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When to Keep a Child or Other Family Member Home
A FLU SYMPTOM CHECK LIST FOR FAMILIES
GUIDANCE FOR WHEN TO KEEP YOUR CHILD or OTHER FAMILY MEMBER HOME FROM SCHOOL, DAY CARE, WORK OR OTHER ACTIVITY THAT COULD EXPOSE OTHERS TO THE FLU
The symptoms of influenza (flu) include fever, cough, sore throat, and sometimes body aches, headache, chills and feeling tired. Some people also have diarrhea and vomiting. The most important thing that you can do to keep flu from spreading in the community is to keep ill family members home.
Use the following checklist to help decide if your child or anyone in your family may have the flu:
If you checked yes to: · Fever of 100 degrees or more AND · Cough or sore throat Keep the family member home until he/she is symptom free for 24 hours without the aid of fever reducing medication such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen. If you checked “yes” to only one of the questions above, or if the family member is ill with other symptoms, they should stay at home for at least one day to see how they feel. If other symptoms develop, use the check list questions again to decide whether to continue to stay home. If the family member does not have influenza-like illness based on the check list above, he/she can return to school or work when he or she has been completely well for 24 hours. As always, consult with your family doctor if you have any questions or concerns about your family member’s health.
TIPS TO HELP YOU AND YOUR FAMILY STAY HEALTHY THIS FALL
As the summer months pass and families prepare for the start of another school year, the health district, the school system and the selectmen are busy preparing for additional cases of Novel H1N1 (Swine) flu. Although a vaccine to help protect against the flu is expected to be released by the federal government it is likely to be in limited supply. It is important for all of us to practice prevention. The following health tips will go a long way to help keep us from getting sick with H1N1 or seasonal flu. These good practices will have the added benefit of keeping us from getting the common cold, “the stomach bug” and other various inconvenient sicknesses.
· Wash your hands. Use warm water and soap and scrub hand fronts and backs including fingernails for a minimum of twenty seconds. Hand sanitizer is a good backup if you don’t have access to soap and water. This is the single most effective action you can take to stay well.
· Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue or with your elbow, not with your hand. If you do cough into a tissue or into your hand wash your hands immediately.
· STAY HOME IF YOU ARE FEELING ILL. THIS INCLUDES SCHOOL STAFF. PARENTS NEED TO KEEP THEIR CHILDREN HOME IF THEY ARE SICK. As a parent, I know this difficult because of work commitments. If you have not already done so, I urge parents to reach out to family and friends who may be able to be a back up if you are unable to stay home with a sick child.
· Call your health care provider (or your child’s health care provider) if you or your child have a fever above 101 degrees Fahrenheit with a cough and/or sore throat or if any illness does not improve or if the symptoms worsen.
· Eat healthy food; drink plenty of water, 100% juice and other beverages that keep you hydrated. Limit caffeine, soda and other sugary drinks.
· Get enough sleep. Parents, make sure your child stays rested.
· Get fresh air and exercise each day. This helps the immune system, and helps with the quality of sleep. Pass on these important health safety tips to your friends and family!!! Keeping each other healthy, keeps our community healthy!!
Please keep referring to our website for even more information and updates.
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