Golden View Elementary

 

A low grade fever, complaints of sore throat or cough may be viral in nature, but can still be contagious. Sending your child to school when ill increases the risk of infecting other students and staff. A child with a temperature above 100 orally will be sent home from school. If your child has been out ill with a fever, please adhere to the following guidelines when deciding if your child is well enough to return to school.

 

A fever is defined as an oral temperature above 100 degrees orally or an axillary (armpit) temperature of 99 degrees.

 

In most mild illnesses (2-5 days duration), the fever is lowest in the morning hours, begins to increase in the afternoon, and is highest in the evening. When the child begins to recover, the temperature could be normal in the morning, but the fever may be present in the afternoon.

 

The presence of other symptoms, to a significant degree, warrants keeping your child home an additional day. These include: cough, nasal congestion, stomachache, vomiting, and diarrhea. The instructions given by your doctor, even when in conflict with the above guidelines, should be followed.

 

Preventative measures we can take to minimize the transmission of germs are:

 

 

Flu symptoms include fever, headache, chills, body aches, fatigue, dry cough, sore throat and nasal congestion. Sometimes, people may experience diarrhea and vomiting. If you become sick, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommend that you stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever has gone. Your fever should be gone without the use of fever reducing medicine.

 

Maintain good hygiene practices as noted. Rest, and drink plenty of fluids. Over the counter medications may help alleviate some of the flu symptoms. Tylenol is recommended for children.

 

If you see your doctor for flu symptoms, an antiviral medication may be prescribed, however these must be taken within the first 24-48 of the onset of illness. Another preventative measure against the flu is getting a flu vaccine.

 

In our busy and sometimes stressful lives, remember the benefits of a good night’s sleep and healthy meals!

 

Keep washing your hands and stay well,

 

Nancy Sheets, R.N.

School Nurse/Health Educator

nsheets@srvusd.net

Information retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov.flu

 

THE PARENT OR ADULT REPRESENTATIVE MUST BRING ALL MEDICATIONS TO SCHOOL IN THE ORIGINAL CONTAINER. A physician and the parent/guardian must complete and sign this form before any medication can be administered at school. To carry either an asthma inhaler or emergency medication (i.e. Epipen), part III must be completed by the doctor, parent and child.