Reminders from the BMS Nurses

While the coronavirus has been getting the headlines lately, a far greater threat to our own community right now is the flu. The national Centers for Disease Control estimate that so far this season alone there have been at least 280,000 hospitalizations and 16,000 deaths from flu.

Influenza severity for Massachusetts is currently at high levels.

The main precautions we can take to minimize the impact of the flu are:

• Wash hands even more frequently, paying attention to areas between fingers and under nails and scrubbing for at least 20 seconds (it's longer than you think!). If you don't have access to soap and water, use a hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
• Flu shots  are still  available from health care providers. 
• If your child exhibits any symptoms of the flu or a cold, play it safe and keep them at home. Time at home to nip things in the bud is better for everyone than sending a child to school who then spreads their germs, may need to get picked up in the middle of the day, and then often needs additional sick days out of school.
• Your child must have 24 hours at home fever free and without medication to treat  the fever  before coming back to school.

The Mass. Dept. of Public Health has a helpful informational guide for parents about the flu.