“Mom, you won’t believe it! Tommy* threw up in class today!” My child tells me this with the same enthusiasm typically reserved for video games and toy launches. I’m sure it was quite an event, but my heart goes out to that poor kid. Vomiting is rough, especially in front of classmates.
“Really? That’s awful!”
“Yeah! He coughed so hard he lost his lunch! His sister’s home sick with the flu, so it’s probably contagious.”
Suddenly, I feel a wave of dread wash over me. I manage to hold it together just enough to wish Tommy a quick recovery and send my child off to tackle their homework. Deep down, I know what’s coming, and my stress level starts to rise.
A few hours later, my instincts prove accurate. My child is burning up with fever.
In total, we spent 11 days battling this flu. My partner missed four days of work, unpaid. We kept our teens isolated in their rooms, hoping to avoid the virus, and thankfully, our efforts worked. However, I’m left grappling with swollen lymph nodes, body aches, and exhaustion that coffee can’t shake off. To add insult to injury, I’m dealing with coughing fits that are so severe they require — yes, maxi pads.
And we’re among the lucky ones. We’re generally healthy, so this wasn’t as severe for us as it could have been.
Alongside the physical toll, we also faced unexpected medical expenses, spending hundreds on doctor visits and medications just to confirm it was the flu. The real reason for our visit? Those doctor’s notes we needed for work and school absences.
During our visit, we learned that our town had been hit hard, with over 800 flu cases reported last week and already more than 500 this week. For a community of about 1,900 people, that’s staggering.
It turns out, someone decided to attend a ballgame while ill, spreading the virus to the entire team and their families. Some of those individuals returned to school and passed it on to their classmates, while others went to work despite being sick. Some even went to church, spreading the flu further.
Stay Home When Sick
Let me make this crystal clear: If you or your child is sick, please stay home. I understand that life can be complicated, but school, work, and social events are not emergencies.
If you’re feeling the pressure to go to work instead of caring for your sick child, I empathize. I’ve been there many times. But take a moment to consider your sick child’s impact on others. Imagine the ripple effect of sending them to school, potentially infecting dozens of other kids and their families.
We’re not talking about a simple cold; this is the flu, which can be deadly for vulnerable individuals. The CDC reported that this year’s Flu A vaccine has only a 43% efficacy rate, meaning sending an infected person out into public is like handing your child a loaded weapon. It’s irresponsible and poses a serious risk to others.
Three Key Areas to Address
To tackle this widespread issue, I believe we need to focus on three key areas:
- Revise Attendance Policies: Current policies often compel parents to send sick children to school. It shouldn’t be a choice between attendance and health. We need common sense in these policies, as not every illness requires a doctor’s visit.
- Support for Caregivers: Parents should be able to take time off to care for sick kids without fearing job loss. We need better employment standards, including fair wages and paid time off for sick days.
- Community Responsibility: People need to care beyond their immediate families. It’s not just about protecting your own child; it’s about considering the health of the entire community.
I don’t want your kids to be sick any more than I want my child to be ill. I would never knowingly let my child harm yours, and I expect the same consideration in return. That’s not too much to ask, is it?
*Names changed for privacy.
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Summary
This article emphasizes the importance of keeping sick children home to prevent the spread of illness. It outlines the consequences of neglecting this responsibility, including financial and health impacts on families. The author calls for changes in school policies, better support for caregivers, and a communal sense of responsibility for public health.