Flu Seasons Coming To A School Near You! What To Do About It!

 Flu season is unpredictable in many ways. Each year towns and cities offer the flu vaccine to residents, but depending on many factors it still spreads. What can you do about it in your school? Here are some recommendations for combating the flu this year. 

#1 Encourage Student, Parents & Teachers To Get A Flu Shot

Teach students, parents, and teachers that one of the best ways to protect against the flu is to get vaccinated each flu season. The flu shot is recommended to everyone that is 6months old or older. Make you talk to your doctor first before getting a flu shot for your child. There are different flu shots approved for different ages. 

#2 Encourage Everyone To Take Preventative Actions 

Each day your students, teachers, and parents should take these actions if they are sick. 

1. Stay home when sick until 24 hours after you don’t have a fever. 
2. Wash your hands often throughout the day. Washing is still the best way to stop the spread. 
3. Take sick leave time from work; that’s why you have these policies. 
4. Cross-train your staff to fill in for you when you are sick. 
5. Teach students and teachers to cover when coughing or sneezing. Cough into your arm or use a tissue, then throw it away and wash your hands. 
6. Make sure you have adequate supplies for flu season. 
7. Encourage students to keep their hands away from their nose, mouth, and eyes. 

#3 Clean Surfaces Often To Kill and Prevent The Spread

• Routinely clean surfaces and objects that are touched often. These are surfaces like countertops, doorknobs, desks, windows, cell-phones, keyboards, faucet handles, and community phones. 
• Disinfect during your regular cleaning routine. 
• When cleaning, use gloves, disinfecting wipes, and no-touch trash cans. 

#4 What To Do If You Get Sick?

Influenza (flu) is a contagious respiratory illness caused by flu viruses. It can cause mild to severe illness, and at times can lead to death. Flu is different from a cold. Flu usually comes on suddenly. People who are sick with flu often feel some or all of these symptoms:

• Fever* or feeling feverish/chills
• Cough
• Sore throat
• Runny or stuffy nose
• Muscle or body aches
• Headaches
• Fatigue (tiredness)
• Some people may have vomiting and diarrhea, though this is more common in children than adults.

* It’s important to note that not everyone with flu will have a fever.

• Teach your staff the signs and symptoms of the flu. 
• If you have a student or teacher that starts to get sick at school, send them home to prevent the spread.