September 15, 2009

Dear Parent or Guardian,

Westwood School has had the first confirmed cases of flu for the year. While it has not been

confirmed as an H1N1 Swine flu variety we are taking no chances. We are working to decrease

the spread of flu at our schools and helping our students and staff members stay healthy at

school. We hope to hold off the spread of flu until the vaccines can arrive in September and

October. We need your help at home. Influenza spreads most easily in the early stages of the

illness. Your help with the following recommendations will help to prevent illness in your child

and his/her classmates.

• Know the signs and symptoms of the flu. Symptoms of the flu can include

fever (oral temperature of 100 degrees or greater), cough, sore throat, runny or

stuffy nose, body aches, headache, and feeling very tired. Some people may also

vomit or have diarrhea.

• Do not send children to school if they are sick. Any children who are sick while

at school will be sent home to help protect the other students. You should begin to

plan how you will provide care for your sick child if you are not able to stay home

with them.

• Keep sick children at home for at least 24 hours after the fever is gone. If you

give your child fever reducing drugs, like ibuprofen, ensure your child has not had a

fever for 24 hours after the drugs have worn off.

• Teach your children the flu is spread from person-to-person. Teach them to

cough or sneeze into a tissue and then throw the tissue in the trash. If a tissue is

not available, teach them to cover their cough or sneeze using their elbow or sleeve

instead of their hands.

• Teach your children to wash their hands often with soap and water for at least

20 seconds (the time it takes to sing happy birthday twice), especially after they

cough or sneeze. If soap and water is not available, an alcohol-based hand gel can

be used. We have both soap and hand gel available in our school for the students to

use.

• Teach your children not to share personal items like beverages, cups, food,

unwashed utensils, or toothbrushes.

• Consult your physician if you have a medically fragile student with such conditions

as asthma or cystic fibrosis to determine if any special action is needed for them.

• Get your family vaccinated for seasonal influenza soon, and Novel Influenza A

(H1N1) when it becomes available.

We appreciate your help in keeping our students and staff healthy.

Sincerely,

Kirk Ahrends, Superintendent