Friday, August 28, 2009

H1N1/Swine Flu Update

The AAPS works closely with the Washtenaw County Department of Public Health to plan and implement protocols to contain the spread of the H1N1/Swine Flu. You will receive a letter in the mail from Dr. Todd Roberts, Superintendent, giving more details on the district’s plan. There is also a web site that is updated by the district with links to the Washtenaw County Department of Public Health as well as information from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). This information is available on the district’s site (http://www.a2schools.org) and our school web site (http://king.a2schools.org).

One of the most important things you can do to help keep our schools open and operating as usual is to develop a family plan to address any illness that requires your student to remain home.

We will send sick students and staff home to stay at home until a fever of 100 degrees or higher returns to normal for 24 hours and we will move students and staff who become ill at school with the flu symptoms into a the clinic until they are able to be picked up and leave school.

We will also be emphasizing hand washing and use of hand sanitizers throughout the school day and our custodial staff will be following CDC cleaning protocols.

Please KEEP SICK CHILDREN AT HOME for at least 24 hours after they no longer have a fever or do not have signs of a fever without using a fever-reducing drug. Keeping children with a fever home will reduce the number of people who may get infected. It may take up to 7 days for the illness to subside.

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.

The district will continue to update families on the H1N1 Swine Flu but if we work together by following these protocols we hope we contain the spread of this virus.