As colder weather and flu season approaches, here are some guidelines for when to keep your student home from school until your health care provider can be contacted for his/her opinion:
A fever of 100 degrees or higher - do not have the student return to school until the students has been fever free for 24 hours.
A “heavy cold or hacking cough” even without a fever (cough that disturbs normal activity)
Whooping Cough/Pertusis (Diagnosis from physician)- student should stay home from school until he/she has received 5 full days worth of antibiotic treatment.
Vomiting - student should stay home until he/she can keep food down and is free of symptoms for 24 hours.
Diarrhea - student should remain home until free of symptoms for 24 hours.
Pink Eye (conjunctivitis) - there can be many causes for red eyes, not all of which are communicable. Refer to your health care provider for an evaluation. Student can return to school once they have taken antibiotic eye medication for 24 hours if diagnosed with contagious conjunctivitis.
Strep throat - student can return to school after they have been on antibiotics for at least 24 hours and are fever free.
Chicken pox - exclusion from school for one week after the first eruption appears or all lesions are dry and crusted.
Unexplained rash, blisters, or draining sores - student should see his/her health care provider for a diagnosis.
**(Make sure all sores/cuts are covered before coming to school to help prevent infection!)
Many illnesses are most communicable at the beginning. If your child is kept home, fewer children will be exposed to the illness. Allowing your child to stay home and get well at the beginning of an illness will actually help him/her to be more successful in school and lose less school time in the long run.
Remember-good hygiene and good hand washing techniques can help to prevent many illnesses!
Call your health care provider with any concerns during an illness.
Please remember that sending a sick child to school with the plan of having them sent home through the Nurse’s Office will not waive the absence (it will be counted, unless a Doctor’s note is provided).
Our social worker provides comprehensive, school social work services to parents, students and school staff, addressing barriers that limit a student from receiving full benefit from their educational experience.