News on Head Lice- downloadable PDF file
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