Flu is spread when a person who has the flu coughs, sneezes or speaks and sends the virus into the air. The virus enters the nose, throat or lungs of a person and multiplies. Flu spreads less frequently when a person touches a surface that has flu viruses on it.

Hand washing is the proven way to reduce spread of illness. We are reminding students to be diligent in washing their hands at school. Getting enough sleep at night and good nutrition also play a role in staying healthy. Ask your health care provider about getting a flu shot.

If your child has any of these symptoms, please keep him/her at home until the symptoms subside. These are the same guidelines that the school nurse uses to evaluate students who may need to go home:
• APPEARANCE/BEHAVIOR: unusually tired, difficult to wake, pale, skin rash, lack of appetite; these are often signs of underlying illness.
• FEVER: temperature of 100 degrees or higher. Child may be sent home without a fever if other symptoms are present.
• SORE THROAT: especially with fever and/or swollen glands.
• VOMITING/DIARRHEA: within the past 24 hours.
• NASAL DRAINAGE/COUGH: yellow or green nasal drainage and/or chronic coughing may prevent your child or other students from being able to concentrate. They may expose others to illness, especially if they cannot control their secretions.

Students should be fever-free with no vomiting/diarrhea for 24 hours before returning to school.

It is not unusual for students to feel better in the morning and then worse as the day goes along. It is important for the school to have a list of emergency contacts that are available to pick up your child in the event that we are not able to reach you. Please notify the school if there are changes to your contacts.

When your child is ill, he/she is more likely to contract other illnesses. Your child also exposes other students and staff when he/she comes to school sick. The school is not equipped for prolonged care of your sick child. We expect that you or an emergency contact will pick up your sick child within the hour that you are called.

We need everyone's cooperation, to be better able to provide a healthy learning environment for our students and staff members.

For more information:
http://www.metrokc.gov/health