Flu Precautions
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When there is an outbreak of flu, there are precautions that should be taken both by parents and the school, depending on the severity of the situation. If a pandemic is declared additional steps are implemented, but many precautions can be taken on an annually during flu season.
School and Family Responses To help ensure the health of students and staff, the school district has flu awareness, hygiene and cleaning practices in place. These practices vary in intensity depending upon the situation and the direction of the Polk County Health Department. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) also revises guidance as necessary.
Steps the School District Takes When the Polk County Health Department directs, precautionary measures are followed as outlined in the Polk County Health Department's Pandemic Influenza Response Plan for Schools, developed in cooperation with Polk County schools. This plan has a number of steps and levels of response depending upon the situation. The school district works with the Polk County Health Department, city emergency management, and other Polk County school districts to monitor reports and coordinate efforts. Internally, principals, nurses, teachers and other staff:
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Steps Parents Should Take
As you may know, flu can be easily spread from person to person. We take steps to reduce the spread of flu, but we need your help to do this. Use these common-sense methods to help prevent illness:
- Teach children to wash their hands often with soap and water or a 60% alcohol-based hand sanitizer, rubbing hands together after creating a lather for 20 seconds (about the time it takes to sing Happy Birthday).
- Teach children not to share personal items like drinks, food or unwashed utensils
- Teach children to cover their coughs and sneezes using the elbow, arm or sleeve instead of the hand when a tissue is unavailable. Proper disposal of personal tissues is also important.
- Know the signs and symptoms of the flu, which include:
- Fever (100 degrees Fahrenheit, 37.8 degrees Celsius or greater)
- Cough
- Sore throat
- Runny or stuffy nose
- Body aches
- Headache
- Feeling very tired
- Some people may also vomit or have diarrhea.
- Keep sick children at home for at least 24 hours after they no longer have fever without using fever-reducing drugs. Keeping children with a fever at home will reduce the number of people who may become infected.
- Do not send children to school if they are sick. Children who are determined to be sick while at school will be sent home. In addition, please educate your student that if they begin to feel sick at school, they should tell their teacher and contact the school nurse immediately. It is important that you are prepared to pick up your child as soon as possible, if notified of illness by the school. This is imperative to help ensure the health of other students and staff.
- Action Steps to Protect Your Family From the Flu this School Year
- Symptoms of Seasonal Flu and H1N1 Flu
- Action Steps for Parents to Follow if Their Children Become Sick
- Information for People with Additional Health Concerns
- When to get Emergency Care
If you have questions about flu, the State of Iowa has set up a public information hotline at 800-447-1985. You can also contact the Polk County Health Department at 515-286-3890. The following Web sites and brochures contain information from the CDC, State of Iowa, and Polk County: If your child exhibits any symptoms of question, please feel free to contact your school nurse for further assistance.
