The flu can be easily spread from person to person. We are taking steps to reduce the spread of flu in Redwater ISD. We are working closely with the Texas Education Agency and local health officials to monitor flu conditions and make decisions about the best steps to take concerning our schools. However, we need your help to keep our schools open to students and functioning in a normal manner during this flu season.
Parents can:
Teach your children to wash their hands often with soap and water or an alcohol-based rub. You can set a good example by doing this yourself.
Teach your children not to share personal items like drinks, food or unwashed utensils, and to cover their coughs and sneezes with tissues. Covering up their coughs or sneezes using the bend of their elbow, arm or sleeve instead of the hand when a tissue is unavailable.
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 being fever free without the use of fever reducing medications. Keeping children with a fever at home will reduce the number of people who may 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.
For more information, visit
www.flu.gov or call 1-800-CDC-INFO for the most current information about the flu. We will notify you of any additional changes to our school's strategy to prevent the spread of flu.
Precautions to remember when medicating children for flu-like symptoms:
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Do not give aspirin or aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) containing medication to children or teenagers; this can cause a serious condition called Reye's Syndrome. You can learn more about
Reye's Syndrome here.
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Children younger than 4 years of age should not be given cold medications without speaking with a health care provider first.
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Many cold and flu medications contain pain relievers and fever reducers. Read the labels on over-the-counter cold and flu medications before giving or taking additional doses of Acetaminophen (Tylenol®), Ibuprofen (Advil®, Motrin®, or Nuprin®,) or Naproxen (Aleve®).
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Remember, that pain relievers and fever reducers may cause a decrease in temperature over a period of time, but these medications do not decrease the ability to spread disease.
