When Should I Stay Home - A Note From the Nurse
Dear Parents/Guardians,
Cold and flu season is here and we are seeing its effects in our school. Deciding when to keep your child home from school is not always easy. It’s important for children to attend school and for some parents staying home with a sick child means missing work. When a child is truly sick, the best place for them is at home in the care of an adult. This will allow them the necessary time to get well and it will also prevent the spread of the illness to others.
The following information compiled from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) may help you decide when to keep your child at home. The school Nurse also uses these guidelines to determine when you will be called to pick your child up from school. This information applies to all school-aged children including adolescents. It is not intended to be inclusive of all illnesses or conditions that may indicate the need for your child to stay home from school. This information does not take the place of a consultation with your medical provider.
Fever: A fever is defined as a temperature of 100.4 degrees F or higher. Fevers are
Common Cold: The common cold is a contagious upper respiratory infection caused by cold viruses. It is the most frequent childhood illness. Symptoms can last 7-14 days. A child with no fever, mild symptoms and otherwise feeling well, may be fine at school. Keep your child home with cold symptoms such as a deep or
Flu (Influenza): The flu is a highly contagious respiratory illness caused by
with strep throat are no longer infectious and can return to school 24 hours after antibiotic treatment has been started.
Diarrhea/Vomiting: Vomiting and diarrhea are usually caused by a stomach virus. It is often called the “stomach flu” even though it is not caused by the influenza virus. Vomiting may last for 12-24 hours and diarrhea may take several days to completely resolve. Keep your child home if they have vomited twice within 24 hours or have had three or more watery stools in 24 hours. Children should not return to school until being
Everyday good health habits like covering your cough and washing your hands often can help stop the spread of germs and prevent the spread of illnesses like the flu. Here are some tips from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention:
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick. When you are sick, keep your distance from others to protect them from getting sick too.
- Stay home from school, work, and running errands, when you are sick. You will limit exposing others to your illness.
- Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing.
- Wash your hands often. This will help protect you from germs. If soap and water are not available use an
alcohol-based hand rub.
If there are any questions, please contact me at the phone number or email address listed below.
Jana Caron RN, BSN
Old Town High School/Viola Rand Elementary School
827-3910 ext 323
jana.caron@rsu34.org