Seasonal and h1n1 flu

Nurse’s Notes
Seasonal and H1N1 FLU
Your motto this year should be "Be prepared NOT SCARED"
As you know, the flu can be easily spread from person to person. Therefore,
we are taking steps to reduce the spread of flu in St. Joe’s School. We want
to keep the school open to students and functioning in a normal manner
during this flu season. But we need your help to do this! We are working
closely with the Lucas County Health Department to monitor flu conditions
and make decisions about the best steps to take concerning schools. Area
County Health Departments have reported that most of the individuals with
flu symptoms (fever, upper respiratory symptoms) are experiencing H1N1----
just not "confirmed" cases. For now we are doing everything we can to keep
our school functioning as usual. Here are a few things you can do to help:
 Teach your children to wash their hands often with soap and water
or an alcohol-based hand rub. You can set a good example by doing this yourself.  Teach your children not to share personal items like drinks, food or
unwashed utensils and to cover their coughs and sneezes with tissues. Covering up their coughs or sneezes using the elbow, arm or sleeve instead of the hand when a tissue is unavailable is advised.  Know the signs and symptoms of the flu. Symptoms of the flu include
fever (100 degrees or greater), cough, sore throat, a runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, and feeling very tired. Some people may also vomit or have diarrhea.  Keep sick children home for at least 24 hours AFTER they no longer
have a fever, without using fever-reducing drugs. Keeping children with a fever at home will reduce the number of people who may get infected.  Do not send children to school of they are sick. Any children who
are determined to be sick while at school will be sent home.  For more information visor call 1-800-CDC-INFO.
For information about the flu in our community go to Wood County
Health Dept webs
No Aspirin
Research has shown a link in the development of Rye’s Syndrome and the use
of aspirin products in treating symptoms of the flu, chicken pox or colds.
The American Academy of Pediatrics and the Center for Disease Control
recommend that aspirin, and any product containing aspirin, not be given to
children or teens during episodes of fever causing illnesses. Reye’s
Syndrome is a disease, which affects all organs of the body, but mostly
lethally the liver & the brain. Reye’s appears most frequently during
January, February and March when it is flu season. For more information
and a list of the over-the-counter aspirin containing products go to:
www.reyessyndrome.org

OCTOBER IS FIRE SAFETY MONTH
Remember fire safety throughout the entire year! One suggestion from “personal” experience is NEVER run your appliances (especially the clothes dryer) while away from home! Time is so precious to all of us---throwing a load of clothes in the dryer while you are sleeping or before running an errand seems convenient but can be VERY dangerous! KEEP YOUR FAMILY SAFE!! HEALTH OFFICE HOURS
I am in my St. Joseph Health office on Monday and Wednesday afternoons (11:30-3:30 pm), Tuesday and Thursday mornings (8:30-10:30). If you need to contact me, please do so via email mary.martin@stjosephmaumee.org or phone (419-893-7243). If I am not in the office, I will return your call the next day.

Source: http://www.sjoemaumee.tld.pvt.k12.oh.us/School/PDF/Nurse/NurseNotes10-09.pdf