H1N1 and Seasonal Flu REMINDERS

If you have flu like symptoms, please stay home and do not return to work and/or school until you are fever free for 24 hours without fever reducing medication. This may mean you are home for 5-7 days depending on the severity of the illness.

The symptoms of flu include:

• Fever of 100.4 or greater
• Runny nose
• Coughing
• Sneezing
• Headache, Body aches

If you are taking care of someone with the flu or with influenza like illness, please practice good hygiene habits including:

• Frequent hand washing for 20 seconds with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, you may use a hand sanitizer.
• Get enough sleep.
• Eat a healthy balanced diet.
• Frequently clean commonly touched surfaces with a disinfectant used to kill flu virus. Such surfaces to clean include door knobs, handles, computer mouse, remote controls, keyboards, etc...

To prevent H1N1 and seasonal flu, the following are recommended:

• Practice good hand hygiene by washing your hands often with soap and water especially after coughing or sneezing, after using the restroom and before meals.
• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. If you don't have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your elbow or shoulder; not into your hands.
• Get your family vaccinated for seasonal flu and 2009 H1N1 flu when vaccines are available.

Immunization:
All students must be immunized in order to attend public school. If students do not have the proper immunizations they will be sent home. A copy of the student's immunization records that have been verified and signed by a physician are required documentation. Complete information regarding required immunizations is available at the following website: http://www.austinvaccinates.org

If there is a conscientious objection with the requirement that the student be immunized, please contact the Texas Department of Health to obtain the appropriate documentation. If there is a medical reason a student may not be immunized, a written statement by a U.S. licensed physician is required.

Medication:
If it becomes necessary for any student to take any form of medication, including over-the-counter medicines, at school, a signed note from a parent must be presented to the Nurse's office staff. Please identify the medicine, tell why it is being taken, and when the last dose is to be given. The medication must be in the original container and must be labeled with the student's name and the name of the medication. The bottle must specify age-appropriate information (i.e. 11-year olds may not take medications listed for 12-year olds and above). All medication will be kept and dispensed through the nurse's office. Students may not have any medicine in their possession while at school.