As we approach cold and flu season, keep your family and children healthy by following some simple practices at home and in school.

• Wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after coughing or sneezing.

• Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.

• Avoid close contact and sharing cups or eating utensils with people who are sick.

• Disinfect frequently touched surfaces, such as toys and doorknobs, with standard cleaning solution with bleach.

• Get a flu vaccination. Vaccination against influenza is recommended yearly for everyone 6 months and older.

Shaler Area School District is working to minimize the spread of illnesses in the District this cold and flu season.

Hand sanitizer stations are located throughout the District buildings for students and staff to access when they don’t have the opportunity to wash their hands.

Shaler Area School District nursing staff is aware of cold, flu, enterovirus and Ebola symptoms and guidelines for handling suspected cases.

Each day, District staff disinfects common surfaces, including desktops and doorknobs, as part of the custodial staff’s evening cleaning routine. The District also has experience and procedures in place to disinfect a school building in the event of a contagious illness outbreak.

Please review the guidelines located here for children who are sick and should remain home from school.

Influenza: Commonly called the flu, the virus affects the upper respiratory tract and can cause serious illness especially in young children. More information on the flu can be found here.

Enterovirus-D68 (EV-D68): In recent weeks, the enterovirus has been confirmed in children with severe illness in 18 states including Pennsylvania. The respiratory illness most commonly affects infants, children and teenagers, especially those with a history of asthma. Ensure children with asthma follow their treatment regimen and contact their healthcare providers if there are any problems. More information about the enterovirus can be found here.

Ebola: Ebola is a virus found in several African countries that causes severe illness. Symptoms include fever, severe headache, muscle pain, weakness, diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain or unexplained bleeding or bruising. The virus is spread through direct contact with blood or body fluids of a person who is sick with Ebola. More information about Ebola can be found here.