Bonnie Davis, school system nurse for Madison City Schools, urges parents to use precautions to keep their children flu-free. (CONTRIBUTED)

MADISON – As students and teachers return to campus on Jan. 6, influenza is posing a threat to school populations.

“Before the break, we were seeing some cases of flu in our schools. We have had a chance to clean and disinfect and are ready for everyone to return,” Bonnie Davis said. Davis, a registered nurse, works as health services/school system nurse for Madison City Schools

“Unfortunately, physicians are reporting that flu activity in our area is still high,” Davis said.

Davis recommends several precautions to parents to reduce the spread of germs. “Remind your child to wash his/her hands often, especially after using the restroom, before eating and after blowing his/her nose,” she said. “Cough and sneeze into the bend of the elbow, not hands.”

Another guideline is to refrain from placing hands on the face.

“If your child is sick, please keep him/her at home. This applies to middle and high school students, as well,” Davis said.

If a child has been ill, several conditions must be satisfied before the child returns to school. All students in Madison “must be fever-free for 24 hours without the use of Tylenol or Ibuprofen,” Davis said. All individuals “must be free of vomiting, diarrhea or both for eight hours” before returning.

Before going to school, a child must have started medication 24 hours previously if a doctor has diagnosed pink eye (conjunctivitis), strep throat or any other infection that requires an antibiotic.

“Students needing medication administered at school require a School Medication Prescriber Authorization Form for each medication,” Davis said. “This (rule) includes over-the-counter medication and prescriptions.”

A parent/guardian must transport all medication to school and log in the medicine with the school nurse. “The only exceptions are asthma inhalers, epinephrine auto injectors and insulin,” Davis said. “Over-the-counter medication must be in the original, unopened container, labeled with the student’s name.”

For more information, contact the nurse at the child’s school. To reach Davis at the Central Office, call 256-772-2547, ext. 80329 or email to Bonnie.Davis@madisoncity.k12.al.us.