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Dear Parents/ Guardians,
Just a quick reminder to get those Flu shots done if your child is a preschooler. We are seeing some Flu activity in the State and Flu shots may become scarce if you wait too long!! It takes about 2 weeks for adequate protection to occur and if we are hit with the Flu it may be too late to prevent the Flu in your child if your child has not been immunized 2 weeks prior. We still cannot accept unimmunized preschoolers after 12/31/2023 even if there is a vaccine shortage nor can we accept MD notes so please do it soon.
We are seeing an increase in the number of students with the GI bug and Respiratory illnessesin the school. This can also be the Flu if it is accompanied by a fever. Please make sure to teach your children the importance of frequent hand washing how to cover coughs as it is spread through contact with contaminated surfaces such as respiratory secretions. We are disinfecting frequently in the school. Keep your child home if they are experiencing nausea, cramping, vomiting and or diarrhea or a cough that is persistent throughout the day. Your child needs to stay home 24 hours after the last episode of diarrhea or vomiting to prevent the spread to others. They should be fever free for 24 hours without Tylenol or other fever reducing medication. Follow up with your child’s doctor if symptoms persist and or high fever is present for 72 hours or more. Your child should be well hydrated and taking fluids and feeling well to return to school.
To help prevent GI illness and the spread of respiratory illness, teach your children good
hygiene habits:
• Wash your hands often! This will help protect you from germs.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth. Germs are often spread when a person
touches something that is contaminated, and then touches his/her eyes, nose, or mouth.
Cough into your elbow to prevent respiratory illness to others.
• Get enough sleep. Lack of sleep/rest reduces your body's resistance to the flu.
• Drink lots of water. Catching the flu becomes more likely when you are dehydrated.
• Eat five (5) or more servings of fruit and vegetables daily. Good nutrition is an
excellent way to keep your body resistant to germs.
• Exercise. Activities that increase your heart rate, such as walking, biking, and
swimming, are excellent ways to keep your body resistant to disease.
Disinfect any contaminated areas in your home with bleach diluted in water for any GI
illness. Recommended Disinfection: Bleach is the best chemical to kill gastrointestinal bacteria and viruses. If you do not use bleach,you should use a chemical that is registered with the Environmental Protection Agency as being effective against Norovirus and follow the manufacturer’s instructions: https://www.epa.gov/pesticide-registration/list-g-epas-registered-antimicrobial-productseffective-against-norovirus.
• To prepare a bleach solution, use 3/4 cup concentrated bleach (or 1 cup of regular
strength bleach) to one gallon of water.
• Prepare fresh bleach solutions daily. After preparation, the solution will lose its potency
overtime and not work as well. Make a new cleaning solution often, at least every 24
hours, and especially after cleaning up vomit/feces.
• Disinfect all surfaces within a 10-foot circle from the area of vomiting or diarrhea.
• Leave bleach on the surface for at least 5 minutes covering the entire surface and then remove.
Consider the flu shot especially if your child is immunocompromised, has a chronic disease or has asthma. Please contact your school nurse if you have additional questions or concerns. Thank you in advance for helping make this year at school as healthy as possible.
Thank you,
Mrs. Cowan RN BS
Corpus Christi School Nurse
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