A Message from the Nurse
It is cold and flu (and everything else creepy and crawly) season once again. Please consider the following ways to keep you and our students healthy:
Students, parents, and staff should stay home when sick until at least 24 hours after they no longer have a fever (100.4 or above) or signs of a fever (chills, feeling very warm, flushed appearance, or sweating) without the use of fever-reducing medicine.
Avoid close contact with people who are sick. When you are sick, keep your distance from others to protect them from getting sick too. Do not share food or utensils.
Students and staff should cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue or sneeze/cough into your elbow. If a tissue is used, it should be thrown into in a trash can and wash their hands. Have tissues readily available.
Washing your hands (Wet, Lather, Scrub, Rinse, Dry) often with soap will help protect you from germs. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub with at least 60% alcohol. Be aware that most hand sanitizers do not kill fecal borne pathogens and always remember that hand sanitizer should be kept out of reach of young kids. Soap and water is always the best!
When to wash:
- Before touching your eyes, nose, or mouth
- Before, during, and after preparing food
- Before eating food
- Before and after caring for someone at home who is sick with vomiting or diarrhea
- Before and after treating a cut or wound
- After using the toilet
- After changing diapers or helping someone use the bathroom
- After blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing
- After touching an animal, animal feed, or animal waste
- After handling pet food or pet treats
- After touching garbage
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. Do not touch your face unless you have just washed your hands!
Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces at home, work or school, especially when someone is ill. Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids, and eat nutritious food. Drinking more fluids actually swells your nose lining and makes it harder for you to breathe in germs!