As we are entering the cold and flu season, this is a reminder of the best health practices to decrease the spread and transmission of viruses in PWCS schools.  

 Please remember to cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze and throw used tissues in the trash.  If you don't have a tissue, cough, or sneeze into your elbow, not your hands.  Wash hands often with soap and water for 20 seconds, dry hands with a paper towel, and use the paper towel to turn off the faucet.  If soap and water are not available, hand sanitizers may also be used to preform hand hygiene.  Remember to stay home when you’re sick until at least 24 hours without a fever or the use of fever reducing medicine.  Together we can help stop the spread of germs that may make you and others ill.

Sick Call: When Students Should be Absent  

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Illness or Injury Exclusion Criteria- Reasons for which a child may be sent home from school or for a parent to keep the child home from school.

1. Fever of 100ºF and over - exclude until student has been fever-free for at least 24 hours.
2. Conjunctivitis (pink eye), strep infections, ringworm, and impetigo are all infections and must be treated with medication for a minimum of 24 hours before returning to school. Please do not allow affected students back before this time so that other students are not infected unnecessarily.
3. Rash of unknown origin (especially if accompanied by a fever).
4. Head injury.
5. Severe coughing or difficulty breathing.
6. Colds - a child with thick or constant nasal discharge should remain home.
7. Diarrhea or vomiting - exclude until student has been symptom-free for at least 24 hours.
8. Stiff neck associated with a fever and/or a recent injury.
9. Inadequate immunizations with known disease outbreak in school.
10. Refer to the VDOH "Communicable Disease Reference Chart for School Personnel" for other exclusions/information.

Stop the Spread of Germs

According to the Center for Disease Control you can help stop the spread of disease by doing the following:

• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub .
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. Germs spread this way.
• Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
• If you are sick with flu-like illness, CDC recommends that you stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone except to get medical care or for other necessities. (Your fever should be gone without the use of a fever-reducing medicine.)
• While sick, limit contact with others as much as possible to keep from infecting them