August 2009

Dear Parent/Guardian,

As you are probably aware, the H1N1 flu continues to make people ill around the world and in our community. Although the severity of the illness remains relatively mild, we are working closely with Ledge Light Health District and the Connecticut Department of Public Health to monitor flu conditions and make decisions about the best steps to take concerning schools. We will keep you updated with new information as it becomes available.

Flu can be easily spread from person to person. Therefore, we are taking steps to reduce the spread of flu in Ledyard schools. We want to keep the schools open and functioning in a normal manner during this flu season. Here are a few things you can do to help:

• Reinforce with your children the importance of washing their hands often with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub. In the schools, we plan to have in each classroom either a sink with soap and water or a dispenser with hand sanitizer rub. The school staff will also reinforce the importance of frequent hand washing through oral reminders and posters. You can set a good example by doing this yourself.

• Stress with children the importance of covering their coughs and sneezes with tissues. The schools will have plenty of tissues available for the children in classrooms. When tissues are unavailable, covering up coughs or sneezes using the elbow, arm, or sleeve will also help prevent the spread of the flu.

• Teach your children not to share personal items like drinks, food, or unwashed utensils.

• Know the signs and symptoms of the flu. Symptoms of the flu include fever (100 degrees Fahrenheit, 37.8 degrees Celsius or greater), cough, sore throat, a runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, and feeling very tired. Some people may also vomit or have diarrhea.

• Keep sick children at home for at least 24 hours after they no longer have fever or do not have signs of fever without using fever-reducing drugs. Keeping children with a fever at home will reduce the number of people who may get infected.

• Notify the school of any absence that is due to the symptoms of flu. School nurses will use the information to monitor the health of students and staff.

• Do not send children to school if they are sick. Any children who are determined to be sick while at school will be sent home.

If the flu becomes more severe, we may take additional steps to prevent the spread such as:

• Conducting active fever and flu symptom screening of students and staff as they arrive at school.

• Recommending that students with ill household members stay home for 5 days after the onset of illness in the household.

• Making changes to increase the space between people such as moving desks farther apart and postponing class trips.

• Dismissing students from school for at least 7 days if they become sick.

• Preparing to vaccinate school age children.

• School nurses will monitor student and staff attendance and health room visits daily; this information will be coordinated with the district's Nursing Supervisor as well as with Dr. Gates.

• Should a trend develop where a large percentage of the students or staff are experiencing flu symptoms, I will consult with Dr. Gates and the Ledge Light Health District and determine if closing the schools for a week would help stop the spread of the virus.

• As vaccine becomes available, it is likely that school age children, especially those with underlying medical conditions, will be among the target groups for vaccination. We are currently working with Ledge Light Health District to determine the most effective way to provide the vaccine to our students and will share these plans with you as we move forward.

As you may know, the H1N1 virus has proven to be much less severe than initially feared; however, it is extremely contagious. Health officials anticipate that many people will become ill with the flu this year.   We need to do everything possible to prevent children and staff from getting the virus and then taking all reasonable steps in responding to any incidents that occur.

I have included further information regarding the H1N1 virus on our web site (www.ledyard.net).

Sincerely,
Michael H. Graner, Ph.D.
Superintendent of Schools