It's Flu Season!
01/16/2020
Dear Parents/Guardians:
Millsap ISD would like to provide the following information regarding the flu and other health related topics.
In order for Millsap ISD to maintain a “safe and healthy environment”, the District requests the cooperation of everyone that will be present in the school environment to adhere to the following policy:
“the following are some reasons to keep your child home from school to prevent spreading illness to others:
*FEVER of 100.0 or higher (this should be taken without the child having fever reducing medications within the last four hours.)
*Vomiting
*Diarrhea
*Coughing that produces phlegm
*Yellow or green drainage from nose
Students with fever, vomiting or diarrhea should not return to school for at least 24 hours from the last episode. ”
Please understand that we encourage school attendance for students to be successful in their education; but a student that is sick will not learn while at school and will only expose others (students and staff) to their illness.
CDC Definition
The Center for Disease Control defines a case of influenza as an individual presenting with fever of 101.5 or higher and one of the following symptoms:
*Cough *Sore Throat *Headache *Muscle ache
In the absence of a physician’s diagnosis or laboratory test results, individuals that present with influenza-like illness (ILI) and meet the above criteria should be managed as cases of influenza. Prevention and health measures are the same no matter the type of flu, so making distinctions about types of flu is not necessary.
Prevention and Safety Measures: Our custodial staff continue their extraordinary efforts in reducing the amount of germs and keeping our buildings clean. Staff work extremely hard wiping down and sanitizing every surface possible and increase these efforts during flu season. Teachers and staff encourage students and others to wash hands frequently and use preventive measures when coughing or sneezing around others.
The following are tips for everyone to help reduce the spread of illness:
Hand washing is the most effective way to prevent the spread of illness.
Wash your hands after going to the restroom, before and after eating and anytime hands are dirty or feel unclean. Wash your hands after coughing or sneezing into a tissue.
Use hand sanitizer when water and soap are not available and frequently throughout the day.
Cover your cough and sneeze with a tissue or use the bend of your arm not your hand.
When ill—stay home and only leave to go to a physician or medical facility.
Stay away from others who are ill.
Do not eat or drink after others.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, mouth and face.
Vaccine
Contact your physician for more information about receiving the flu vaccine.
Websites
The following websites are reliable, up-to-date resources on the Flu:
As always, if you have any questions or concerns please contact one of our district nurses.
Stephanie Gast, LVN Liza Lane, LVN
940-682-3156 or sgast@millsapisd.net 940-682-3111 or llane@millsapisd.net
Thank you for allowing us to educate and care for your children!
Millsap Independent School District
