November 2024

Dear Parents and Guardians,

I hope this letter finds you well. With the 2024-2025 school year underway, I want to remind you that we are in respiratory virus season. I am writing to encourage you to take steps to protect yourself, your children, and others from respiratory viruses, including COVID-19, influenza, pertussis (whooping cough), pneumonia and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). These viruses are spread from person-to-person via small droplets when an infected person coughs, sneezes, speaks, or breathes. To learn more about these respiratory viruses, see https://www.geneseecountymi.gov/departments/health_department/disease/factsheets.php

Below are tips you and your children can follow to stay healthy during this time:

• Cover your coughs and sneezes

o Encourage your child to use a tissue to cover nose and mouth when coughing and sneezing or to cough and sneeze into sleeve (not their hands).

• Frequent hand washing

o Washing hands often with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds helps prevent the spread of germs.
o If soap and water are not available, use hand sanitizer.
o Always wash your hands before touching food and eating, before touching your eyes nose or mouth, after using the bathroom, and after blowing your nose.

• Stay up to date on all vaccines.

o Vaccines are the best way to protect you, your children, and your families from getting sick and spreading illness to others.

• Stay home when sick

o Rest can help you and your child feel better sooner and prevent the spread of germs.
o Students may return to school after being fever-free for 24 hours without fever-reducing medications (ex. Tylenol, Motrin) if their symptoms are improving or with a note from their provider approving the student’s return.

• Seek medical attention for symptoms of respiratory illness

o Symptoms may include fever, chills, fatigue, cough, sore throat, vomiting, diarrhea, runny or stuffy nose, headache, body aches and difficulty breathing.

If your child is diagnosed with a respiratory virus, please notify your school’s office personnel. Thank you for your continued assistance in keeping our schools and communities healthy.

Sincerely,

Shawn Kingen BSN, RN
District Nurse
Carman-Ainsworth Community Schools