Every September students return to class, excitedly hugging friends, sharing lunches, and forgetting to wash their hands.

Inevitably germs start getting passed around and students and faculty find themselves coming down with a cold or the flu.

Chris Pawluk, Lead Psychologist with RVS, said that when this happens, it can sometimes be tough for parents to figure out if their child should go to school.

Pawluk created a user friendly list that outlines how to make that decision:

Send me to school if:

  • I have a runny nose or just a little cough, but no other symptoms
  • I haven’t taken any fever reducing medicine for 24 hours and I haven’t had a fever during that time
  • I haven’t thrown up or had diarrhea for 24 hours
  • If I can drink fluids and my fever is below 100 degrees
  • If my eyes are only slightly pink and the discharge is clear or watery
  • A sore throat accompanied by a runny nose is often just due to simple irritation from the draining mucus
  • If a stomach ache is the only symptom and their active, it could signal constipation or even a case of nerves

Keep me home if:

  • I have a temperate higher than 100 degrees – even after taking medicine
  • I am throwing up or have diarrhea
  • My eyes are pink and crusty

Call the doctor if:

  • I have a temperature higher than 100 degrees for more than two days
  • I have been throwing up and having diarrhea for more than two days
  • I had the sniffles for more than a week, or they aren’t getting better
  • I still have asthma symptoms after using my asthma medicine

Pawluk said this is an important topic because schools need kids to see the importance of not missing school.

"If you miss 10% of school in a year every year, than over 10 years you have missed a year of school."