When to keep sick children home from school
Information compiled from CDC (Centers for Disease Control); IDPH (Illinois Dept. of Public Health)
It’s important for children to attend school and we realize that for many parents staying home with a sick child means missing work, that is a daunting thought. However, having your child stay home when they are sick is the best way to diminish the spread of colds, flu and other illnesses.
Following CDC and IDPH Guidelines, your child should stay home from school if he/she has:
- Fever 100.4 or higher
- Chills
- Cough (steady or hacking cough)
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Fatigue
- Muscle or body aches
- Headache
- Sore throat
- Congestion or runny nose
- Nausea or vomiting; and/or Diarrhea
If your child is sent home from school or kept home from school with any of these symptoms they will need to be home 24 hours fever free without any fever reducing medicine (i.e. Tylenol or Advil), 24 hours without vomiting and/or diarrhea and on antibiotics 24 hours if needed. If your child is out for 5 days or more they will also need a doctor’s note to return to school.
If you are calling your child out of school, please call the school nurse, Tracy Mullen, at 847-294-1896.
Illness/injury at school
In the event your child becomes ill at school they should report to the Health Office. There they will be evaluated by the nurse. If it is determined that your child needs to go home the nurse will contact the parent/guardian.
In an acute emergency the nurse will be notified immediately and will perform necessary first aid/lifesaving techniques. If medically necessary, 911 will be called to transport your child to a hospital that is determined by the emergency professionals. The parent/guardian will be notified immediately of this transport, and a staff member of the school will accompany and remain with the student until a family member arrives.
