H1N1 Flu Information

August 2009 Letter to Prevent the Spread of Flu

Letter to Faculty/Staff
Letter to Parents (English)
Letter to Parents (Español)

Sweetwater Schools Prepared:

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Everyday steps to prevent the spread of the flu:

If you are sick, stay home: do not go to school and do not travel.

Wash your hands and your children's hands often, and use hand sanitizer.

Cover your cough or sneeze with your sleeve or a tissue, and then throw the tissue away and wash your hands.

Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.

**NOTE: It is important to note that school protocol for responding to H1N1 is NOT district-driven.

Guidelines for schools come directly from the Centers for Disease Control and are implemented in the district with guidance from the San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency.

Keep in mind that the CDC may change the protocol and guidelines as new research and findings become available.

Recommendations from The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for parents, staff and students of K-12 schools: (Updated Aug. 7, 2009 - 3:30 pm)

Parents and guardians should monitor their school-aged children, and faculty and staff should self-monitor every morning for symptoms of influenza-like illness.

Students, faculty or staff with influenza-like illness (fever with a cough or sore throat) should keep away from others as much as possible, stay home, and not attend school or go into the community (except to seek medical care or for other necessities) for at least 24 hours after fever is gone. (Fever should be gone without the use of a fever-reducing medicine.)

Persons who are sick should stay home. Do not send a sick child to a child care center and avoid group settings.

Aspirin or aspirin-containing products should not be administered to any confirmed or suspected ill case of novel H1N1 influenza virus infection aged 18 years old and younger due to the risk of Reye syndrome. Refer to pediatric medical management for guidance regarding use of any medications, especially those containing aspirin. (http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/clinicians)

School dismissal is not advised for a suspected or confirmed case of novel influenza A (H1N1) and, in general, is not advised unless there is a magnitude of faculty or student absenteeism that interferes with the school's ability to function.

**School dismissal is not advised for a single suspected or confirmed case of novel influenza A (H1N1) and, in general, is not advised unless there is a magnitude of faculty or student absenteeism that interferes with the school's ability to function.