• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way.
• Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
• If you are sick with flu-like illness, CDC recommends that you stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone except to get medical care or for other necessities. (Your fever should be gone without the use of a fever-reducing medicine.) Keep away from others as much as possible to keep from making others sick.

A reminder that flu vaccines will not be offered at school this year. The department of public health is recommending that school-age children visit their pediatrician or a flu clinic to get the all-in-one H1N1 and seasonal flu vaccine that is being offered this year.

More information about seasonal illness can be found at the FDA website:

http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm092805.htm

If you need assistance finding a flu clinic, or with insurance or payment matters related to getting a vaccine, please contact the health office at school. I would be happy to help you.