HEALTH SERVICES DEPARTMENT
Phone 603-437-5218 Fax 437-5207
Mrs. A. M. Davis, M.S., R.N., C.S., A.R.N.P. Head Nurse
Mrs. D. Moltenbrey, R.N., B.S.N., N.C.S.N. School Nurse
Mrs. L. S. Roy, R.N. School Nurse
Mrs. L. L. Sica, R.N..
School Nurse
Dear Parents, students, and staff:
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"-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"><DIV><SPAN
class=694531913-12122003><DIV><SPAN class=694531913-12122003></SPAN><SPAN
class=694531913-12122003></DIV><DIV><SPAN
class=694531913-12122003>PLEASE take a few minutes to review important information and
make prevention a priority.</SPAN></DIV> <DIV><SPAN
class=694531913-12122003></SPAN> </DIV><DIV><SPAN class=694531913-12122003>Some basic information that is important in
keeping all of us in better health:</SPAN></DIV>
·
<SPAN class=694531913-12122003>FREQUENT HAND WASHING is still the best way
to prevent communicability.
Avoid touching your mouth, nose, or eyes unless you have just washed your
hands. When individuals cough into their hands, then open doors,
pick up a pens, etc. those organisms--colds, flu, stomach "bugs",
etc.--are transferred to inanimate objects and then to the next person who
touches them. If there is a sink in your room, send those coughing and
sneezing to wash their hands. If not, remembering to wash your
hands before picking up a cookie, licking a fingertip to flip through a pile of
papers, etc. will go along way to keeping yourself healthy.
·
<SPAN
class=694531913-12122003>Make
sure there are plenty of tissues available. Use several tissues (4-5
thicknesses) and to cough (or sneeze) into the tissues not into the room.</SPAN> If no tissues are available cough into
your upper sleeve so that germs are not sent all over the room.
· <SPAN class=694531913-12122003>Do not share drinking cups, chap sticks, mouth guards, water bottles, soda cans, etc.</SPAN>
· <SPAN class=694531913-12122003>Avoid close contact, including kissing anyone who has the flu.</SPAN>
· <SPAN class=694531913-12122003>Opening a window for a few minutes to circulate fresh air. Just don't forget to close the window.</SPAN>
· <SPAN class=694531913-12122003></SPAN><SPAN class=694531913-12122003>Getting plenty of rest helps to keep the immune system healthy. Most individuals should try to get 7-9 hours of sleep. Most adolescents need even MORE sleep than adults because of the demands of their growing bodies.</SPAN>
· <SPAN class=694531913-12122003>Getting plenty of fluids.</SPAN>
· <SPAN class=694531913-12122003></SPAN><SPAN class=694531913-12122003>Eating well, taking vitamins can also serve to keep yourself healthy and able to resist and fight illness.</SPAN>
· <SPAN class=694531913-12122003>Reduce stress wherever possible. Stress negatively impacts the immune system making it harder to fight disease.</SPAN>
<DIV><SPAN class=694531913-12122003>CDC recommends that individuals who have influenza stay at home until 48 hours after the major symptoms subside--that includes fever of 100.0 or more. If an individual who has the flu becomes disoriented, has audible noise while breathing, has difficulty breathing, or cannot hold down fluids they should seek medical attention as soon as possible.</SPAN><SPAN class=694531913-12122003> </SPAN></DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=694531913-12122003>
|
<TBODY> Symptoms |
Cold |
Flu |
|
Fever
|
rare in adults and
older children, but can be as high as 102° F in infants and small children |
<DIV>usually
102° F, but can go up to </DIV><DIV>104°
F and usually lasts 3 to 4 days </DIV> |
|
Headache
|
rare |
sudden onset and can be
severe |
|
Muscle
aches |
mild |
usual, and often severe
|
|
Tiredness
and Weakness |
mild |
often extreme, and can
last two or more weeks |
|
Extreme
exhaustion |
never |
sudden onset and can be
severe |
|
Runny
nose |
often |
sometimes |
|
Sneezing
|
often |
sometimes |
|
Sore
throat |
often |
sometimes |
|
Cough
|
mild hacking cough |
usual, and can become
severe </TBODY> |
</DIV> <DIV><DIV>
</DIV></DIV><DIV></SPAN> </DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=694531913-12122003></SPAN> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=694531913-12122003></SPAN> </DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=694531913-12122003></SPAN> </DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=694531913-12122003></SPAN> </DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=694531913-12122003></SPAN> </DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=694531913-12122003><DIV> </DIV></SPAN></DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=694531913-12122003></SPAN> </DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=694531913-12122003></SPAN> </DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=694531913-12122003></SPAN> </DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=694531913-12122003></SPAN> </DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=694531913-12122003></SPAN> </DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=694531913-12122003></SPAN> </DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=694531913-12122003></SPAN> </DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=694531913-12122003></SPAN> </DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=694531913-12122003></SPAN> </DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=694531913-12122003></SPAN> </DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=694531913-12122003></SPAN> </DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=694531913-12122003></SPAN> </DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=694531913-12122003></SPAN> </DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=694531913-12122003></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=694531913-12122003></SPAN></DIV><DIV><SPAN class=694531913-12122003>The above chart is from http://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/coldflu.htm </SPAN></DIV><DIV><SPAN class=694531913-12122003></SPAN> </DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=694531913-12122003></SPAN><SPAN class=694531913-12122003>For more information see CDC website: </SPAN><SPAN class=694531913-12122003>http://www.cdc.gov/flu/keyfacts.htm</SPAN></DIV>
This link will take
you to the CDC website to see where influenza is currently being seen in the
</SPAN></DIV> <DIV><SPAN
class=694531913-12122003></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=694531913-12122003></SPAN></DIV>
(Mrs.) Anna M. Davis, M.S., R.N., C.
S., A.R.N.P.
Head Nurse - Health Services
Department