Flu resources for the school community
Keeping our students and staff healthy
It takes effort on everyone's part to keep our schools healthy. Eudora Schools leaders have been collaborating with officials from the Lawrence-Douglas County Health Department to spread the word about effective prevention and to plan for the continuity of learning, should a flu or contagious illness outbreak of any kind take place in our community.
Read the latest update from the health department, including information about priority groups for the H1N1 vaccine: Download fact sheet
Mark your calendar! The Lawrence-Douglas County Health Department has announced the first series of H1N1 flu clinics for priority groups. There is no charge for this vaccine at these clinics. Click here for information regarding flu clinics in Lawrence, Baldwin and Eudora.
Below are resources and information that will help us all stay healthy, both at home and at school.
- Flu symptoms
- Stay home if you're sick!
- Tips to prevent illness
- Have a plan for your family
- District plan and procedures
- Additional resources
Symptoms of the flu are:
- cough
- fever
- sore throat
- body aches
- runny nose
- stuffy nose
- fatigue
- chills
If your child has any of these symptoms, or if you have questions or concerns about your child’s ability to attend school due to illness contact your family physician or school nurse. Parents who are concerned about the flu may click here to learn more about H1N1 and other important student health issues.
Students, families and employees all share responsibility to stay away from school, work and public gatherings, when you are sick. School district employees are instructed to send any sick students to the school nurse immediately; students presenting with symptoms of flu-like illness will be sent home.
Parents: Please understand that students may possibly be asked to wear a medical mask in the nurse's office at the school if they are sneezing and coughing. (The mask will only be issued if necessary and will not be worn outside of the nurse's office.)
Make this the healthiest year yet by following some basic guidelines that can keep your kids – and your whole family – with a clean bill of health.
- Wash your hands! First and foremost, nearly every common malady can be prevented if you practice good hand washing. Once your hands are covered in a soapy lather, wash for at least 10-15 seconds on all surfaces of the hands, fingers, thumbs, back of fingers, beneath fingernails and on the back of hands.
- Cover your cough and sneeze. It’s best to use your arm or a tissue to help cut down on the number of germs spread to your hands. Either way, if you’re coughing and sneezing, you should be washing your hands as often as possible.
- Stay home when you’re sick. If you or your child has a fever or symptoms that prevent you from having a normal day, stay home. Not only will the rest help you recover more quickly, but staying away from groups of people will help keep everyone else healthier.
- Get plenty of rest and eat right. Adults and children alike are better able to resist illness their bodies are kept in top shape. Keep a regular, early bedtime during the week, and try not to change your habits too much on the weekend. Fresh fruits and vegetables also are important to good health, as are balanced portions of protein, dairy and whole grains.
- Get vaccinated! One of the simplest ways to stay free of the flu is to get the seasonal flu shot. These are available in the fall and winter from your family physician or the Lawrence-Douglas County Health Department. The seasonal flu vaccine will not cover H1N1 (sometimes called swine flu). However, a separate H1N1 vaccine also may be available later in the fall. Watch for more information from the health department, the schools or the media.
Anticipate your family's needs
While the extent of flu outbreak is still unknown and recommendations are continually changing, there is one critical constant: Have a plan for your family. If your child gets sick, you should have a plan for how your child can be cared for in an environment that strictly limits contact with other children or community members. Do not use child care or community resources for group care if your child is sick.
Plan also for how your family will respond in case of a parent illness or, under severe circumstances, in case of school closing. It should be noted that school closings will happen only in the most severe cases, and only under direction from the county health department or Kansas Department of Health and Environment.
School districts across the country are working hard to prepare for the development of flu throughout the year, and Eudora Schools is no exception. The following document was adopted by the Eudora Board of Education, with important messages for parents and employees to understand about the district's approach to preventing and managing a flu outbreak.
Click here to download a copy of the district's general plan for pandemic flu.
Resources for families: http://pandemicflu.gov/professional/school
Resources for school employees: http://pandemicflu.gov/professional/school
Kansas Department of Health and Environment H1N1 flu information line: 1-877-427-7317 (toll free)
E-mail inquiries: swinefluinfo@kdheks.gov
