August 21, 2009
Dear Parent,
We are taking steps to reduce the spread of flu at Coe Brown Northwood Academy. As you may know, flu can be easily spread from person to person. We want to keep the school open during this flu season. But, we need your help to do this.
We are working closely with the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services Communicable Disease Control Section to monitor flu conditions and make decisions about the best steps to take concerning schools. We will keep you updated with new information when it becomes available.
For now we are doing everything we can to keep our school functioning as usual. Here are a few things you can do to help.
- Please reinforce with your son/daughter to wash their hands often with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub. We have installed a hand sanitizer in every classroom and other gathering areas where soap and water for hand washing is not available.
- Please reinforce with your son/daughter not to share personal items like drinks, food or utensils.
- Please reinforce with your son/daughter to cover their coughs or sneezes using their elbow, instead of their hand when a tissue is unavailable.
- Know the signs and symptoms of the flu. Symptoms of the flu include fever (100 degrees or higher Fahrenheit), cough, sore throat, a runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, and feeling very tired. Some people may also vomit or have diarrhea.
- Keep your sick student at home for at least 24 hours after they are symptom and fever free (without using fever-reducing drugs). Keeping children with a fever at home will reduce the number of people who may get infected. Any child determined to be sick while at school will be sent home.
For more information, go to school nurse link on CBNA’s webpage, visit www.flu.gov, or call 1-800-CDC-INFO for the most current information about the flu. For more information about flu in our community, call Communicable Disease Control Section at the Division of Public Health Services (603) 271-4496 and speak to the Public Health Professional on call if you have specific influenza related questions.
We will notify you of any additional changes to our school’s strategy to prevent the spread of flu.
Sincerely,
David Smith/Headmaster Laurie Foster, RN, BSN. School Nurse
H1N1 educational materials for families 2009/2010
What to do if you get sick
Coping with Pandemic Flu
H1N1-Stress Management Guide
Advice for Parents on Talking to Children About Novel H1N1
Resilience and H1N1
May
15, 2009 flu update letter
Frequently
asked questions about Swine Flu
Swine
Flu fact sheet
