24-Hour Rule for Illnesses
As the cold and flu season progresses, please keep in mind the 24 Hour Rule. Any time your child has a fever, has been diagnosed with an illness and put on antibiotics, or has been vomiting they need to remain at home for 24 hours.
Policy
If your student has any of the following symptoms, you must keep them at home! Here is a list of symptoms:
- Fever - 100.4℉ or higher (Oral or rectal temperature preferred)
- Stomach Virus (this can include nausea, vomiting or diarrhea)
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Rash of unknown cause
- Sore Throat (or student diagnosed with Strep Throat)
- Cough - Moderate to severe, frequent cough, experiencing coughing fits,
- Skin lesions/sores
- Molluscum contagiosum would fit into this category if it is open and draining. If it is closed and no skin is broken, your student can come to school. The molluscum will still need to be covered.
- Symptoms that prevent the student from active participation in usual school activities OR the student requires more care than the school can safely provide.
*** Please reference this documentation provided by DPI (Department of Public Instruction): TOO SICK FOR SCHOOL?
So when can my student return?
- When they are Fever Free for 24 hours - WITHOUT the use of Acetaminophen (Tylenol) or Ibuprofen (Advil)
a. If your student comes to school and staff determines that they have received Tylenol or ibuprofen to mask the fever, your student will be sent home immediately. Please understand that medications wear off during the school day, and this puts your child in a position of feeling awful after the medication wears off. It also exposes other students to their illness, causing further spread within the schools. The nursing staff attempts to stop or slow the spread at all costs.
- No Diarrhea or Vomiting for 24 hours
a. For instance, if your student has diarrhea at school and we send them home, we ask that you keep them out 24 hours after their last diarrhea occurrence.
- Cough is improving or has subsided - WITHOUT cough medicine or suppressants.
- When the rash goes away, or the lesions crust over, your student can return to school as long as the area is covered. If you see an MD/PA/NP or DO, and they write a note confirming that the rash is not contagious, the student may also return.
*** We do have immunocompromised students within our district, and when they get sick, it may end with a hospital stay or worse. So please partner with us to keep your students home when ill.***
Where does COVID-19 fit in?
If your student tests positive for COVID-19, we expect that they will have one of the symptoms above. This means they must be fever, diarrhea, and vomiting-free for 24 hours, and their cough must improve! All without the use of medications. When to Return after a Positive COVID-19 Test.
We here at Prescott School are incredibly grateful to our committed families and staff, who continue to show great flexibility and resilience as we work together to ensure our students and their family's safety and health.
The Health Office is excited to share an exciting opportunity to families this summer! The Wisconsin Lions Camp is an exciting opportunity to attend camp in Rosholt, WI for children and adults with disabilities. The best thing is that there is only a $25 fee for this camp and there is assistance to waive that fee if needed. This camp is open to Wisconsin residents. | 
