Flu Season Preparedness
- March 2010 letter from the American College Health Association (PDF) »
- November 2009 Flu Update from Cornish Prevention & Wellness »
- King County Health Services has an updated list of pharmacies with H1N1 vaccine »
We are taking steps to prevent the spread of flu at Cornish. Some of the things we are currently working on are:
- Launching a flu prevention campaign
- Examining our absenteeism policy in regard to flu
- Developing resources for our students living in the residence halls such as meal delivery, flu kits, and quarantine rooms
- Defining our communications processes
- 100% enrollment in the emergency text-message program
Here are a few things you can do to help:
- Sign up for the emergency text-message program
- Practice good hand hygiene by washing your hands with soap and water, especially after coughing or sneezing. Alcohol-based hand cleaners also are effective.
- Practice respiratory etiquette by covering your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. If you don’t have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your elbow or shoulder; not into your hands. You must remember to throw tissues away immediately – don’t stick used tissues in your pocket or handbag as you risk germ exposure on your clean hands and other items the tissue may touch.
- Know the signs and symptoms of the flu. A fever is a temperature taken with a thermometer that is equal to or greater than 100 degrees Fahrenheit or 38 degrees Celsius. Look for possible signs of fever: if the person feels very warm, has a flushed appearance, or is sweating or shivering.
- Stay home if you have flu or flu-like illness for at least 24 hours after you no longer have a fever (100 degrees Fahrenheit or 38 degrees Celsius) or signs of a fever (have chills, feel very warm, have a flushed appearance, or are sweating). This should be determined without the use of fever-reducing medications (any medicine that contains ibuprofen or acetaminophen). Don’t go to class or work.
- Talk with your health care providers about whether you should be vaccinated for seasonal flu. Also if you are at higher risk for flu complications from 2009 H1N1 flu, you should consider getting the H1N1 vaccine when it becomes available. People at higher risk for 2009 H1N1 flu complications include pregnant women and people with chronic medical conditions (such as asthma, heart disease, or diabetes). For more information about priority groups for vaccination, visit http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/vaccination/acip.htm.
If this year’s flu season becomes more severe, we may take additional steps to prevent the spread of the virus, such as:
- Allow students, faculty, and staff at higher risk for complications to stay home. These students, faculty, and staff should make this decision in consultation with their health care provider.
- Find ways to increase social distances (the physical space between people) in classrooms such as moving desks farther apart, leaving empty seats between students, holding outdoor classes, and using distance learning methods.
- Extend the time sick students, faculty, or staff stay home or in their residence. During severe flu conditions sick people should stay home for at least 7 days, even if they feel better sooner. Those who are still sick after 7 days should continue to stay home until at least 24 hours after symptoms have gone away. Symptoms of flu include fever or chills and cough or sore throat. In addition, symptoms of flu can include runny nose, body aches, headache, tiredness, diarrhea, or vomiting.
- Suspend classes. This decision will be made together with local and state public health officials. The length of time classes should be suspended will depend on the goal of suspending classes as well as the severity and extent of illness.
For the most up-to-date information on flu, visit http://www.flu.gov, or call 1-800-CDC-INFO (232-4636).