Are you getting good communication from your schools re: H1N1? (high school, health) - Atlanta - Georgia (GA) - Page 2 - City-Data Forum

RoslynHolcomb · 09-09-2009, 06:11 AM

I know they are at my son's school. They've got a little song that they sing when they wash hands. (I used Happy Birthday, but they've got something else.) He already knew about coughing into his elbow, but he does it more consistently now. They use hand sanitizer and everyone has his own water bottle and they do use them. Of course, there's no guarantee that he won't lick the floor if he's so inclined, but it seems that they are trying.

CMMom · 09-09-2009, 06:14 AM

Rockmama,

They are definitely teaching all that stuff; my 4-year old can tell me to wash with soap and water, cough into elbow, etc... Now, does he actually do all of that stuff independently? No, not really. I think teaching little ones the preventative stuff is like herding cats!

I did keep little one home today even though no fever this AM (still has rattly cough) just to be safe and to avoid exposing others if possible.

lastminutemom · 09-09-2009, 10:03 AM

Health departments are saying that children need to be fever free without medicine for 24 hours before returning to school.

BobKovacs · 09-09-2009, 10:27 AM

I'll say this- if you catch it early and get treatment ASAP, it'll get knocked out fast. My daughter started running a sub-100 fever Sunday night, and by Monday at noon she was over 104. We got her in and got her on Tamiflu Monday afternoon, and as of this morning, she's staying under 100 with no Motrin/Tylenol, and feeling/looking 100 times better.

My recommendation would be- if you think you or your kid has the flu, go get checked, and get on Tamiflu.

kaday · 09-09-2009, 10:58 AM

My sister and her kids (live in NJ) tested positive for Swine Flu back in June. She was pretty sick for about 5 days with standard flu symptoms. Her kids (who by the way seem always to be sick) had a fever for one day and some sniffles. Schools up there had been closed because of a lot of cases. They stayed home for a bout a week and then went about thier business. It was just like any other cold or flu picked up at school. I am not that worried about it.

roxyrn · 09-10-2009, 07:13 AM

I am a school nurse and our school district has been sending out emails and letters from the beginning of H1N1 last year. Because of the sheer numbers (and the unreliability of the "quick test,") very few people are being swabbed but as it is too early for the seasonal flu, all flu-like illness is presumed H1N1.
Last Spring there was such a stigma regarding the Swine Flu that many parents refused to tell us if their children had it. It is important that you report illnesses to your teacher/nurse as we are tracking it.

Parents need to continually reinforce hygiene. Sooner or later it will sink in be it a pre-schooler, or in my case a college student. Stay home if you're running a fever (24 without meds). And the best thing you can do is wash/Purell hands.

I have been exposed to many many cases of sneezing, coughing kids since this thing started and (THANKFULLY) have not gotten it.

RoslynHolcomb · 09-10-2009, 07:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by roxyrn

I have been exposed to many many cases of sneezing, coughing kids since this thing started and (THANKFULLY) have not gotten it.

I read somewhere that those of us who are older might have at least partial immunity from previous exposures to other swine viruses. Of course, they do mutate, so you never know. Kids won't have that immunity, so that's why they're so much more likely to get it, along with every other disease known to mankind. They're just walking petri dishes.

CMMom · 09-10-2009, 07:56 AM

Well, I sent my little one back to school today. He had been fever free with no meds since Tuesday night (more than 24 hrs.), but got the call to pick him up b/c he still has the rattly cough.

Better safe than sorry, I guess. Kind of a pain though.

RoslynHolcomb · 09-10-2009, 11:42 AM

I thought they might send my little guy back last week as well, but they didn't. I'm sure they're just being cautious.

roxyrn · 09-10-2009, 12:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CMMom

Well, I sent my little one back to school today. He had been fever free with no meds since Tuesday night (more than 24 hrs.), but got the call to pick him up b/c he still has the rattly cough.

Better safe than sorry, I guess. Kind of a pain though.

I wouldn't have sent him home with just a cough, which can last a long time. Remind him to cough in the crook of his elbow ( I like to play a game of copycat and do it more than a few times so they have it down) and remind to wash hands.