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Parents and Educators

NEW! - Letter to parents of school aged children about H1N1 (distributed to WCPSS families in mid-October)

It is important for parents and educators to get accurate information about H1N1 and seasonal flu. In most cases, both viruses are relatively mild and students will only be out of school for a few days.

Since H1N1 first appeared in the United States, health officials have learned a lot about the virus. The new knowledge has had an impact on how cases are confirmed and treated. These changes also mean that schools, in Wake County and other areas, will not be closed or require deep cleanings if one student becomes ill.

Printable Materials
Public education is important to prevent the spread of any virus. Displaying posters in public areas such as workplaces and places of worship or sharing brochures can help more people learn about H1N1 and how to prevent diseases from spreading. Materials developed locally are available here for downloading and printing.

Good Health Manners English (.pdf) Spanish (.pdf)
Fight Germs – Wash Your Hands English (.pdf) Spanish (.pdf)
Handwashing Works English (.pdf) Spanish (.pdf)

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has developed many helpful materials available in English, Spanish and seven other languages. Each poster is available in color or black and white.

Stopping the Spread of Germs

Parents and students can also help stop the spread of H1N1 and seasonal flu by practicing good health habits.

  • Avoid contact with sick people and stay home when you are ill.
  • Stay at least six feet away from others.
  • Wash hands frequently, sneeze into arm or tissue.
  • Conduct normal cleaning using antibacterial products.

Materials to help teach younger children to stop the spread of germs:


Common Questions from Parents

A few of the most common questions parents ask and the answers to them are listed below.

If my child is experiencing flu-like symptoms, how long should they stay home from school?

Based on current flu conditions, students and staff with a flu-like illness need to stay home until at least 24 hours after they no longer have a fever or signs of a fever. This should be determined without the use of fever-reducing medications (any medicine that contains ibuprofen or acetaminophen). This is a shorter time period from the previous guidance which recommended that sick students and staff stay home seven days after symptoms begin.

The seven-day period away from school for sick students and staff is still recommended under more severe flu conditions. This longer period should be used in healthcare settings and in any place where a high number of high-risk people may be exposed, such as childcare facilities for children younger than five-years of age.

Sick people should stay at home, except to go to the doctor’s office, and should avoid contact with others. Keeping people with a fever at home may reduce the number of people who get infected. This is because high temperatures are linked with higher amounts of virus, meaning that people with a high fever may be more contagious.

How do I recognize a fever or signs of a fever?

A fever is a temperature taken with a thermometer that is equal to or greater than 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius). If you are not able to measure a temperature, the sick person might have a fever if he or she

      • feels warm,
      • has a flushed appearance, or
      • is sweating or shivering.

What additional steps should schools and families take to keep students and staff from getting sick in the event that the flu is more severe?

In addition to the steps that schools should be taking all the time, if flu conditions become more severe, schools and families should consider adding the following steps:

  • Extend the time sick students or staff stay home to at least seven days, even if they feel better sooner. People who are still sick after seven days should continue to stay home until at least 24 hours after symptoms have gone away.
  • Schools should allow high-risk students and staff to stay home. These students and staff should make this decision in consultation with their doctor.
  • Schools should conduct active symptom screenings of students and staff upon arrival at school. Any sick students or staff should be separated from others, offered a surgical mask and sent home.
  • If a household member is sick, parents should keep any school-aged children home for five days from the time the first person in the home became sick. Parents should monitor the health of their other children for fever and other symptoms of the flu.
  • Schools should find ways to increase social distances (the space between people) at school, if possible.
  • Schools should work closely with public health officials to decide how and when to dismiss students. If the decision is made to dismiss students, schools should notify public health and education agencies by submitting a report about the dismissal at www.cdc.gov/FluSchoolDismissal. Students should be dismissed for five to seven days and near the end of this period, communities should reassess to determine if students can return to school.

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