Managing Illness at School
Please follow the school guidelines for keeping sick kids home! In a school setting, there is naturally a higher risk of contagion when illness is going around. To keep that risk to students and staff to a minimum, please keep your sick students home and print out these guidelines in case you do have a sick student.
Returning to school after an illness:
- Student must be fever-free for 24 hours WITHOUT medication
- Student must stay at home for 48 hours after LAST episode of vomiting and/or diarrhea
Parents should remind students to:
- Wash hands frequently, especially after using the restroom and before eating
- Cover coughs and sneezes with your elbow NOT hands
Parents should be aware of the early signs and symptoms of illness such as:
- Decreased activity – droopy, tired appearance
- Irritable behavior – sleepy
- Sore throat/swollen glands
- Runny nose/cough
- Skin eruptions/rashes (students with undiagnosed rashes are not allowed to be in school)
- Nausea/vomiting/diarrhea
- Abdominal pain
- Fever (100º or higher is considered a fever in Douglas County Schools and student is not allowed to be at school)
Parents can help by:
- Checking students health before they leave home.
- Keeping students home when they have signs/symptoms of illness.
- Making arrangements with relatives/friends to take care of sick children if unable to do so yourself.
- Making sure your student is eating breakfast prior to coming to school.
- Sending your student with a water bottle daily.
- Making sure your students have appropriate outerwear for changing weather.