Michigan City Area Schools

 

Each school year around this time, we see an increase in the number of students with the flu and other viral infections.

We wanted to remind you of some precautions you can take to help avoid the spread of viruses that commonly occur during "flu season." Please help us by following these steps at home and reviewing them with your child. We will be practicing them at school!

Wash your hands. Teach your children to wash their hands often, especially before eating and after using the toilet. Remind them to cover the front and back of their hands with soap and rinse well under running water.

Practice good hygiene. Don’t share drinks, foods, straws, silverware, or lip gloss. And don’t kiss a person on the lips who has a virus. (Direct contact with the saliva of another person is the #1 way to spread a virus!)

Cover your mouth. When you need to cough or sneeze, be sure to cover your mouth and nose. Teach your children to sneeze into a tissue or their shoulder/upper arm, not into their hands.

Stay healthy. Be sure your children get enough rest, exercise regularly, and eat a healthy diet with plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables.

Watch for fever. Please keep your child home from school at least 24 hours after their fever is gone. (The fever should be gone without the use of a fever-reducing medicine.) A fever is defined as 100°F or higher.

Some of the common viruses that may spread among young children include influenza (which is typically a respiratory infection), intestinal viruses (which may cause diarrhea, vomiting, and fever), and viral meningitis (an infection marked by headache, sudden fever, sensitivity to light, red rash, and stiff neck).

CLICK HERE for a helpful guide for parents about the flu, from the Centers for Disease Control.

Thank you for your help in keeping our students healthy this school year!

Brandi Morlan
Nursing Chair
Michigan City Area Schools