Dear Freedom Academy Students and Parents,

As students begin the new school year, we wanted to update you on our preparations for a flu season that is expected to be more active than usual and what you can do to help limit the spread of the illness.

H1N1, previously known as the “Swine Flu,” has received a great deal of attention in the national media. To date, the illness has not been any more severe than the seasonal flu, but it does seem to be transmitted easily and move through schools quite rapidly.

Freedom Academy Plans and Preparations:

Freedom Academy maintains plans to deal with a variety of emergency situations, including health emergencies. The plan dealing with influenza has been modified to address specifically the H1N1 flu. This plan was developed in consultation with healthcare and medical personnel, and includes infection control measures and protocols for the care of affected individuals at school.

Specifically:

• Freedom Academy will work to educate students on limiting the spread of illness. The seasonal flu and H1N1 spread through droplets, and practicing good hygiene remains the most effective way to limit the spread of illness. Toward this end, hand sanitizer stations will be placed in the lunch room, and all classrooms. Students are encouraged to wash their hands frequently.

• This year Freedom Academy will strongly encourage students to be vaccinated in order to limit the possibility of their becoming ill with the seasonal flu, thereby increasing their susceptibility to the H1N1 virus.

• Students experiencing flu-like symptoms will be encouraged to call their doctor.

• The recovery from H1N1 is typically two to four days, and infected students need to remain at home and limit contact with others while ill. Parents need to communicate with teachers about ill students who are unable to attend class. The recommended length of isolation is now 24 hours after one’s fever has broken.

• Students who are away from Freedom Academy and symptomatic will be encouraged to remain away until they have regained their health.

• Parents with questions or concerns should contact the front office at 801-437-3100.

What You Can Do:

There are several things that you can do to help limit the spread of illness. Parents, we appreciate your help in reinforcing this information.

Specifically:

• Please do not return to school if you are ill. Instead, recover at home and return when you are well. Contact your teachers about your absence.

• Return to school with a cold and flu kit that includes hand sanitizer, tissues, and throat lozenges.

• Parents, please be aware that students cannot carry and/or self-administer medications while on school property. Please leave at the front desk any medications (such as Tylenol or Advil to reduce fever and body aches) you may wish your student to take while at school, labeled with the student’s name, together with a note giving us permission to administer those medications. You should also be aware that we cannot administer aspirin without a signed physician’s note.

• Get a seasonal flu vaccination

• Practice good hygiene. Wash hands often.

• If you become ill with a fever greater than 100 and a respiratory symptom (sore throat, congestion, runny nose, cough), make an appointment with your doctor as soon as possible.

• If you become ill with the flu, do not go to class or practice. You need to follow the advice of your doctor and focus on regaining your health. This is not a time to “soldier on.” That is not in your interests or the interests of the community.

• If your friends display flu-like symptoms, please inform school administrators.

General Flu Prevention Advice

The Centers for Disease Control’s recommendations to reduce your risk of becoming infected include:

• Cover coughs and sneezes with your sleeve or elbow.

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.

• Wash hands frequently, especially after coughing or sneezing.

• Use available hand sanitizer stations.

Each year we have flu at school, but by taking these steps we hope to safeguard student health and minimize the disruption to students’ academic and extracurricular lives. Thank you for taking care of yourselves and our community.

We are looking forward to a great new academic year.

9/09