http://www.am.dodea.edu/ddessasc/pandemic/pipandi.html

Facts and Links about the Swine Flu

The Swine Flu is a contagious virus. The single most important thing we can do to help protect ourselves is to WASH OUR HANDS with warm soapy water. Washing your hands with warm soapy water helps kill the germs. Cold water is not as effective. If soap and water is not available, use an alcohol based hand sanitizer. Cover your nose and mouth when you cough or sneeze. Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.

NURSE’S NOTES
As a reminder: if your student is placed on prescription medication, which must be given during school hours, Camp Lejeune Dependent Schools require a written permission by the parent / sponsor to allow school personnel to administer it. Parental permission forms must be taken with you to the doctor’s appointment must be signed by the physician and are available at the main office or from the school nurse. In order for ANY prescription medication to be administered at school, a parent/sponsor MUST:

1. Assure that the school nurse is aware of any unusual health conditions your child may have (i.e. allergies, asthma. Diabetes, etc.)
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2. Ensure that the pharmacist labels two containers – one for home use and one for school use if the student is to receive the medication at both sites.

3. Parent / sponsor are to deliver the prescription medication to school. DO NOT send medication to school with your child.

4. Provide new container with appropriate labeling when medication changes are made.

5.If prescription medication is to be taken only when needed – the prescription has to state “as needed” on it.

6. Remove medications from school premises within one week of the date they are discontinued by physician or on the student’s final day of school, whichever comes first.

7. Any medication not removed by the parent within the specified time period will be promptly disposed of.

8. Medications will not be sent home with students.

It is against school policy for students to have any medication in their possession at school. This includes non-prescription drugs such as Tylenol and Aspirin.
The cold and flu season is here. If your student is sick, especially with a fever, PLEASE keep him/her home from school until fever free for 24 hours. The flu is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses. Symptoms of the flu include fever, headache, extreme tiredness, dry cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose and muscle aches. Gastro-intestinal symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, are much more common among children than adults. The spread of the flu is when a person who has the flu coughs, sneezes, or speaks and spreads the virus into the air, and other people inhale the virus. When these viruses enter the nose, throat, or lungs of a person, they begin to multiply, causing symptoms of the flu. The viruses can also be spread when a person touches a surface with flu viruses on it (for example, a door handle) and then touches his or her nose or mouth. A person who is sick with the flu can spread viruses – that means they are contagious. Adults may be contagious from 1 day before developing symptoms to up to 7 days after getting sick. Children can be contagious for longer than 7 days. The single best way to prevent the flu is to get vaccinated. The following steps may help prevent the spread of respiratory illnesses like the flu:
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AVOID CLOSE CONTACT. Avoid close contact with people that are sick. When you are sick, keep your distance from others to protect them from getting sick too.
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STAY HOME WHEN YOU ARE SICK. You will help prevent others from catching your illness.
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COVER YOUR MOUTH AND NOSE. Cough or sneeze into your sleeve.
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WASH YOUR HANDS. Washing your hands often will help protect you from germs.
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AVOID TOUCHING YOUR EYES, NOSE OR MOUTH. Germs are often spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose, or mouth.
WHAT TO DO IF YOU GET SICK THIS FLU SEASON: If you develop the flu, it is advisable to get plenty of rest, drink a lot of liquids, and avoid using alcohol and tobacco. Also, you can take medications to relieve the symptoms of flu (but never give aspirin to children or teenagers who have flu-like symptoms – and particularly fever – without first speaking to your doctor.) If however, your flu symptoms are unusually severe (for example, if you are having trouble breathing), you should consult your health-care provider right away. If you have any questions, please contact your school nurse at 451-2451.

Reference: http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/hip/aresist/ca_mrsa_public.htm#prevention_steps

http://www.kidshealth.org/teen/infections/bacterial_viral/staph.html

 

 

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