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H1N1 Flu Information

As we move into the new school year, we would like to take this opportunity to advise you of the current status of the H1N1 flu virus, also commonly known as swine flu. This new flu, which began infecting students and adults alike in the spring of this year, has continued to be detected in school age children throughout the summer. We believe that we will be seeing influenza-like illness (including H1N1 Swine Flu) in our schools in the coming months.  In order to maintain a high degree of normalcy during the flu season, we are working closely with the health departments of Arlington Heights and Cook County to enforce the following procedures:

• Clean – teaching/reinforcing students’ proper and frequent hand washing (using hand sanitizer when soap and water are not available)
• Cover – educating and encouraging students to cover their mouths and noses with a tissue when they cough or sneeze
• Contain – sending an ill student home and having the parents keep the child home to prevent further spread of the flu

As partners in this process, we ask parents to do the following:

• Keep sick children at home
• Have a plan in place in case your child gets sick during the school day and has to be picked up
• Make sure your telephone numbers are current and working
• Plan to keep a sick child home until they are fever-free for 24 hours and feeling well without the use of fever reducing medications
• Encourage and model good hand washing and cough hygiene. Trim your child’s fingernails short
• Teach your child not to share personal items such as drinks or food
• Encourage your children to keep hands away from the nose, mouth, and eyes
• Get your child vaccinated for seasonal flu and 2009 H1N1 flu when vaccines are available
• Wipe down hard surfaces and doorknobs to prevent the spread of germs in your home and
• Refer to the district’s website, www.sd25.org for updates from the CDC, Illinois Department of Public Health, and the Cook County Department of Public Health.

In closing, we need parents to partner with us to minimize the spread of illness in our schools and community.  Thank you for all you are doing and will do to make this a healthy school year for all of our students.

Sincerely,

Sarah Jerome, Ed.D.
Superintendent

As a precautionary measure and in response to the federal Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) health alert regarding a recent outbreak of swine flu in the U.S., District 25 is following the recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) and the Cook County Department of Public Health (CCDPH).  Health officials do not yet know whether this outbreak will cease to be an issue or become a greater concern.  We are committed to sharing new information and instructions concerning safe procedures in schools with the District 25 community as they become available.

District 25 advises staff and families of our students to follow these recommendations from the CCDPH:

1. To prevent the spread of respiratory viral infections in general:

1. An ill adult or child should stay home from work or school to avoid spreading illness to co-workers, classmates, and friends.

1. All persons should always cough or sneeze into their elbow or into a tissue and properly dispose of used tissues.

1. All persons should wash their hands frequently and thoroughly with soap and warm water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer to kill germs on hands and avoid touching their eyes, nose and mouth.

1. Symptoms of swine flu are similar to regular human flu and include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills, fatigue and possibly diarrhea and vomiting.  Seek medical attention when needed.

In addition, we are asking all families to take the following additional steps:

1. When you call in to report your child’s absence from school, please be specific about the nature of your child’s illness by reporting all symptoms as described above.

1. Please consider enclosing a hand sanitizer wipe in your child’s lunch or backpack so that he/she can cleanse his/her hands before eating.  We ask that you review its proper use and disposal with your child.

1. Be prepared to react promptly to a call from school if your child becomes ill with a fever above 100 degrees during the school day and must be sent home.

Please feel free to contact your child’s principal or school nurse if you have questions.

© 2009-10 Arlington Heights School District 25
1200 S. Dunton Avenue
Arlington Heights, Illinois 60005