Dear Parents:

There has been a great deal of media attention regarding pandemic flu. The Perrysburg School District is in constant communication with the Wood County Health Department, local medical professionals and administrators with the Ohio Department of Education. It is our goal to ensure that families understand what they can do to help prevent the spread of illness and how our schools can best protect the health and safety of our students and staff.

Health officials have asked me to remind parents that in order to help keep the flu from spreading, they ask that you keep sick children home. Any children who become sick in school will be sent home. Given the seriousness of this virus, health officials are asking parents to please consider childcare alternatives ahead of time in case your child becomes ill and needs to be home for several days.

Here are some methods public health officials have suggested to stop the spread of illness:

• Keep children who are sick at home.
• Remind your children to wash hands often with soap and water for 20 seconds. You may also use alcohol-based hand sanitizers (at least 60 percent alcohol) if soap and water are not available.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
• Tell your children to cover coughs and sneezes with tissues or by coughing into their elbow or upper sleeve. Throw the tissues away immediately after use.
• Have your children stay at least six feet away from people who are sick.
• People who are sick should stay home from work or school and away from other people until they are better.
• Health officials have stated that in the event of an outbreak in the area, it may be necessary to consider limiting time spent where there are large groups of people.
• Be sure to set a good example for your children by taking these precautions yourself.

The Wood County Health Department has no plan at this time to vaccinate children at school. If you would like the seasonal flu vaccination for yourself and/or your children, you would need to go to a doctor or clinic as you would have done in the past.

May you and your family enjoy good health now and in the years to come.

Sincerely,

Thomas L. Hosler
Superintendent