WEST COLUMBIA, SC – With fall and winter being prime seasons for illness, we want to take this opportunity to share healthy habits, common illnesses, preventative measures, and when to keep students home.
This is the time of year when we begin to see emerging illnesses from viruses, including the common cold, flu, respiratory (RSV), Hand, Foot and Mouth, and others. We are fortunate to have registered nurses in all of our schools who monitor student and staff health daily, tracking illnesses and trends at school and classroom levels. School custodial teams also are on alert, applying deep cleanings and enhanced sanitizing as needed at our facilities. The district also works with the SC Department of Public Health (DPH) and related agencies/resources for guidance on illnesses and conditions.
Preventing illness spread is key, and school nurses, along with teachers and staff, regularly emphasize health, hygiene and safety by talking about the importance of not rubbing eyes and nose, and using good coughing/sneezing techniques (into the elbow). They also teach the importance of frequent and thorough hand washing. DPH recommends:
- Wet your hands with clean water and apply soap.
- Lather and scrub for at least 20 seconds (hum the “Happy Birthday” song twice!).
- Rinse thoroughly and dry with a clean towel or air dry.
So if your child becomes ill, how do you know when to keep them home? Your doctor is an excellent resource, of course, and DPH also offers useful information for families — one a detailed chart with common illnesses and conditions, symptoms, and treatment; the other a quick guide with FAQs and a look at the most common symptoms of illness, such as cough, and when they warrant prompt attention. A sure sign of illness is a fever. Please remember that if your child has a fever of 100.4 degrees or more before taking Tylenol, Advil, Motrin or another fever-reducing medication, that child should stay home until he or she is fever free for 24 hours.
For our Lexington Two families, please make sure that your school has your current emergency telephone, text, and email, in case we need to contact you about an illness.
For general health information, check out the Health Resources for Parents page on our district website.