|  | Dear Pegasus Families:
I would like to thank you all for your support of the Health Office at Pegasus this year, and of me personally. I have enjoyed working with your children and look forward to another great year starting in September.
I appreciate your cooperation in all things health—you have combed and treated heads for lice, kept your children home for 24 hours after a fever has resolved, and shared information with me about potentially contagious situations. I love that we have worked together to keep our children safe and healthy.
Please check the paperwork that you receive by mail and the August packet for forms that will require your attention. All required health forms (this is applicable to preschool through 1st graders, and all new incoming students) must be completed and returned prior to the beginning of school. Your child will not be allowed to attend school without having returned the health paperwork.
Thank you again, and I hope for a happy and HEALTHY summer for all!
To Your Health,
Karen Hurst, RN |
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| Influenza Prevention and Treatment Measures FAQs | Q. | How Can I Avoid the Flu? | | A. | The Pegasus School takes the health of its community very seriously. The following measures are recommended by the CDC (www.cdc.gov) to help prevent the spread of the flu. They are simple and are easy to implement
• Teach your children to wash their hands often with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand germicide/cleanser. They should wash for a solid 20 seconds or as long as it takes to sing “Happy Birthday” through to the end twice. You can set a good example by doing this yourself.
• Teach your children not to share personal items like drinks, food or unwashed utensils, and to cover their coughs and sneezes with tissues. Remind them to wash their hands after sneezing. Covering up their coughs or sneezes using an elbow, arm or sleeve instead of the hand is preferable when a tissue is unavailable.
• Know the signs and symptoms of the flu. Symptoms of the flu include fever (100 degrees Fahrenheit, 37.8 degrees Celsius or greater), cough, sore throat, a runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, and 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 get infected. Please be considerate of other children and staff who may have compromised immune systems or other health issues which would make them more susceptible to the flu.
• Consider getting a flu shot for seasonal flu and for the H1N1 flu. You should talk to your doctor and see if this is right for you.
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| Q. | What should I do if I am exposed to someone with flu symptoms? | | A. | You should monitor yourself for symptoms and continue to go to class as usual. Try to avoid face to face contact with someone who is exhibiting symptoms of the flu. These include fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose, body aches, headache and fatigue. Diarrhea and vomiting are also symptoms. Please send any children who are not well to the Health Office. |
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| Q. | What if I have health issues that make me at-risk for the flu? | | A. | If you are in a special at-risk category for the flu, you should contact your personal physician and ask about the guidelines for Tamiflu (anti-viral medication) use. |
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| Q. | Who is at-risk for the flu? | | A. | According to the CDC, groups at higher risk of complications from flu include: children younger than 5; adults age 65 and older; children and adolescents (younger than 18) who are receiving long-term aspirin therapy and who might be at risk for Reye’s Syndrome after flu virus infection; pregnant women; adults and children who have asthma or other chronic pulmonary, cardiovascular, hepatic, hematological, neurological, neuromuscular, or metabolic disorders such as diabetes; and adults and children with immunosuppression (including immunosuppression caused by medications or by HIV). If you fall into any of these groups and you do develop flu like symptoms, please contact your health care provider immediately. |
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| Q. | When would the school close? | | A. | At this time, the CDC is not recommending that educational institutions suspend classes or cancel large gatherings. If this recommendation changes and Pegasus decides to suspend classes, you will be notified via phone message, e-mail and this website. |
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| Q. | What vaccines are available? | | A. | There are two vaccines planned for distribution during the fall; a specific vaccine to protect against novel H1N1 influenza and this year’s seasonal influenza vaccine.
Vaccine for Novel H1N1 influenza
A vaccine to protect against novel H1N1 influenza is currently in production and will likely be ready in the fall. According to the CDC, vaccination efforts will focus on five target groups:
1. Pregnant women
2. People who live with or care for children younger than 6 months of age
3. Healthcare and emergency medical services personnel
4. Persons between the ages of 6 months and 24 years, and
5. People between the ages of 25 and 64 years who have chronic health disorders or compromised immune systems.
If you fall into one of these categories, or are interested in obtaining this vaccination, please talk to your health care provider.
Vaccine for Seasonal Flu
Seasonal flu vaccine will be available in the fall. It is an important measure you can take to protect your health although it does not provide specific protection against novel H1N1 influenza. Again, please talk to your health care provider and find out if this vaccination is recommended for you.
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FAQs for Pegasus Students | Q. | What about my schoolwork? | | A. | Be assured that you will suffer no penalty for missing school due to the flu or flu symptoms. Your teacher will work with you so that you can stay up to date with your schoolwork. Please be considerate of your friends and teachers and stay home if you do not feel well.
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| Q. | What can I do at home? | | A. | You can wash your hands frequently and be careful with your tissues. Throw your used tissues in the trash and wash your hands every time you do. Do not share drinks or food with your brothers or sisters or friends. Keep space between you and your friends so that you are not breathing in each other’s faces. Make sure to tell your parents if you are not feeling well, or go to the Health Office at school. It is really important to stay at home if you do not feel well, even if you have important events at school. |
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If the flu outbreak becomes severe, we may take additional steps to prevent its spread such as:
• Conducting active fever and flu symptom screening of students and staff as they arrive at school,
• Making changes to increase the space between people such as moving desks farther apart and postponing class trips, and
• Dismissing students from school for at least 7 days if they become sick.
For more information:
1. visit www.flu.gov
2. call 1-800-CDC-INFO
3. visit www.cdc.gov |
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