Parents are often faced with children complaining of not feeling well on school days. The right decision must be made as to whether the child is really sick and should be kept home or if the complaint is minor and the child should go to school. The following information is not intended as medical advice, but is designed to provide guidelines to follow until your physician can be contacted. Be sure to contact your doctor without delay when your child is sick.

FEVER is a warning that all is not right with the body. Check for fever with a thermometer. It is district policy that a child should NOT be sent to school with a temperature of 99.4 degrees or higher. Do not allow the child to return to school until he/she has been free of fever for 24 hours without the use of medication to reduce the fever.

COLD/COUGH/SORE THROAT A child with a heavy cold and hacking cough belongs home in bed, even if there is no fever. Students must have a written note from parents and initialed in the office to use cough drops at school for a limited and specific amount of time. Students are NOT to bring other cough or cold remedies to school.

If your child complains of a sore throat and has no other symptoms, he may go to school. If white spots can be seen in the back of the throat, or if a fever is present, keep your child home and call your physician.

A RASH may be one of the first signs of a childhood illness. A rash may cover the entire body or may appear in only one area. Do not send a child with a rash to school until your doctor has said it is not contagious.

DRAINING WOUNDS If your child has any break in their skin that is draining in any way, the wound must be covered by a band aid/dressing until it is dry/no longer draining. If your child is diagnosed with MRSA, the wound must be covered until it is completely healed. The school must be notified if you child is diagnosed with MRSA.

STOMACHACHE/VOMITING/DIARRHEA Consult your doctor if your child has a stomachache that is persistent or severe enough to limit activity. If vomiting occurs, keep your child at home until he/she can keep food down. A child with diarrhea should be kept at home. Call your physician if symptoms persist.

HEADACHE A child whose only complaint is a headache usually need not be kept at home. However it may be a symptom of another problem. Should you want your child to have pain relief medication, please give it at home.

**IMPORTANT PRECAUTIONS**—the NUMBER ONE way the spread of infection can be reduced is by FREQUENT AND ADEQUATE HAND WASHING Children should be instructed to KEEP FINGERS AND OBJECTS OUT OF THEIR MOUTHS Also, avoid or limit contact with infected persons when possible. Cover the nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing to limit the spread infection (cough/sneeze into your elbow or into a tissue and throw tissue away immediately).

PLEASE CHECK THE SCHOOL DISTRICT WEBSITE UNDER “STUDENT HEALTH” FOR INFORMATION ON KEEPING YOUR STUDENT AND FAMILY HEALTHY, INCLUDING INFORMATION ON THE H1N1 VIRUS (SWINE FLU), AND AS ALWAYS, FEEL FREE TO CONTACT THE ME WITH YOUR QUESTIONS.