October 12, 2009

Dear Parents:

It is hard to open the paper without seeing stories about the H1N1 flu.

Just as you have every right to expect, the faculty and staff of Redwood Christian Schools are committed to taking the best care possible of all of our students when they are away from you at school.  We love your kids.  Signs regarding hand washing are posted throughout our campuses.

Following you will find some information that we hope will be helpful to our families and will relieve some of the "scariness" of the news reports.  We want to be as proactive as possible in taking care of the students in our classrooms, so please read the following carefully.  If you have any additional questions, please e-mail them to me and we will try to get you answers.  If you have any concerns or questions regarding any flu-like symptoms, always contact your physician.

We all can take specific precautions to try to limit, or better yet, prevent the onset of this virus in our school.  Be assured that RCS is being proactive in regards to the H1N1 virus.  PLEASE keep your child at home when there is even the slightest flu-like symptom or fever present.  Children should not return to school for at least 24 hours AFTER the flu-like symptoms or fever is gone.

Any student with questionable symptoms MUST stay home from school.  Students who are ill at school will be sent home immediately.  To be on the safe side, always check with your doctor.  This is very serious.

There are everyday actions people can take to stay healthy:

* If possible, cough or sneeze into your elbow.  Otherwise:
* Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze.  Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
* Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze.  Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.
* Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.  Germs spread that way.

Try to avoid contact with sick people:

* Influenza viruses are thought to spread mainly person-to-person through coughing or sneezing of infected people.
* If you get sick, CDC recommends that you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.

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What are the Swine Flu Symptoms?

Key points regarding swine flu-
-The swine flu is a viral infection that originated in pigs and was first isolated in the 1930s.
-Antibiotics do not help this infection since it is not caused by bacteria.
The swine flu symptoms reported when infected with swine flu are similar to the symptoms of the familiar influenza virus.   The good news is that most people who become infected will do fine and will not have any long -term complications. Those who are immune-compromised, older or pregnant may be at higher risk of complications or serious respiratory illness.  The most common swine flu symptoms include:

* Cough
* Congestion
* Nasal Congestion
* Body aches
* Joint Pains
* Fevers
* Sore throat
* Headaches
* Fatigue
* Decreased energy
* Swine flu rarely results in death

Transmission:
The viral infection is transmitted to humans who are in contact with swine, although there are several cases of swine flu in people who had no known exposure to either infected people or pigs.   Once the species barrier is crossed, human-to-human transmission can occur with casual contact or airborne transmission (e.g., sneezing or coughing).   Eating pork products will not cause one to develop the swine flu.

Prevention:
Washing hands routinely with soap and warm water, and wearing an N99 mask, such as the Wein ViraMask may also be helpful.  N99 masks provide 100 times more protection than an N95 mask.  If you are planning on traveling by air, have an N99 mask available.

Treatment:
Remember that most people with flu symptoms simply have a viral infection and NOT the swine flu.   Maintaining adequate hydration is very important if you contract any viral illness. The swine flu is diagnosed when a   physician suspects infection and sends a nasopharyngeal swab in a special viral collection container to a  special lab to be tested.

Swine Flu Vaccine:
Contact your doctor for medical advice on whether or not you or your child(ren) should receive the H1N1 vaccine.

Other:
A study by Dr. Cannell from California also showed that vitamin D can help prevent traditional influenza infections by strengthening the immune system.   Most people should ingest a minimum of 2,000 IU of vitamin D daily.  A dose of up to 10,000 IU of vitamin D daily for a few days may also be helpful. Talk to your  doctor about this.  However, there are no studies specifically which show swine flu is prevented by vitamin D.

Always talk to your physician if you have concerns or other questions regarding swine flu.


Bruce D. Johnson, Superintendent
Redwood Christian Schools
4200 James Avenue, Castro Valley CA  94546
Telephone (510) 889-7526   FAX  (510) 881-0127
E-Mail:  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it