Minimizing Attendance Concerns During Cold and Flu Season

Minimizing Attendance Concerns during Cold and Flu Season

How many of us have heard “I don’t feel good” on a cold winter morning. Is this the cry of a sick child or an attempt to avoid that big test? When should you keep your child home from school with an illness during cold and flu season? Sometimes it can be difficult for a parent to decide whether to send their child to school when they wake up with early symptoms of an illness or complaints that they do not feel well. In general, during cold and flu season, unless your child is significantly ill, the best place for them is in school where they have all already been exposed to the same germs and where they are less likely to expose other more vulnerable people, like the very young or very old, to their routine bouts of cold and flu.

However, there are some situations in which it is best to plan on keeping your child home for a day to rest or more appropriately to arrange for an appointment with your health care provider

1.  Persistent fever greater than 100° orally, including a fever that requires control with medication

2.  Child is suffering from an illness, like vomiting and/or diarrhea

If you decide to send your child to school even though you suspect they may be fighting off a cold, please alert the school and provide them with phone numbers where you can be reached that day should your child become more ill and require early dismissal.

We can all do things to combat cold and flu germs and it is important to teach our children these healthy habits.

-  Discarding used tissues promptly,

-  Don’t share personal items,

-  Cover our mouths when we cough or sneeze,

-  Keep our hands away from our face, and

-  Wash hands thoroughly and often with soap and warm water.

If you are unsure of whether or not to send your child to school when they report they are not feeling well feel free to call the school and talk with either their classroom teacher or the building administrator. They may be able to let you know about a specific “bug” that is going around and what to expect.