Dear Fontana Community,

As you may know, the H1N1 flu (Swine Flu) has been circulating throughout the state of California, and it is likely that as students return to school, we will see an increase in flu cases spreading from child to child.  While we are hoping that the fall flu season will be a mild one, it is important to be prepared for all possibilities, including a widespread pandemic.  Those are some pretty scary words but what that really means is that we all must remain vigilant and follow appropriate safety protocols to prevent the spread of the virus.

The excitement of returning to school and seeing old friends could cause students to let their guard down about preventing the spread of the flu virus.  It is important to teach your children how to reduce their risk of getting the flu and how to protect others from getting infected.  If we all practice good hygiene, health officials believe we can limit the spread of swine flu in our schools and child care centers.

• Stay at least three feet away from people who are sick.
• Stay home when sick and maintain distance from other people to prevent the spread of illness.
• Wash hands often, with soap and hot water for at least 20 seconds (that’s about as long as it takes to sing “Happy Birthday” – twice). Alcohol-based hand sanitizers are also effective in reducing the spread of the flu.
• Cover coughs and sneezes with tissues or by coughing into the inside of the elbow. Wash hands after blowing nose or coughing into a tissue, and dispose of tissues after use.
• Avoid touching eyes, nose, and mouth to prevent the spread of germs.
• Public health officials also stress that it is very important to get separate vaccinations for seasonal flu and the H1N1 flu this year.
• Early treatment of high-risk children and adults: People at high risk for influenza complications who become ill with influenza-like illness should speak with their health care provider as soon as possible. Early treatment with antiviral medications is very important for people at high-risk because it can prevent hospitalizations and deaths. People at high-risk include those who are pregnant, have asthma or diabetes, have compromised immune systems, or have neuromuscular diseases.

So, what should you do if your child does come down with the flu? The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention now recommend that all individuals with an influenza-like illness or symptoms should remain home until at least 24-hours after they are free of fever without the use of fever-reducing medications (such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen), and they should avoid contact with others. Flu-like symptoms include: fever (over 100o), feverishness, cough, sore throat, runny nose, or stuffy nose. Additional symptoms may be experienced with swine flu, including body aches, feeling very tired, and sometimes vomiting or diarrhea.

The threat of the H1N1 flu can be very frightening but I want to urge you to continue sending your children to school while they are healthy. Please don’t keep them home to prevent them from getting sick; have them stay home when they are sick so they can get well and to prevent the spread of the illness. If we all follow that advice, it should go a long way in reducing the spread of the virus in our schools.

Stay healthy,

Cali L. Olsen-Binks
Superintendent

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