WINTER HEALTH AND SAFETY TIPS

With the dropping temperatures, we want to remind you to remind your children to wear warm outer wear to school.  If the temperature and wind chill are above freezing (32), we will be going outside for recess to move and get some fresh air.  Children need  to have their hands and heads covered and have a warm coat on their bodies. 

INFLUENZA SEASON

The NYS Department of Health would like you to know that information regarding influenza and the benefits of influenza immunizations is free and accessible on their website http://www.nyhealth.gov

The best way fo prevent the flu is by getting a flu shot.
What are symptoms of the flu?  The flu usually starts suddently and may include these symptoms:
      fever or feeling feverish/chills
      cough
      sore throat
      runny or stuffy nose
      muscle or body aches
      headaches
      fatigue (tiredness)
      some people may have vomiting and diarrhea, though this is more common in children than adults

*Its important to note that not everyone with flu will have a fever.* 

If your child shows any symptoms of illness (listed above), temperature over 100 and flu-like symptoms, please keep him/her home.  Notify your healthcare provider if there is no improvement. 

Children many not return to school unless:

They are fever free for 24 hours WITHOUT medication for fever
They have not vomited for 24 hours

During school, if your child is ill or found to have flu like symptoms, you will be called to pick up your student.  Please have updated contact numbers on file.  Emergency contacts should be local and available to pick up students promptly. 

HEAD LICE

Children should be checked periodically at home and the school nurse should be notified if head lice are found.  Call your healthcare provider for best treatment.  Please inform the parents of your child's playmates so that they can check their children's head.  As per district policy a class letter will be sent home if there are three documented cases of lice in one class.   

Head lice are spread most commonly by direct head-to-head (hair-to-hair) contact. However, much less frequently they are spread by sharing clothing or belongings onto which lice have crawled or nits attached to shed hairs may have fallen. The risk of getting infested by a louse that has fallen onto a carpet or furniture is very small. Head lice survive less than 1–2 days if they fall off a person and cannot feed; nits cannot hatch and usually die within a week if they are not kept at the same temperature as that found close to the scalp.

The following are steps that can be taken to help prevent and control the spread of head lice:

• Avoid head-to-head (hair-to-hair) contact during play and other activities at home, school, and elsewhere (sports activities, playground, slumber parties, camp).
• Do not share clothing such as hats, scarves, coats, sports uniforms, hair ribbons, or barrettes.
• Do not share combs, brushes, or towels. Disinfest combs and brushes used by an infested person by soaking them in hot water (at least 130°F) for 5–10 minutes.
• Do not lie on beds, couches, pillows, carpets, or stuffed animals that have recently been in contact with an infested person.
• Machine wash and dry clothing, bed linens, and other items that an infested person wore or used during the 2 days before treatment using the hot water (130°F) laundry cycle and the high heat drying cycle. Clothing and items that are not washable can be dry-cleaned OR sealed in a plastic bag and stored for 2 weeks.
• Vacuum the floor and furniture, particularly where the infested person sat or lay. However, spending much time and money on housecleaning activities is not necessary to avoid reinfestation by lice or nits that may have fallen off the head or crawled onto furniture or clothing.
• Do not use fumigant sprays or fogs; they are not necessary to control head lice and can be toxic if inhaled or absorbed through the skin.

To help control a head lice outbreak in a community, school, or camp, children can be taught to avoid activities that may spread head lice.