Monthly Archives: January 2013

Register to Receive Updates for School Closures and Delays

SnowDayIt is important to know when schools close or have delayed openings because of weather or other emergencies. You may sign up to receive alerts via email, texts and other messages. Please check the list below for the school system your host children go to and follow the link to register. If your children go to a private school, check with your host family to find out if they follow the county closings or not.

Anne Arundel County Public Schools – Register HERE (email is free, text there is a fee)

Montgomery County Public Schools – Register HERE

Prince George’s County Public Schools – Register HERE


Photo: Lookatmyhappyrainbow.com

Flu Alert

You can’t turn on the television news lately without hearing about the flu epidemic.  The seasonal flu has started early this year and is spreading quickly throughout the state.  Here’s some useful information from the Center for Disease Control about how you can protect yourself from the flu and how to treat yourself and your host children should you get sick.

It is NOT too late to get a Flu Vaccine. Check out THIS blog post for a list of places to get your flu shot.

An Ounce of Prevention
There are steps you can take in your daily life to help protect you from getting the flu.

  • Wash your hands often with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth.  Germs spread this way.
  • Try to avoid close contact with sick people
  • Practice good health habits.  Get plenty of sleep and exercise, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids, and eat healthy food
  • Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze.  Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it
  • If you are sick with flu-like illness, stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone without the use of fever reducing medicine.

Symptoms of the Flu
The flu and the common cold have similar symptoms.  It can be difficult to tell the difference between them.  Your healthcare provider can give you a test within the first few days of your illness to determine whether or not you have the flu.

In general, the flu is worse than the common cold.  Symptoms such as fever, body aches, tiredness, and cough are more common and intense with the flu.

Flu symptoms include:

  • A 100oF or higher fever or feeling feverish (not everyone with the flu has a fever)
  • A cough and/or sore throat
  • A runny or stuffy nose
  • Headaches and/or body aches
  • Chills
  • Fatigue
  • Nausea, vomiting, and/or diarrhea (most common in children)

Treating the Flu
You can treat flu symptoms without medication by:

  • Getting plenty of rest
  • Drinking clear fluids like water, broth, sports drinks, or electrolyte beverages to prevent becoming dehydrated
  • Placing a cool, damp washcloth on your forehead, arms, and legs to reduce discomfort associated with a fever
  • Putting a humidifier in your room to make breathing easier
  • Gargling salt water (1:1 ratio warm water to salt) to soothe a sore throat
  • Covering up with a warm blanket to calm chills

Children are at higher risk for getting the flu because their immune systems are not fully developed.  If your host child gets sick, always ask your host parents before giving any medications to the children.  There are strict guidelines for dosages and they MUST be followed.  Never give aspirin to children or teenagers who have the flu.  Giving aspirin to children with the flu can cause a rare but serious illness called Reye’s Syndrome.  Read ingredient labels on over-the-counter medications carefully to ensure they do not contain aspirin.

Getting Outfitted for Snow Tubing

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Our  snow tubing trip is just over a week away. Now is the time to buy your snow clothes, if you don’t already have some.  If you wait too late in the snow season, it can be hard to find some of these items.

Here are some detailed instructions on the  Liberty Mountain website. But, below is a list of the basic outerwear you want to have to stay dry and warm.

For Skiing/Snowboarding/Snow tubing

  • Waterproof Snow Pants
  • Gloves, hat, scarf and jacket (which you should already have)
  • Waterproof Boots (for snow tubing)

Snow pants can be found at places like Sports Authority, Dick’s, Modell’s, REI and Bass Pro Shop as well as online retailers.  You can usually find an adult pair for $25-$40.  Many of you (au pairs in my cluster) are small enough that you could buy a pair of XL snow pants in the boy’s department.  Those will cost you less and can sometimes be found at places like Target, KMart and WalMart for $15-$25.

If you don’t have waterproof snow pants to wear, I suggest you bring an extra pair of pants. Your pants will get wet while snow tubing. You will have a more comfortable ride home if you have dry clothes to wear.

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