Schools and childcare centers are places where children learn, grow, and often share germs. Flu spreads easily in group settings and can cause significant illness in students, staff, and volunteers, leading to increased absence and outbreaks.

Flu can be especially serious for young children, children with chronic health conditions like asthma, and household members who are elderly or immunocompromised. 

Encourage Annual Flu Vaccination

• All staff, students, and volunteers 6 months and older should get a flu shot every year.

Promote Healthy Habits

• Teach and remind children to:
• Wash their hands frequently with soap and water for 20 seconds
• Cover their coughs and sneezes with a tissue or their elbow
• Avoid touching their eyes, nose, and mouth

Clean and Disinfect Regularly

• Ensure high-touch surfaces such as desks, doorknobs, and hard and soft toys are cleaned daily 
• Sanitize shared items in classrooms and common areas
• Pay attention to and follow cleaning instructions on disinfectants to ensure the appropriate contact time on surfaces is implemented.

Keep Sick Students and Staff Home

• Children and staff with flu symptoms should stay home until fever-free for at least 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication
• Children and staff with flu symptoms should be isolated from other staff and students and sent home as soon as possible
• Encourage families to develop a plan for child care in case their child gets sick
• Refer to the DSHS School Communicable Disease Chart for recommendations

Watch for Symptoms

• Fever or chills
• Cough
• Sore Throat
• Runny or stuffy nose
• Body aches (myalgia)
• Fatigue (tiredness)
• Sometimes vomiting or diarrhea

Encourage nurses and staff to monitor for signs of flu and respond promptly. 

What schools and childcare programs can do:

• Share flu prevention tips through newsletters, emails, websites, and flyers.
• Provider reminders before and during flu season (October – May)
• Post signage promoting handwashing and covering coughs
• Send home sick child policies and vaccination reminders early in the school year

For Childcare Centers and Early Learning Programs

• Keep group sizes small when illness is circulating
• Designate a separate space for sick children until they can be picked up
• Follow local public health guidance on reporting outbreaks or increase in absenteeism  

If your school or center sees a sudden increase in flu-like illness or an increase in absenteeism due to respiratory illness in the school or a classroom:

• Contact your local health department or public health region for guidance
• Track and report absenteeism and symptomatic students, staff, and volunteers
• Consider reinforcing prevention measures such as limiting large groups or increase cleaning and disinfection frequency
• Refer to the DSHS School Communicable Disease Chart for recommendations on exclusion 

By taking simple steps like getting vaccinated, staying home when sick, and promoting good hygiene, schools and childcare providers can help keep students, staff, and families healthier throughout flu season.