Welcome to Norton City Schools Online!

School Nurse

Health Information

Welcome to the health information site for Norton City Schools. From this site, you will be able to access health forms, as well as health alerts. As the school nurse, I strive to provide health care for our students and maintain up to date health records for them. As parents/guardians, providing student health information is necessary and helpful.

Thank you for your assistance. Check back for updates and alerts.

Caroll Addington RN

caddington@nortoncityschools.org

Know the Difference Between
A Cold and Swine Flu Symptoms

Symptom	Cold	Swine Flu
Fever	Fever is rare with a cold.	Fever is usually present with the flu in up to 80% of all flu cases. A temperature of 100°F or higher for 3 to 4 days is associated with the flu.
Coughing	A hacking, productive (mucus- producing) cough is often present with a cold.	A nonproductive (non-mucus producing) cough is usually present with the flu (sometimes referred to as dry cough).
Aches	Slight body aches and pains can be part of a cold.	Severe aches and pains are common with the flu.
Stuffy Nose	Stuffy nose is commonly present with a cold and typically resolves spontaneously within a week.	Stuffy nose is not commonly present with the flu.
Chills	Chills are uncommon with a cold.	60% of people who have the flu experience chills.
Tiredness	Tiredness is fairly mild with a cold.	Tiredness is moderate to severe with the flu.
Sneezing	Sneezing is commonly present with a cold.	Sneezing is not common with the flu.
Sudden Symptoms	Cold symptoms tend to develop over a few days.	The flu has a rapid onset within 3-6 hours. The flu hits hard and includes sudden symptoms like high fever, aches and pains.
Headache	A headache is fairly uncommon with a cold.	A headache is very common with the flu, present in 80% of flu cases.
Sore Throat	Sore throat is commonly present with a cold.	Sore throat is not commonly present with the flu..
Chest Discomfort	Chest discomfort is mild to moderate with a cold.	Chest discomfort is often severe with the flu.

How can I protect my child against flu?

Get a seasonal flu vaccine for yourself and your child to protect against seasonal flu viruses.

Take everyday steps to prevent the spread of all flu viruses. This includes:

Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze.
- Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze.
- If soap and water are not available, alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
- Germs spread this way.
Teach your child to take these actions too.
Try to keep your child from having close contact (about 6 feet) with sick people.
- Including anyone in the household who is sick.
Keep surfaces like bedside tables, surfaces in the bathroom, kitchen counters and toys for children clean by wiping them down with a household disinfectant according to directions on the product label.
Throw away tissues and other disposable items used by sick persons in your household in the trash.

■To view information that will inform school personnel and school families on how to become better prepared, click here:
www.doe.virginia.gov/support/health_medical/influenza/index.shtml

■For more information on how to protect yourself and your family, click here.

■To visit the U.S. Government website: FLU.gov