School District of River Falls
852 E. Division St., River Falls, WI 54022 715-425-1800
August 18, 2009
Dear Parents and Guardians,
As we enter the new school year and the new traditional influenza season, we expect Wisconsin to continue seeing cases of the H1N1 influenza. School and public health officials are working to keep our children safe and healthy. We need your help!
The most important thing you can do is to keep your child home if he or she is ill. If your child is so sick that you would normally seek medical care, please do so. The H1N1 flu is very similar to ordinary seasonal flu. Each morning, parents and caregivers should check their children and other family members for flu symptoms such as fever, cough or sore throat. A few cases of influenza have begun with nausea, vomiting and/or diarrhea symptoms.
All sick students should stay out of school for at least 24 hours after fever is gone without use of Tylenol® or Ibuprofen®. Students will most likely be home 3-5 days. Ill students should not attend alternative childcare. If a child or adult is ill with other symptoms, they should stay home at least one day to see how the illness develops and until completely well for 24 hours. Children who are ill upon arrival at school or become ill during the school day will be sent home. Children and adults who are ill should stay home and not go into the community unless they need medical care. Notify the school of all flu-like absences and symptoms or confirmed cases of flu. If someone in your house becomes ill, the sick person should not have visitors other than caregivers. A phone call is safer than a visit.
At this time, health and school officials are not recommending school closures for individual cases of H1N1 flu. However, as with regular seasonal flu, we might recommend closing schools if larger numbers of students or faculty become ill.
In addition to staying home when sick, here are three important things you and your family can do to help stay healthy and keep others safe:
1. Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash.
2. Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleansers are also effective.
3. Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way.
Again, contact your medical provider and seek medical care if that is what you would normally do. If you do not have health insurance, consider signing up for BadgerCare.
· More information about new H1N1 flu is available on the following web sites:
http://pandemic.wi.gov
http://www.cdc.gov
http://www.who.int/csr/disease/swineflu/en/index.html
You may also call your local health department. If you live in Pierce County, call the Pierce County Public Health Department at 715-273-6755. If you live in St. Croix County, call the St. Croix County Public Health Department at 715-246-8263.
Thank you for your patience and cooperation during this time. With your assistance, we can help keep everyone safe and healthy.
Sincerely,
Charlotte Sortedahl
District Nurse