Trending In Health This Week
March 4, 2020
Cape Cod Tech has seen a recent uptick in flu cases this week. These are confirmed Flu-B cases, not to be confused with other health concerns. This is completely normal as the most common month to contract the flu is February, with March being the third most common month. In order to keep all students well we are asking parents to follow the guidelines that are always in place when their students are ill, but specifically:
- Know the signs and symptoms of the flu: Symptoms of the flu include fever (100.4 Fahrenheit or greater) cough, sore throat, shortness of breath, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache and feeling tired. Vomiting and diarrhea also may be a symptom. Contact your local doctor for further direction.
- Keep sick children at home: for at least 24 hours after they no longer have a fever (99.0 or greater) without using fever-reducing medications. Keeping students at home will help reduce the number of people who may get infected.
- Do not send children to school if they are sick. Any child who exhibits flu-like symptoms including low-grade fevers (99.0 or greater) while at school will be sent home.
In order to be proactive and limit your student’s chance of contracting the flu please:
- Teach your student proper hygiene: Encourage them to wash their hands with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub, inform them to cover their coughs and sneezes with tissues, or when a tissue is not available to cough/sneeze into their elbow. If they cover with their hands, wash their hands immediately.
- Inform your student not to share personal items: Keep drinks, water bottles, food or utensils to themselves. Please also recommend to them to limit their affection to others i.e. do not hug/kiss all of their friends hello, put their arm around friends and limit their intimate encounters if their significant other is ill.
As we stated last week, keeping students attending school is one of our key missions at Cape Cod Regional Technical High School.
Here is a CDC factsheet on the Flu: https://www.cdc.gov/flu/prevent/index.html
Since it is currently flu and respiratory disease season and CDC recommends getting a flu vaccine, taking everyday preventive actions to help stop the spread of germs, and taking flu antivirals if prescribed.
We will continue to provide you with information as things progress through mailings, letters sent home through students and electronic phone messages. Please carefully read all the material sent home, as your student’s health may be dependent on the information provided. Mrs. Wahtola, our school nurse, will be available if you have any questions via email gwahtola@capetech.us
Sincerely,
Gretchen Wahtola
School Nurse
Robert Sanborn
Superintendent-Director
William Terranova
Principal