Dear Armstrong Parents and Teachers,

Below are recommendations from Children's Medical Center of Dallas in regards to the rising levels of flu in our area. Parents, please keep a child who is experiencing flu-like symptoms at home. Teachers, please send children who seem ill to the clinic for assessment.

Children's Medical Center in Dallas has sent the following tips to all DFW school nurses since the increase of flu and RSV cases has risen dramatically over the break:

Children's Emergency Department is experiencing higher than typical patient volume due to the very high rates of flu and respiratory illnesses in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. The majority of these patients, however, have had minor symptoms, which would be better served at a pediatrician's office or an urgent care clinic.

Parents should take their children to the Emergency Department if they exhibit emergency symptoms, such as

      A .Difficulty breathing

      B. Unresponsiveness

      C. Excessive vomiting

      D. Dehydration with decreased urination, dry lips or sunken eyes

Children should remain home from school if they have a fever, vomiting and/or diarrhea or undiagnosed rash along with a fever. They may return to school when they are free of these symptoms for 24 hours without the use of medication.

You help prevent the spread of influenza by encouraging sick individuals to cover their cough and perform frequent hand hygiene. High touch surfaces should also be cleaned on a more frequent basis, e.g. daily at a minimum.

Please visit the following web site for additional information on prevention of influenza (flu) in the school setting: www.flu.gov. If you have any additional questions, please feel free to contact your school nurse.

Anna Hjertstedt, RN

School Nurse

Armstrong Elementary

214-780-3120

hjertsa@hpisd.org