We want to congratulate you all on a successful start of the 2010-2011 school year! FISD has enrolled 37,269 students, only two away from the October 1 projections! This represents growth of 10.1 percent.

With the beginning of a school year comes the need for reminders regarding good health habits and prevention of illness. As we move toward flu season, here are Key Facts for Flu Prevention. The single best way to prevent seasonal flu is to get vaccinated each year, but good health habits like covering your cough and washing your hands often can help stop the spread of germs and prevent respiratory illnesses like the flu. Please help us keep your students healthy by following these recommendations:

Stay home when sick – Those with flu-like symptoms/illness should stay home for at least 24 hours after they no longer have a fever or signs of a fever, without the use of fever-reducing medicines. They should stay home even if using antiviral drugs.

Reinforce good hand-washing and coughing/sneezing procedures – We will continue to teach and emphasize frequent hand washing with soap and water, especially after coughing or sneezing (and use of hand sanitizers when not available), covering noses and mouths (with a tissue/shirt sleeve/elbow), and throwing away the tissue after it has been used. We will also remind students not to touch their eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands.

Early treatment of illness – People at high risk for influenza complications who become ill with flu-like symptoms/illness should speak with their health-care provider as soon as possible. Early treatment with antiviral medication is very important for people at high risk. These groups include those who are pregnant, and those who have asthma or diabetes, compromised immune systems or neuromuscular disease.

As always we will work with our local health departments to monitor the issue on the local level as needed. Together, we can make sure our students are safe, healthy and in school.