Prevention of Communicable Disease

1.       CFISD is closely monitoring events concerning Flu season and other contagious diseases and will follow the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and Harris County Public Health and Environmental Services (HCPHES) recommendations regarding communicable disease protocols.

2.       CFISD specific measures to ensure a safe learning environment for students are as follows:

a.       CFISD staff will continue to educate our students, staff and community members about the importance of frequent hand washing; covering a cough or sneeze; not touching one’s eyes, nose and mouth; staying home when sick; and other measures to prevent the spread of all communicable disease.

b.      Campuses are routinely disinfected with QUAT 256 cleaner which meets CDC recommendations and is a hospital grade disinfectant effective against multiple disease-causing viruses and bacteria.

c.       School staff will monitor students for symptoms and refer students to the school nurse for assessment as appropriate.

d.      School nurses will exclude students from school attendance according to guidelines from the Department of State Health Services, including but not limited to:

·   Fever greater than 100° F until the student is fever-free for 24 hours without the use of a fever- reducing medication;

·   Persistent nausea, vomiting or diarrhea; and

·   Symptoms of a contagious illness until symptoms resolve or the student has been evaluated/released by a licensed physician, nurse practitioner or physician’s assistant.

e.      Campuses will screen students’ health history and partner with Harris County Public Health and Environmental Services (HCPHES) for appropriate response to any suspected case of a reportable condition.

3.       Parents/Guardians/ Community Members can help by:

a.       Keeping sick students at home until symptoms resolve, getting medical care when necessary, and reinforcing frequent hand washing and cough/sneeze etiquette;

b.      Postponing campus visits for lunch or volunteering if actively ill to prevent the spread of illness; and

c.       Considering CDC recommended vaccinations as appropriate.

4.       Please consult the Health Services office, Texas DSHS or HCPHES for any further questions regarding local communicable disease control measures.

Bevin Gordon MSN, RN                                                 Harris County Public Health and Environmental Services

Director, Health Services CFISD                                  (713)439-6000

(281)897-4015