Wednesday, October 6, 2010

When should I keep my child home from school?

Lately I've seen a lot of kids who have been missing a lot of school for one reason or another. I think a lot of parents are unsure when it's ok to keep their kid home from school and when they can safely go to school Education is important- kids should be in school as much as they can.

How do I know if my child should stay home? Every school district has their own guidelines but here are some general ones:

1. Fever, vomiting, severe diarrhea, severe cough, lots of nasal drainage. If your child looks very ill, cannot get off the couch or does not want to eat or drink they should definitely not go to school.

2. If your child has an illness that your health care provider has told you is contagious make sure you ask when they can return to school.

Things that should NOT keep your child out of school:
1. a fracture (they may need to be excused from gym)
2. cuts that have been stitched or stapled
3. ankle sprains, knee injuries, etc.

When in doubt please talk to your school nurse.

In general your child can return to school when they have been fever free for 24 hours. If they are on antibiotics they must have been treated for 24 hours. Again, talk to the school nurse.


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