H1N1 Flu Information
Dear Parents:
Recently, you have been hearing a great deal about the H1N1 flu
infection, commonly known as the “swine flu.” The purpose of this
letter is to first, let you know that the principals at both Belle
Valley North and South are monitoring this issue as it relates to
cases in Illinois and to give you some information that you can use
at home to keep your families safe and healthy.
The Center for Disease Control (CDC) has a website: http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu that
you can refer to for daily updates on this situation. At the school
level, teachers and support staff can remind students to practice
good hygiene activities such as washing their hands with soap,
using hand sanitizer in the classroom and before eating, covering
their mouths with tissue when coughing and sneezing, not
using/touching other students materials, and encouraging them to
stay away from other students who are sneezing and coughing.
Here are some suggestions to help minimize the spread of the flu:
*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 or do not have signs of fever, without using fever-reducing drugs. Keeping children with a fever at home will reduce the number of people who get infected.
*Do not send children to school if they are sick. Any children who are determined to be sick while at school will be sent home.
* Based on CDC guidelines, encourage children with ill
household members to stay home: If flu severity increases,
children who live with people with flu-like illness should remain
home for 5 days from the day the first household member gets
sick.
If we work together we can provide a healthy environment for your child and minimize the spread of the flu. Please note the last item listed above urging parents to keep children home if they show symptoms, as well as any sibling who might have been exposed to the flu.
I appreciate all of your cooperation while we work together to
ensure the health and safety of School nurses are staying informed
and monitoring the situation every day. As a precaution, any
student presenting upper respiratory symptoms in combination with a
fever of 100 degrees or greater will be removed from contact with
others and will be immediately sent home. Our custodial staff
members are taking additional measures to sanitize common areas of
the building. Desks, lockers, door knobs, etc. are receiving extra
“wipe downs” in an effort to eliminate the potential spread of
germs.
Let us assure you, the health and well-being of students and staff
is a top priority. We will do everything possible to address the
situation and to be prepared should the spread of swine flu
escalate into our area. With your assistance, we can avoid this
possibility in our schools by working together to keep students and
staff healthy.
If you have any questions, please feel free to call Mrs. Kathleen
Goetter, Principal at Belle Valley North at (618) 234-7750 or Dr.
Tammy Leib, Principal at Belle Valley South at (618) 234-7723.
Respectfully,
Belle Valley School District Administration
