WHEN TO KEEP SICK CHILDREN HOME FROM SCHOOL
Information compiled from CDC (Centers for Disease Control); DHSS Deciding when to keep a sick child home from school is not always easy. Regular school attendance is important. But when a child is truly sick, they need to stay home in the care of an adult to get well and to prevent spreading illness to others.The following information may help you decide when to keep your child at home. This information does not take the place of consulting a medical provider. See below for “When to contact a medical provider”.
COMMON COLD
The common cold is a contagious upper respiratory infection caused by cold viruses. Symptoms can last 7 to 14 days. A child with no fever, mild symptoms and otherwise feeling well may be fine at school.
WHEN TO KEEP A CHILD HOME FROM SCHOOL:
A child with heavy cold symptoms such as deep or uncontrollable coughing or significant lack of energy belongs at home even without a fever.
FLU (INFLUENZA)
The flu is a highly contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses and can cause mild to severe illness. A person with influenza can be contagious up to one week after symptoms appear.
WHEN TO KEEP A CHILD HOME FROM SCHOOL:
A child with flu-like illness (fever and cough) must stay home from school for at least 24 hours after they no longer have a fever or signs of a fever, without the use of fever-reducing medicine. A fever is defined as a temperature of 100°F or higher. If symptoms occur while at school, the student must be picked up as soon as possible to go home. Contact a medical provider with severe symptoms.
COUGH
A mild hacking cough often starts after the first few days of a common cold. A child with mild symptoms, no fever and otherwise feeling well may be fine at school. WHEN TO KEEP A CHILD HOME FROM SCHOOL: A child with deep or uncontrollable coughing belongs at home even without a fever. A child with a cough and fever should stay home from school for at least 24 hours after they no longer have a fever or signs of a fever, without the use of fever-reducing medicine.
VOMITING/DIARRHEA
WHEN TO KEEP A CHILD HOME FROM SCHOOL: Vomiting or diarrhea two or more times in the previous 24 hours, unless determined to be caused by a non-communicable condition.
FEVER: Fevers are a common symptom of viral and bacterial infection. Children are likely to be contagious to others when they have a fever.
WHEN TO KEEP A CHILD HOME FROM SCHOOL: Any child with a fever of 100°F or higher should not attend school and should not return until they have been fever free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medicine.
IMPETIGO:is a contagious bacterial skin infection that usually begins with small fluid filled blisters that cause a honey-colored crust on skin after bursting. It is important to have these symptoms evaluated by a medical provider because untreated infection can lead to serious complications. 24 hours after starting prescribed antibiotics, impetigo is no longer contagious.
WHEN TO KEEP A CHILD HOME FROM SCHOOL: Students may attend school if drainage can be effectively kept covered and is not extensive.
PINK EYE: (Conjunctivitis) is a common infectious disease of one or both eyes caused by several types of bacteria and viruses. The eye typically appears very red and feels irritated. There may be drainage of mucus and pus or clear liquid. Prescription medication may be needed to a treat bacterial infection. Virus-caused pink eye will not need antibiotic treatment.
WHEN TO KEEP A CHILD HOME FROM SCHOOL: A child with the above symptoms should be kept at home until evaluated by a medical provider and return to school with or without treatment depending on the diagnosis.
RASHES: A rash may be one of the first signs of a contagious childhood illness such as chickenpox. Rashes may cover the entire body or be in only one area and are most contagious in the early stages.
WHEN TO KEEP A CHILD HOME FROM SCHOOL: Do not send a child with a rash to school until a medical provider has said it is safe to do so – especially with additional symptoms like itching, fever or appearing ill.
SORE THROAT: A child with a mild sore throat, no fever and otherwise feeling well may be fine to attend school.
WHEN TO KEEP A CHILD HOME FROM SCHOOL: Keep a child at home and contact a medical provider for a severe sore throat and/or if white spots are seen in the back of the throat, with or without a fever.
STREP THROAT: A significantly sore throat could be strep throat, a contagious illness. Other symptoms may include fever, white spots in the back of the throat, headache and upset stomach. Untreated strep throat can lead to serious complications.
WHEN TO KEEP A CHILD HOME FROM SCHOOL: Keep your child home from school with the above symptoms and contact a medical provider. A child diagnosed with strep throat is no longer infectious and can return to school 24 hours after antibiotic treatment has been started.
WHEN TO CONTACT A MEDICAL PROVIDER:
In children, emergency warning signs for flu-like illness that need urgent medical attention include:
Fast breathing or trouble breathing
Bluish or gray skin color
Not drinking enough fluids
Severe or persistent vomiting
Not waking up or interacting
Being so irritable that the child does not want to be held
Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough
Other reasons to contact a medical provider include but are not exclusive to:
When a child looks or acts really sick, with or without a fever
Cold symptoms for longer than 10-14 days or getting sicker or a there is a fever after the first few days
Chronic coughing; uncontrollable coughing; wheezing
Rashes; eye drainage; earache; toothache
As this situation progresses, we will be considering the best practices for a strong offense when needed. At that time, my goal will be to have strong offensive actions that do not offend or harm everyone. Lastly, offensive actions with the least amount of harm are a first prior.
What are the offensive actions that we are avoiding for as long as possible?
•School closure over 2 weeks, which may harm some students without food, shelter, adult supervision, and care.
•No graduation event, in which there may never be another time for extended families to celebrate their student's success--a smaller graduation in the gym or commons may be necessary and is better
• Requiring quarantines of students to the point of preventing them from passing to the next grade or meeting graduation requirements.
• Requiring quarantines of staff beyond PTO days for fear of income, extending PTO through FMLA is an option
• Having too many staff absences to continue providing FAPE - a free and appropriate public education.
Know that an email and a survey will go out districtwide. It will share some of this information and share teachers and staff about 5 to 7 questions like the following:
• If you plan to travel out of country or state during Spring Break?
• If you live with anyone who has been in a highly affected area or a college that was closed due to COVID 19?
• Do you use Google Classroom or Weebly for alternative instruction planning and purposes? and
• Share any ideas on how best to continue instruction in the event of a 2-week
General Cleaning and Sanitizing: In all Buildings
1. Daily Sanitizing Wipes: Classroom Desks, Door Knobs, Drinking Fountains and Restrooms
2. Critical Care Spray: 2 times a week - Classroom Desks, Door Knobs, Drinking Fountains and Restrooms
3. Gym and Weight Room Items: Sanitized and Sprayed.
General Tips
Additional tips are below to help everyone keep viruses under control due during this time among students and staff who populate the buildings:
1. Stress proper hand washing
2. Use hand sanitizer often
3. Covering when coughing and sneezing
4. Discourage touching of the face unless you have just washed your hands
5. Having a teacher press the drinking fountain button at times of groups using the fountain at the same time. This will reduce the spread of germs from that surface.
Students with Medicine on Campus
If there are any medications housed in the school nurse's office that your student would need in the unlikely event of a school closure please call or email your school’s nurse.