Flu Preparations
Launch the media gallery 1 playerDear Parents:
This letter will help your family prepare for a potential flu pandemic that could make many people sick. Public health officials want people to protect themselves against pandemic flu.
Here are some ways to protect your family:
- Keep students who are sick at home. Don’t send them to school.
- Teach your student to wash hands often with soap and warm water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer especially after coughing or sneezing and just before eating. Be sure to set a good example by doing this yourself.
- Teach your student to cover coughs and sneezes with tissues or by coughing into the inside of the elbow. Be sure to set a good example by going this yourself.
- Teach your student to stay at least three feet away from people who are sick.
- People who are sick should stay home from work or school and avoid other people until they are better.
- Speak with your doctor or local health department about potential vaccinations for both seasonal and H1N1 flu infections.
Enclosed with this letter is a checklist to help families get ready for a pandemic flu outbreak. This information can also help your family get ready for any kind of emergency. Also enclosed is information from the Illinois State Board of Education encouraging vaccinating. Under the current guidance to schools from the Center for Disease Control, schools are encouraged to remain open. However, that decision will be based on the Districts severity of illness and recommendations of the Health Officials.
If you have questions, please contact your healthcare provides, school nurse, or your local public health department.
- LaSalle County Health Department, 717 Etna Rd., Ottawa, IL 61350. Phone: 815-433-3366, Fax: 815-433-9522,
website: www.lasallecounty.org/hd.
- Grundy County Health Department, 1320 Union St., Morris, IL 60450. Phone: 815-941-3400,
website: gchdil@grundyhealth.com.
Illinois Department of Public Health: Visit online at www.idph.state.il.us or call the Health Emergency Information Line: 217-782-4977.
Federal Government Information: Visit online at www.pandemicflu.gov and the American Red Cross can be found at www.redcross.org.