Infection Prevention

There are several precautions you can teach your children to reduce their chance of contracting H1N1 flu.

Instruct your children to cover their noses and mouths with a tissue when they cough or sneeze, and to throw the tissue in the trash after use. If a tissue isn’t accessible, children should be taught to cough or sneeze into the bend of their elbows rather than into bare hands.

Keep your children’s hands clean by making sure they wash their hands frequently with soap and water, especially after a cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based cleaners such as Purell are also effective and come in small bottles that can be carried in backpacks. Children should also avoid touching their eyes, noses, or mouths—germs spread that way.

Develop a family emergency kit, which should include medicines,
facemasks, alcohol-based hand rubs, and other essential supplies. That way, if someone in your household does get infected, you will be prepared to care for that individual while protecting others in your home.

What should I do?

If your children are exhibiting flu symptoms (fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue, vomiting, diarrhea), do not send them to school or daycare. Instead, keep them home, making sure they drink plenty of liquids and take fever-reducing medicines (not aspirin) to combat fever, sore throat, and muscle aches. If only one person is sick, keep that person away from those who are not sick. If your child comes into contact with someone who has been diagnosed with H1N1 flu, ask your doctor if your child
should receive antiviral medicine.

Get medical care right away if the sick person:

• Has difficulty breathing or chest pain;
• Has purple or blue discoloration of the lips;
• Is vomiting and unable to keep liquids down;
• Has signs of dehydration such as dizziness when standing, absence of urination or, in infants, a lack of tears when they cry;
• Has seizures (for example, uncontrolled convulsions); or
• Is less responsive than normal or becomes confused.

Before seeking medical care, make sure to call your child’s primary care physician or the emergency room so that proper precautions can be made.

Source: National Association of Elementary School Prinicpals’ Report to Parents

For more information, visit www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu or http://pandemicflu.gov