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<p class="MsoNormal">Fever, chills, cough, body aches,
headaches are just a few of the symptoms that are consistently associated with
“the Flu.” As the flu season quickly approaches, we need to take
precautionary measures to ensure that we protect our loved ones and ourselves.<br />
<br />
Please remember our sick policy
and keep your child at home if they present with a fever above 100.5F and other
symptoms that indicate the flu or other viruses. Students cannot return
to school until they have been fever-free for at least 24 hours without the use
of fever-reducing medication. <strong>Please report all absences to the Upper School
office and inform the School Nurse of specific symptoms.</strong> This information
assists the school in making appropriate decisions regarding the health of the
school and its attendees. <br />
<br />
It’s important to know that
viruses such as the flu are contagious before a child shows any symptoms of
being sick. That’s why it’s always a great idea to practice good hand
washing techniques at all times to prevent the spread of viruses.<br />
<br />
<strong>Who Is Affected By the Flu</strong>?<br />
Everyone is at risk for the flu, and symptoms usually go away in a week or two.
So it’s important that if we find ourselves with symptoms to stay clear of
these people as much as possible.<br />
<br />
<strong>How Is the Flu Spread</strong>?<br />
This virus is spread through little droplets that spray out of an infected
person’s mouth or nose when they sneeze, cough or even laugh. You then
catch it when you breathe in these droplets or if you get them on your hands
and you touch your mouth or nose.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><strong><br />
How Can You Protect Yourself</strong>?<br />
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Consult with your
physician regarding the </span><strong style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Flu vaccine</strong><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> and whether or not you or your
children are candidates. The flu vaccine will protect you from getting a
bad case of the flu or protect you from getting it at all. Please consider the
flu injection over the flumist. This consideration is largely due to the
compromised immune system of some individuals within our community.
The flumist contains a live virus that could cause those with a
compromised immune system to become very ill.<br />
</span><strong style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><br />
Wash your hands!</strong><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> You don’t want to spread germs. Encourage your
children to wash their hands after playing outside, before eating, after
coughing or sneezing, and after going to the bathroom.<br />
</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><br />
Don’t underestimate
the power of good hand washing. The few seconds that are spent at the
sink with your child could save you trips and the dreaded co-pays at the
doctor’s office.<br />
</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><br />
Periodically </span><strong style="text-indent: -0.25in;">clean
surfaces</strong><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> that are frequently handled around the house with soap and water,
such as toys, doorknobs, light switches, sink fixtures and flushing handles on
the toilets. It may not kill all of the germs but it will certainly
reduce the number of bacteria on these objects.<br />
<div style="text-indent: -24px;"><strong><br />
What If You Get the Flu</strong>?<br />
<br />
Even if you abide by all of the rules, your children still might get the flu or
another virus, so what do you do? Start by seeing a doctor to diagnose
what they have, and then you can follow these steps:</div>
</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.75in; text-indent: -0.25in;">1.<span style="font-size: 7pt;"> </span>Rest</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.75in; text-indent: -0.25in;">2.<span style="font-size: 7pt;"> </span>Drink lots of liquids, such as water or chicken broth</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.75in; text-indent: -0.25in;">3.<span style="font-size: 7pt;"> </span>Take over-the counter medicines that can help to relive
fever, aches and pains</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.75in; text-indent: -0.25in;">4.<span style="font-size: 7pt;"> </span>If your child has trouble breathing, his muscles really
hurt or if she feels confused, these are signs that he may need to see the
doctor again.<br />
<br />
Most of all please keep children
at home (to prevent the spread) and let them take it easy. Symptoms
usually last 3 - 4 days, but cough and tiredness may linger for 1-2 weeks.</p><img style="width: 5px; height: 5px" src="http://webapps.pcrsoft.com/Campus/Common/Service.aspx?nid=166971&scn=Sidwell"></img>