Dear Wayside Community, 

Since the beginning of the school year, we have all been hearing news about the new H1N1 (swine) flu and the risks this new strain presents to the population, particularly to children. I send you this letter to let you know that we at Wayside are committed to remaining on top of the news and to being ready for any eventuality.  We have developed a comprehensive flu policy with the goal of mitigating the risk of infection to our clients and staff. Wayside’s protocol includes extensive preventive measures as well as plans for our response should clients and/or staff contract the flu.

Wayside’s preventive measures include: 

·         Offering all clients and staff flu shots (both seasonal and H1N1, when available)·         Increasing cleaning and disinfecting at all Wayside sites

·         Posting signs asking that all visitors refrain from entering Wayside sites should they exhibit flu symptoms

·         Educating staff and clients about proper hand-washing and other prevention techniques 

We know that despite our best efforts, some will contract the flu. Wayside’s flu preparation plans also call for measures to minimize the likelihood of the spread of the flu. The flu is defined as fever of at least 100.4° F accompanied by cough, sore throat, runny nose, body aches or congestion. The below guidelines apply to any client who develops symptoms of the flu.  

If your child attends Wayside’s Day Programs (Wayside Academy and Wayside Day Treatment Center):

·         Keep your child home if he or she develops symptoms of the flu.  Your child can return to school after he or she has been fever free for at least 24 hours without taking fever-reducing medications.

·         Make sure Wayside has a way to reach you. Day students who become ill with flu-like symptoms will be sent home.

·         Make plans for child care in the event that Wayside’s Day Programs must close.

If your child is in a residential program (Wayside Campus, 12 Prescott, Shortstop):

·         If your child is able to return home, we will make arrangements for him or her to remain home until he or she has been fever free for at least 24 hours without taking fever-reducing medications.

·         If a youth in residential program develops symptoms of the flu, we will ensure that the youth remains in his/her dormitory room until he or she has been fever free for at least 24 hours without taking fever-reducing medications.

·         If the flu spreads to a group of youth in a residential program, we will isolate that group from the rest of the population.

·         We have developed special treatment protocols for residential staff treating youth with flu symptoms.

If you are a client receiving Outpatient or In-Home Therapy

·         Please reschedule your appointment with Wayside if you or anyone in your household has flu-like symptoms.  

Should you have additional questions regarding Wayside’s response to the flu, please contact Wayside’s nursing department at (508) 270-1387. We will continue to update the Wayside community as more information becomes available.   

For more information about the flu, please visit www.cdc.gov/H1N1flu or www.pandemicflu.gov 

For a flu clinic near you, please visit:  http://flu.masspro.org/clinic/