Flu Prevention Information
It is our goal to help ensure the health and safety of your family. We have a flu prevention plan here at our preschool. Below are some prevention facts for the flu compliments of flu.gov. In addition to the basics listed below, LNC asks that you participate in helping keep our facility healthy and a flu free zone.
- Do not send children to school who are ill. If your child exhibits fever (any) and/or flu like symptoms, please make arrangements to keep your child at home until the symptoms disappear and/or remain fever free for 24 hours without the aid of fever reducing medicine.
- We will provide hand sanitizer and wipes at the front of the building. When entering, please feel free to take advantage of the sanitizer and/or wipes to reduce the amount of outside germs coming into the facility.
Basic Precautions to Prevent Contracting or Spreading the Flu:
- Get vaccinated
Vaccination is the best protection against contracting the flu.
- You need two vaccines to be fully protected this year. The seasonal flu vaccine and the H1N1 (Swine) flu vaccine are separate vaccinations. A seasonal vaccine is distributed routinely every year, the H1N1 (Swine) flu vaccine is in development for the fall of 2009.
- The seasonal vaccine is not expected to protect against the H1N1 (Swine) flu and the H1N1 (Swine) flu vaccine is not intended to replace the seasonal flu vaccine. Each protects against a different virus and is intended to be used along-side the other. Get both!
- Practice good hygiene
Take common-sense steps to limit the spread of germs. Make good hygiene a habit. Clean your hands after coughing or sneezing. Use soap and water or an alcohol-based hand cleaner. (Check with your pediatrician before using alcohol based sanitizer on children’s hands)
- Wash hands frequently with soap and water.
- Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze.
- Cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve if you don't have a tissue.
- Put used tissues in a waste basket.
- If you are diagnosed with the flu . . .
- Stay home, follow your doctor’s orders, and watch for signs that you need immediate medical attention. Remain at home for 7 days after your symptoms begin or until you have been symptom-free (no fever) for 24 hours, whichever is longer.
- Avoid close contact with others, especially those who might easily get the flu, such as people of any age with chronic medical conditions (such as asthma, diabetes, or heart disease), pregnant women, young children, and infants.
- Wear a facemask — if available and tolerable — when sharing common spaces with other household members to help prevent spreading the virus to others. This is especially important if other household members are at high risk for complications from influenza.
- Get plenty of rest.
- Drink clear fluids such as water, broth, sports drinks, or electrolyte beverages made for infants to prevent becoming dehydrated.
- Cover coughs and sneezes.
- Clean hands with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub often, especially after using tissues and after coughing or sneezing into your hands.
- Talk to your doctor about the prescription antivirals, Oseltamivir (TAMIFLU®) and Zanamivir (RELENZA®) Learn more about medications and antivirals.
- Parents should seek medical help if flu symptoms become severe
The Red Cross recommends storing a two-week supply of food, water and household necessities. This will reduce the need to go out should this swine flu strain become more widespread. For the very latest reliable information regarding the H1N1 (Swine Flu) infection, visit the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) website. If you would like to donate Clorox wipes or hand sanitizer to help keep our hard surfaces disinfected and building healthy, we will be very appreciative. Thank you. If at any time you or your child has a question about the school health and wellness policies, please do not hesitate to contact us. Communication is the key to maintaining a healthy environment for our children, and my door is always open to parents and students that have questions.
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