Bethel School District

Here is some health news as you head to the three-day weekend. Throughout the community, we are seeing an increase in student illnesses and the flu and there have been confirmed cases of the flu in Bethel schools. All flu viruses can be easily spread from person to person. That’s why we are trying to teach students about proper hygiene in order to reduce the spread of flu. We want to keep our schools open to students and functioning in a normal manner during this flu season, but we need your help:

• Teach your children to wash their hands often with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub.
• Show your children how to cover their cough or sneeze with a tissue, or cough into their elbow. This will go a long way toward preventing the spread of colds and the flu.
• Know the signs and symptoms of the flu. Symptoms include fever (100 degrees Fahrenheit or higher), cough, sore throat, a runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, and feeling very tired. Some people may also vomit or have diarrhea.
• Do not send children to school if they are sick. Any children who are determined to have a fever of 100 degrees or greater, or are otherwise sick while at school, will be brought to the school health room until a parent or guardian arrives to take them home.
• Keep sick children at home for at least 24 hours after they no longer have a fever or do not have signs of a fever, without using fever-reducing drugs.  Keeping children with a fever at home will reduce the number of people who may get infected.

We will work closely with Lane County Public Health to monitor flu conditions and make decisions about the best steps to take during this flu season. Here is a fact sheet with more information about the flu.