Flagler Community,

As we move into the Fall season we do expect to see more cases of the flu with our children and staff.  Please share the following information with your children.  If you have additional questions you are always welcome to call your child’s school and we will be more than happy to assist you.  It is very important we all work together for the safety of our children.  Thank you for being a super team member with our schools!

H1N1 Swine Flu
We have stayed in constant contact with our Health Department as well as keeping up with CDC Bulletins about this issue. We feel we have a good plan in place if an emergency happens.  The biggest challenge for all of us will be good communication between the family and school district.  Please go over the following information with your child:

• Wash your hands several times a day and before every meal.  If you can use soap and water this is better than hand sanitizer. Washing away the germs is best.
• When you cough please make sure you cover your mouth.  It is best to cough and sneeze into a paper towel but if one is not available please use your shirtsleeve.  Remember to wash your hands to keep them germ free.
• Do not share drinks with your friends.  This is usually a problem more at the middle/high school level.
• Those with flu-like illness should stay home for at least 24 hours after they no longer have a fever, or signs of a fever, without the use of fever-reducing medicines.
• Communicate well with the school. If your child is hospitalized please let us know.  We do not give out student names or student information to the public but we do want to contact your child’s class if someone is having a severe problem. Feel free to contact the school also if you have a question.  We all need to stay on the same page with this issue and working together will keep all our students safe.  Communication, communication, communication.

Current CDC guidance does not recommend closing schools unless the absence rate becomes a hindrance to continue school. However, we will make this decision based on what is best for our community and students. Communication is the key again and if you have questions please contact your child’s school.  The school Principal’s and I are in regular contact about this issue.  We will continue to keep families informed about decision through our web site, call master and notes sent home with students.  We have also added additional cleaning schedules to high traffic areas such as school cafeterias, computer labs, handrails, and doorknobs.  We are also asking our teachers to keep student desk surfaces clean.  If you have additional concerns please also review the State web site at www.flaflu1.com.
 
From the Florida Department of Health:

• Physicians are no longer being asked to submit samples for laboratory testing of individuals who present with influenza-like illness unless the individual is hospitalized with life threatening illness, is part of an outbreak in a sensitive setting or is pregnant or the illness results in death.  If a patient presents with influenza-like symptoms, we recommend physicians treat for H1N1 Swine Flu as clinically indicated.
• Most people recover without medical intervention, but H1N1 Swine Flu, like seasonal flu, can be a serious illness for those who have underlying medical conditions.  Individuals most at risk include pregnant women, the obese, people suffering from asthma, and those with chronic diseases.

Again, it is vital that we all have good communication.  Please let us know at your child’s school if your child has H1N1 symptoms in case we need to contact other children’s parents.  Let’s all stay healthy and safe!

Educationally Yours,

Bill Delbrugge