Health Promotion:

As we are entering the cold and flu season, this is a reminder of the best health practices to decrease the spread and transmission of viruses in PWCS schools.   

Please remember to cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze and throw used tissues in the trash.  If you don't have a tissue, cough, or sneeze into your elbow, not your hands.  Wash hands often with soap and water for 20 seconds, dry hands with a paper towel, and use the paper towel to turn off the faucet.  If soap and water are not available, hand sanitizers may also be used to preform hand hygiene.  Remember to stay home when you’re sick until at least 24 hours without a fever or the use of fever reducing medicine.  Together we can help stop the spread of germs that may make you and others ill. 

Keep Your Child Home When?   PWCS Reg  757-1

Reasons for which a child may be sent home from school or for a parent to keep the child home from school.

1. Fever of 100.4ºF and over - exclude until the student has been fever-free for at least 24 hours.
2. Conjunctvitis (pinki eye), strep infections, ringworm, and impetigo are all infections and must be treated with medication for a minimum of 24 hours before returning to school. Please do not allow affected students back before this time so that other students are not infected unnecessarily.
3. Rash of unknown origin (especially if accompanied by a fever).
4. Head injury.
5. Severe coughing or difficulty breathing.
6. Colds – a child with thick or constant nasal discharge should remain home.
7. Diarrhea–sudden increase in frequency to more than three loose/watery stools per day. Exclude until student has been symptom free for at least 24 hours.
8. Vomiting–unless the vomiting is determined to be caused by a diagnosed non-communicable/non-infectious condition (such as dysmenorrhea, dysphagia, etc.).
9. Abdominal pain that continues for more that two hours or intermittent abdominal pain associated with fever or other signs or symptoms.
10. Stiff neck associated with a fever and/or a recent injury.
11. Inadequate immunizations.
12. Refer to the Virginia Department of Health Communicable Disease Reference Chart for School and Child Care Facility Personnel (PDF) for other exclusions/information.