Subject: Flu Season Information
From: "Mamadou Gueye" <[email-masked]>
Date: 11 Feb 2016 11:43:04 -0500

Dear Parents/Guardians:

Please take a minute to review the information below about flu season.

I wish you all good health!

Sincerely,

Mamadou Guèye

Mamadou Guèye|Upper School Principal|Sidwell Friends School|

3825 Wisconsin Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20016|

[email-masked]|Tel. 202.537.8162|Fax. 202.537.8178

Flu Season:

With flu season upon us we ask that you please remember our sick policy and keep your child at home if they present with a fever above 100.5F and other symptoms that indicate the flu. Students cannot return to school until they have been fever-free for at least 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication. Please report all absences to the Middle/Upper School office and leave specific information regarding their symptoms. This information assists the school in making appropriate decisions regarding the health of the school and its attendees.

The flu is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses. Symptoms of flu include:

• fever (usually high)

• headache

• extreme tiredness

• dry cough

• sore throat

• runny or stuffy nose

• muscle aches

• Stomach symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, also can occur but are more common in children than adults

Flu viruses are thought to spread mainly from person to person through coughing or sneezing of people with influenza. Sometimes people may become infected by touching something with flu viruses on it and then touching their mouth or nose. Most healthy adults may be able to infect others beginning 1 day before symptoms develop and up to 5 days after becoming sick. That means that you may be able to pass on the flu to someone else before you know you are sick, as well as while you are sick.

Flu is a serious disease and it's important to take action to protect yourself:

• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.

• Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.

• Try to avoid close contact with sick people.

• If you get the flu, CDC recommends that you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way.

Most healthy people recover from the flu without complications. If you get the flu:

• Stay home from work or school.

• Get lots of rest, drink plenty of liquids.

• There are over-the-counter (OTC) medications to relieve the symptoms of the flu (but never give aspirin to children or teenagers who have flu-like symptoms, particularly fever).

• Remember that serious illness from the flu is more likely in certain groups of people including people 65 and older, pregnant women, people with certain chronic medical conditions and young children.

• Consult your doctor early on for the best treatment, but also be aware of emergency warning signs that require urgent medical attention.

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