From the Health Office

Thu, 01/09/2020 - 2:52pm

We are seeing a increase of illnesses (GI and FLU) at River Hill. This is a reminder to follow some simple but very efficient way to control the spread of germs! We want you to stay healthy!

GI VIRAL ILLNESSES

Symptoms:  Nausea, Vomiting, diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps

Health Department Recommendations

  • Wash hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially before and after eating, after using the bathroom, after episodes of vomiting or diarrhea, whenever visibly soiled.
  • If soap and water is unavailable, hand sanitizers may be used.  Rub sanitizer over all hand surfaces until the sanitizer has dried, then wash with soap and water when possible.
  • Teach proper cough hygiene.  Transmission is possible through close contact with an infected person.
  • Avoid putting fingers in the nose, mouth or rubbing the eyes.  Transmission through mucus membranes after touching contaminated objects is possible.
  • Students should not return to school until they have been symptom free for 24 hours.
  • Students with a confirmed lab diagnosis of norovirus should not return to school until they have been symptom free for 48 hours.

 

FLU and FLU-LIKE ILLNESSES

Symptoms:  Cough, fever, headache, chills, sore throat, fatigue, body aches, possibly diarrhea and vomiting

Health Department Recommendations

  • Avoid close contact with infected persons.  Children who are unwell should stay at home.
  • Wash hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially before and after eating, after using the bathroom, after episodes of coughing and sneezing, whenever visibly soiled.  If soap and water is unavailable, hand sanitizers may be used.  Rub sanitizer over all hand surfaces until the sanitizer has dried then wash with soap and water when available.
  • Teach proper cough hygiene.  Cough or sneeze into a tissue, discard the tissue and wash your hands.  Transmission is possible through close contact with an infected person.
  • Avoid putting fingers in the nose and mouth or rubbing the eyes.  Transmission through mucus membranes after touching contaminated objects is possible.
  • Students should not return to school until they have been symptom free for 24 hours
  • Do not send a child back to school until they have been fever free for 24 hours without the aid of fever-reducing medication.

Students are excused for being ill. Students have as many days as they were absent to make up the school work. Parents should bring a note to the attendance secretary to be an excused absence and it is recommended to bring a doctor’s note for more than 3 days of absences.

The CDC recommends getting a flu vaccine now if not previously vaccinated this season.