January 17, 2013

Dear Parents,

The 2013-14 flu season started early and, according to health officials, may be severe. The flu may last 7-10 days. Experts from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend an annual flu vaccine as the first and best way to protect against influenza. It's not too late to get a flu shot. This year, the nation has a plentiful supply of flu vaccine available, so consider getting a shot for yourself and your family members, especially those with asthma and other chronic illnesses. Health officials encourage families to take precautions to limit the spread of illness, including washing hands frequently, covering coughs and sneezes, and staying home and keeping ill children home when flu-like and other cold symptoms appear.

If your child has flu-like symptoms, please contact your physician or health clinic for recommendations. If your child has a fever, they must be kept home. They must be fever-free for 24 hours without medication prior to returning to school. Please refer to the "Staying Healthy During Cold and Flu Season" attachment for tips on flu prevention.

We appreciate your efforts in helping us keep our students well and healthy!

Sincerely,

Karen Head

Principal

Brookwood Elementary