Flu Season
by Patricia Phillips
October 20, 2009
As part of the district’s continued effort to keep you up to
date on the H1N1 flu, the following is being provided to you
concerning the H1N1 flu. The H1N1 flu has received a lot of
attention in the media and, therefore, we felt that it was
important to keep you informed. Bronaugh is experiencing an
increasing number of students with flu-like symptoms. We are taking
a pro-active approach to the flu season this year; including:
frequently sanitizing surfaces around school, providing hand
sanitizer, instructing students on proper hygiene and asking
parents to keep sick children at home until they are fever free for
24 hours without medication. In addition, we have closed the water
fountains and are providing paper cups for students—if they wish to
bring an individual water bottle to school that would be allowed
for the current time.
However, because health officials are less worried about the
severity of the H1N1 flu and are unable to predict how widespread
it will become, we will not be sending home a letter each time we
receive notice of a confirmed case. If further reports indicate
that the H1N1 flu would impact the operation of school, then the
district will provide relevant information to the community.
The Center for Disease Control (CDC) is not recommending school
closure in the event of a single case or even mild outbreaks of the
H1N1 flu. School closures will only be considered if a large number
of students or staff members are absent. District administration
will inform parents in the event of a school closure.
If the school needs to be closed for any reason, the district
reminds parents to please plan ahead and have a family discussion
to decide who would care for their child if the school was closed.
Remember if school is closed, students should not gather at another
location, but rather stay home to avoid continued spread of flu
outside of school.
Earlier in the year the district sent home a document to help
answer questions and provide accurate information about the H1N1
flu. Again we are sending information home concerning the H1N1 flu
and regular flu season. There are many actions we can do to keep
our school open and functioning in a normal manner this school year
and we are asking for your help to do this.
Teach your children how to reduce the risk of getting and spreading
flu viruses by:
• Washing hands often. Wash with soap and hot water for at least 20
seconds.
• Using hand sanitizer. Gels and rubs with at least 60% alcohol are
effective.
• Coughing or sneezing into their sleeve or elbow - not their
hands!
If you suspect your child is getting or has the flu, it is
important s/he does not attend school or go anywhere else. If your
child is sick, keep him/her home for at least 24 hours after being
free of fever, without fever reducing medication. Please remember
that you must notify the school when your child will be absent. If
you are keeping your child home due to flu or flu-like symptoms,
please share that information with the school when reporting the
absence.
Please know that the district will make decisions based on the
recommendations of county and state public health organizations as
well as the Center for Disease Control (CDC). We will keep you
updated with new information as it becomes available.
