WHEN A CHILD IS SICK

We greatly appreciate the respect you show for all of us by keeping your sick child at home. Please call the school if your child will be out due to illness (or any other reason).

PREVENTION:  Please inform the health office if your child has a contagious illness:  Members of our population are medically fragile and "at risk" for certain conditions. The nurse may need to alert them to these conditions so that they can consult with their health care providers.  

REPORTABLE DISEASES" Some communicable diseases are also "reportable diseases" ("Reportable disease" means a communicable disease, as defined in RSA 141-C: 2, VI, required to be reported to the commissioner pursuant to RSA 141-C: 7 and He-P 301.02.)
                               
DISMISSAL: Transportation for a sick child is the parent(s) responsibility: Make arrangements to have your child dismissed as soon as possible. The longer a child remains in the health office, the more he/she is exposed to other ailments and is exposing other students to his/her illness. 

EMERGENCY CONTACTS: A sick child may feel anxious if we cannot locate a parent, relative, or friend. List adequate back up contacts on the emergency cards.  Update emergency cards as needed throughout the year. 

KNOW THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF THE FLU. Symptoms include fever (100 degrees Fahrenheit, 37.8 degrees Celsius 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.

FEVER: (100 degrees or more) A child returning to school should be fever free for at least 24 hours without fever reducers. Fever may be an important signal that there is something wrong in the body and it is one of the body's immune responses which attempt to neutralize a bacterial or viral infection.  

VOMITING and/or DIARRHEA: Do not send a child to school who has been vomiting or having diarrhea. Note: Many intestinal viruses (as well as other conditions) do not have a fever as one of the symptoms.

RASH: Do not send a child to school who has a contagious or questionable rash. He/she will be sent home and a Dr.'s note will be required for re-admittance. 

What To Do If You Get Sick:

If your child has, or has had Chicken Pox recently:  Do not give Aspirin containing medication to reduce fever. Aspirin has been associated with Reyes Syndrome if used to help a child who is ill following a bout with Chicken Pox.