The Massachusetts Department of Public Health recently updated its recommendations to the general public to prevent the spread of respiratory viruses. With Cold /Flu and Allergy season upon us, now seems to be a good time to review when to keep your child home from school to prevent illness from spreading. A child who is ill or in pain will not able to focus on the school day and can pass the illness on to others.
Your child should not attend school if:
- Fever over 100 in the past 24 hours. Your child needs to be fever free without medications 24 hours prior to returning to school.
- Vomiting /Diarrhea in the past 24 hours. Your child should remain home until they are able to tolerate food and liquids. All symptoms have resolved.
- If your child has conjunctivitis, an eye infection commonly known as Pink Eye. The eye is red, draining or burning. Must be treated for 24 hours with antibiotics prior to return to school.
- Your child has cold symptoms or respiratory symptoms. Uncontrolled cough, congestion, or difficulty breathing, stuffy runny nose. Or if your child has lost sleep due to these symptoms and needs to take medication to manage these symptoms they should remain home.
- Your child is unable to stay awake in class due to lack of sleep due to illness.
- Your child has an undiagnosed rash or skin condition. Will need a medical diagnosis prior to returning to school.
- Sore throat or strep throat. Strep throat must be treated with antibiotics 24 hours prior to return to school.
- Pain or swelling due to injury.
If a student shows signs of illness or injury while at school, the parent /guardian will be notified by the nurse. The parent/guardian should arrange to have the student picked up from school immediately. It is very important to have a backup plan if you are not available to come to the school to pick up your child in a timely manner. Once the nurse contacts the parent/guardian it is expected the child will be picked up within 1 hour.
If the parent/guardian cannot be reached the person designated on your student emergency form will be called.
When students are dismissed home ill or injured from the school day, they are not eligible to participate in after school programs including sports and extra-curricular activities.
Best,
Catherine Alix RN
District Nurse Leader
[email protected]