Common Sense H1N1

The most common sense thing to do when dealing with a flu outbreak is to keep sick people away from healthy people...as much as possible. Therefore, it is very important that sick people stay home until they are well.

While the H1N1 virus is running rampant throughout the country please continue to practice these three procedures each day with your self and with your students:

1. Wash hands with soap and hot water often

2. If you or your child has a fever.....keep/take them home. The school will call you and request you take your child home when this occurs.

3. If your child has sore throat, cough, runny nose, body aches, voiting, or diarrhea...depending on the severity...keep them home. These are called flu-like symptoms and you should report to the school if your child has any of these symptoms...and a fever.

If your child does have flu-like symptoms keep them home for 24 hours after the fever is gone. Tylenol and Ibuprofen are still considered the best medications for lowering a fever.

There is no need to panic if your child is sick and the state is recommending that you call the doctor only when you would usually see a health care professional. There are other flu types floating around and at this point H1N1 is being treated just like all the others.

There does seem to be more of an issue to young children and those with asthma when warding off the effects of H1N1 so parents of those children should be more aware of their child's symptoms and seek professional assistance early.

All in all, the H1N1 virus seems to be yet another virus that our bodies normally fight off. Keeping our hands clean and keeping sick people away from healthy ones....common sense ideas...are the best defenses against getting the flu this year.