A Note from Nurse Rollins (Oct. 2017)
Posted on 10/06/2017
Flu is a serious contagious disease that can lead to hospitalization and even death. You have the power to protect yourself and your family this season with these three actions to fight flu. Get a flu vaccine. Everyone 6 months of age and older should get a flu vaccine by the end of October, if possible. A yearly flu vaccine is the first and most important step in protecting against the flu. As long a flu viruses are circulating, it is not too late to get vaccinated!
There will be 2 FREE FLU CLINICS in Cambridge Schools this year:
Kennedy-Longfellow - 10/26, 4-8PM
Peabody School - 11/2, 4-8PM
Take everyday actions to stop the spread of germs. Teach your children good hand washing, and wash your hands often with soap and water. Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, and follow with hand washing. If you become sick, limit your contact with others to keep from infecting them.
Take flu antiviral drugs if your doctor prescribes them. If you get the flu, medicine, called antiviral drugs, can be used to treat flu illness. Antiviral drugs can make illness milder and shorten the time you are sick. They may also prevent serious flu complications.
When to keep your child home from school:
-Nausea, diarrhea (loose stool), or vomiting (throwing up), or if your child has thrown up during the night.
-A cough that is not caused by allergies.
-A new or unknown rash not caused by allergies.
-A temperature of 101.5 F or 38.6 C or above. Keep your child home from school until her/his temp has been
normal for 24 hours without taking Tylenol or Motrin.
-A diagnosis of Strep Throat. Keep your child home from school until she/he has been on antibiotics for 24 hours and does not have a fever.
-Constant pain (ear, stomach, or headache) that is not relieved by pain medicine like Tylenol or Motrin.
Contact your School Nurse, Ife Rollins (617) 349-6577 x114 with questions, concerns or updated info including:
A new medical diagnosis or change in your child's physical, behavioral, or emotional health, such as:
-A new allergy
-A newly prescribed medication or a change in dose of current medication
-A serious injury or illness needing emergency treatment, hospitalization, or surgery
-A head injury or concussion
-Recent changes in your family that may affect your child such as a birth, a death, serious illness, military deployment, unemployment, homelessness, marital separation or divorce
-An injury needing stitches, casting, splints, or use of crutches or wheelchair
-Contagious conditions (can be passed to other people) like head lice, pink eye, chicken pox, flu, strep throat, whooping cough, pneumonia
-If your child has been absent for more than 3 days due to illness, injury, or mental health