Dear Parents or Guardians:                                                                               October 9, 2009

Grand Coulee Dam School District is experiencing a high level of influenza-like illness, which is very likely H1N1 virus.  Ill students, with flu-like symptoms, such as a fever, cough and/or sore throat, will not be allowed to be at school. 

Public Health and our School District is requesting that parents keep ill students home and do not send them back to school until their temperature has been normal for 24 hours, without the use of fever-reducing medications (Tylenol, Motrin, etc.). 

Like school children, adults with influenza (“flu”) symptoms, such as a fever, cough and /or sore throat, should stay at home, and not attend work, school, sporting events, group activities or public gatherings until their temperature has been normal for 24 hours, without the use of fever-reducing medications.

We want to encourage parents of children with chronic health conditions (asthma, diabetes, etc.) to take extra care for their child. They should consider taking their child to a health care professional within the first 48 hours of experiencing flu-like symptoms.  The health care professional may want to put them on an anti-viral medication. 

Hopefully this 3 day weekend coming up will help to stem the rise of this flu.  Try to isolate the sick person from others and stay away from public places.  Get lots of rest and fluids.

Thank you for caring about our schools.

Cheryl Fercha R.N.

School Nurse