When to Keep Sick Children at Home
We are currently in the midst of the flu and cold season, and it is important that everyone observe general precautions to curb the transmission of viruses. Please review the protocols mentioned below about when to keep a sick child at home. These guidelines have been provided by Vancouver Coastal Health.
Keep your child at home if she/he has any of the following symptoms:
- fever
- cough, sore throat
- body aches
- headaches
- chills and fatigue
- vomiting or diarrhea
- constant runny nose
- a suspected or known communicable disease
Consider the following:
- The illness can spread to other children, their families and school staff.
- Recovery can be delayed without adequate rest.
- The school’s inability to care for a child when he/she is sick.
For more information call: Public Health at 604-983-6700, your family Doctor, or Health Link BC, 24 hours a day at 811.
Parents sometimes ask whether students should go outdoors during recess on wet weather days. North Shore Health has provided us with the following information:
Flu viruses are droplet infections that can survive up to five days on hard surfaces, though usually around 48 hours. They also live in the bodies of people incubating the illness and suffering from the symptoms.
Unless a person is sneezed or coughed upon, individuals do not catch the flu by going outdoors and becoming chilled, which nonetheless should not be an issue in our climate when a person is properly dressed.
Healthy children benefit from being outdoors in the fresh air and remaining active. Enjoying an outside break is likely a better choice than remaining in the classroom. As with past practice, students may stay indoors during lunch times on rainy days. If a child cannot go outdoors at all, but is deemed healthy enough to attend school, then we would appreciate a doctor’s note supporting this approach.
