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Back to school | Here’s to a healthy school year!

Special to the Sun
Your child should stay home from school if he or she has a temperature of 101°F or more and remain out of school for 24 hours after the fever subsides.
Courtesy Thinkstock.com | Creatas RF

A sniffle. A cough. A sore throat. Children come down with illnesses big and small. Some are contagious, some are not.

While attendance is very important, it’s also important to keep students healthy. So how do you know when to keep your child home from school?



THREE QUICK QUESTIONS

To know whether your child should stay home from school, the American Academy of Pediatrics suggests answering these three quick questions:



Does your child have a fever? Fevers of 101° F or more are generally a sign of illness, so children should stay home from school.

Is your child well enough to engage in class? If ill kids seem too run down to get much out of school, keep them home.

Do you think your child has a contagious illness, such as the flu or pinkeye? If so, keep them at home until they’re no longer infectious.

SUPPORT CHILD’S HEALTH

Protect your child and your family by receiving the flu vaccine.

Encourage your student and your whole family to frequently wash hands, especially before eating and after using the rest room, using soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub.

Have your student avoid contact with friends who may be sick with the flu.

Encourage your student to avoid touching in the T-zone (eyes, nose and mouth).

Clean and disinfect surfaces and objects that may be contaminated with germs.

Keep your student home if they have any flu or cold-like symptoms (fever, runny nose, body or headaches). Children should stay home at least 24 hours after having a fever.

Contact your medical practitioner if symptoms persist and use flu antiviral drugs if prescribed.

Before school starts, it’s important that your child’s immunizations are up to date so that your child is healthy and ready for school.

REQUIRED IMMUNIZATIONS

The following immunizations are required before entering kindergarten and transitional kindergarten: Polio, DTaP, MMR, Hepatitis B and Varicella (chickenpox).

Before a student enters seventh grade they must have a Tdap (pertussis booster).

Be sure to turn in your child’s updated immunization record when they start school.


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