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Dear Parents and Guardians of Springfield High School:
The new flu, 2009 H1N1 (swine), and seasonal flu are currently causing illness in Vermonters, and we are experiencing flu-like illness at our school, too. The new H1N1 flu is a lot like regular (seasonal) flu, for which most people are not tested. Knowing what to do about flu-like illness is more important than knowing what kind of flu a person may have. We want you to have the following information.
Most people who get the flu have a mild illness, and most get better on their own without medicine. But some people are more likely to get seriously ill. Children with chronic health problems such as asthma, diabetes, heart disease, meta-bolic conditions, neurologic and neuromuscular disorders, or who are pregnant are at higher risk of having complications from flu. All children younger than 5 years old, and especially those under age 2, are at higher risk of flu complications compared to older children. If your child is at higher risk for flu complications, please check with a doctor to
learn if she or he should have early treatment if symptoms start.
You and your family can help keep flu, seasonal and H1N1, from spreading by taking simple, everyday precautions:
- Monitor children and yourself every day for flu-like symptoms. Flu symptoms usually include fever plus either a cough or a sore throat. Other symptoms can include body aches, head ache, extreme fatigue, chills, runny nose, and sometimes vomiting and diarrhea.
- If you or your child is sick, stay home from work or school until you have been fever free for at least 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medicine. Keep sick people away from people who are not sick. Go out only to seek health care. (This requires planning ahead for adequate foods and medical supplies, such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen.)
- Tell your school nurse or school administrator about your child’s flu illness so they can watch for others with flu symptoms.
- Wash your hands well and often. Make sure your children do the same. Wash with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If you can’t wash with soap and water, use a hand sanitizer. Hand sanitizers such as gel or wipes should contain at least 60% alcohol.
- Remind children to keep their hands away from their face and avoid touching the mouth, nose or eyes.
- Cover coughs. Teach your children to do the same. Cough into the inside of your elbow, or into a tissue — not your hands!
- Discard used tissues or hand sanitizer wipes. Teach your children to throw away tissues, and then wash hands well.
- Don’t share water bottles, utensils, cups, etc. with others.
- Most people who are sick with flu will not need to see a health care provider and can be cared for at home. Give plenty of liquids. DO NOT give aspirin to children or teens. Home care guidance is found at http://www.flu.gov/individualfamily/caregivers/index.html. Please refer to this valuable information.
- Ill people who have underlying medical conditions may benefit from early treatment after symptoms begin. If your child has a chronic medical condition, ask his or her doctor if early (within 48 hours of onset of symptoms) treatment is recommended for your child. Check with the doctor if you are not sure about chronic conditions. It’s good to know ahead of time.
- Get immediate medical attention if any of the following occur:
- Difficult or fast breathing or chest pain
- Bluish skin or lip color
- Vomiting and inability to take or keep liquids down
- Signs of dehydration (such as no urination, dry mouth, no tears, dizzy when standing)
- Seizures
- Confusion or decreased responsiveness
- Fever with a rash.
School will remain open for healthy students. At this time, the Vermont Department of Health tells us that students who are not ill can attend school.
The Health Department is working with schools to monitor flu illness and to slow the spread of flu from person-to-person.
If you have questions, call your school nurse or healthcare provider. You can call the school at 885-7917 or go to the school website.
It’s important to keep informed about what’s happening. You can get more information from:
Sincerely,
Christine Simmons, RN, LCCE
Springfield High School Nurse
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