GUIDELINES FOR KEEPING SICK CHILDREN HOME FROM SCHOOL

Each day many parents are faced with a decision: should they keep their sick children at home or send them off to school? Often the way a child looks and acts can make the decision an obvious one. The following guidelines should be considered when making the decision:

Fever: The child should remain at home with a fever greater than 100°. The child can return to school after he/she has been fever free for 24 hours (without fever- reducing medicine such as Tylenol or Motrin).

Diarrhea/Vomiting: A child with diarrhea and /or vomiting should stay at home and return to school only after being symptom-free for 24 hours, unless otherwise specified by the school nurse or licensed health care provider.

Conjunctivitis (Pink Eye) and Strep Throat: Students may return to school AFTER receiving a full 24 hours of antibiotic treatment.

Rashes: Common infectious diseases with rashes are most contagious in the early stages. A child with a suspicious rash should return to school only after a health care provider has made a diagnosis and authorized the child's return to school.

Colds: Consider keeping your child at home if he/she is experiencing discomfort from cold symptoms, such as nasal congestion and cough. A continuous green discharge from the nose may be a sign of infection. Consider having the child seen by your health care provider.

Head Lice:  If your child has active head lice, he or she must be treated and seen by the school nurse PRIOR to returning to school.

A sick child cannot learn effectively and is unable to participate in classes in a meaningful way. Keeping a sick child home prevents the spread of illness in the school community and allows the child opportunity to rest and recover.

Parents/Guardians will be contacted to take their child home if, in the professional opinion of the school nurse, the child is unable to participate in school activities or puts other students and staff at risk for illness. Please have a plan in place to pick up a child in case he/she needs to be dismissed.