There are simple actions that you can take to help reduce your child’s exposure to flu viruses and the risk of developing the flu:
Wash your hands often, especially after you have been out in public or touched things that other people have touched, like a grocery cart, a gas pump or even a doorknob. Your child should wash his hands after sharing toys or books with friends.
To prevent spreading the flu, turn your head when you cough and sneeze into disposable tissues.
Do not expose infants to large crowds during the flu season.
Avoid close contact with family members who have the flu.
There are four important things to remember when treating a child with the flu:
1. Rest – Your child should get plenty of rest, but he should ‘perk up’ at least briefly every four hours. If he does not have brief periods of feeling better, call your doctor.
2. Fluids – The best fluids are clear liquids, including water, clear juices and sports drinks. If your child rejects most solid foods for a day or two that’s okay, as long as he continues to drink well and urinate normally. If your child does want to eat, feed him/her bland foods in small amounts.
3. Fever Control – Consult your physician
4. One final key to controlling your child’s fever is how he is dressed or how he is covered when in bed. Bundling him up will make it harder for the medicine to lower his temperature. Dress or cover your child as you normally would for the temperature of the room he is in.
If your child:
- Is breathing rapidly or having trouble breathing
- Is having convulsions or a seizure
- Is not alert or is disoriented
- Has persistent vomiting
You should also call the doctor if your child is more susceptible to the flu or a complication.
For example, if your child is:
Has a pre-existing medical condition, such as diabetes, asthma or kidney disease
On treatment or has a disease that decreases the body’s ability to fight infection
By district policy all medications, over the counter as well as prescription, must have a written doctor's order and written parent permission. This medication order and parental permission must be renewed every year. For safety reasons, any student who needs to take medication must take it at the Health Office under the school nurse’s supervision.All medications must come in a properly labeled prescription bottle or a small non-prescription bottle (i.e. Advil, Tylenol).
Head lice outbreaks do not reflect upon a person's living condition. Children can become infected in many areas such as playgrounds, after school activities, buses, and theaters. Students should not trade or share items such as combs, brushes or hats. We suggest that you check your child's head weekly to look for the lice or nits. (Nits are the eggs that the female louse deposits on the scalp.) Please notify the Health Office immediately if your child is infected.
Scratching the head is a possible sign of infestation. Nits usually appear close to the scalp, behind the ears or around the nape of the neck. They can be anywhere in hair. Each nit is the size of a pencil. They are egg shaped and have a translucent whitish pearl color. Nits become attached to a single hair with cement-like substance. They are sometimes confused with dandruff. However, nits do not brush off the hair easily as dandruff does. The adult lice are harder to find (unless there is a large infestation) as they avoid light and can move quickly from hair to hair.
It is district policy that any child with live lice will be send home for treatment. Call you healthcare provider for treatment.