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:
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.