10/1/2009 - Preventing the Flu on campus - Tips for Parents and Students
Tips for Preventing Outbreak
Judson College is currently taking steps to protect students and to prevent the spread of H1N1(aka swine flue) on campus and to ask for help from parents of those students, faculty and staff. Members of Judson's administration have met with a representative from the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) and other medical professionals. Judson is also tracking information from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO).
Based on information and recommendations from those organizations, the College is taking the following measures:
- Students with flu symptoms (e.g. cough, fever, muscle aches, discomfort, illness or lack of well-being) have been instructed to seek medical attention immediately. The ADPH recommends prescription Tamiflu, and also recommends that roommates be given Tamiflu as well.
- Judson has asked students to complete medical history and permission-to-treat forms for the Marion Clinic in order to hasten treatment.
- Students with certain medical conditions (e.g. respiratory disease, notably asthma, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and immunosuppression) are considered to be at high risk for severe complications. These students have been advised to seek medical attention for symptoms and, in some cases, to contact their physicians for preventive advice.
- Residential students with flu-like illness who live relatively close to the campus will be asked to return to their home to keep from making others sick in residence halls. These students will be instructed to do so in a way that limits contact with others as much as possible, such as traveling by personal car rather than public transportation.
- Students with a private room may remain in their room and receive care and meals from a single person.
- If close contact with others cannot be avoided, the ill student is asked to wear a surgical mask during the period of contact. Close contact includes things like caring for or living with the ill person. Masks are available on campus.
- For those who cannot leave campus, and who do not have a private room, the College is providing temporary, alternate housing for ill students until 24 hours after they are free of fever without medicine.
- We are not requiring doctor's notes to confirm illness or recovery to encourage students to self-isolate when ill until 24 hours after they are free of fever without medicine.
- Students with flu-like illness will be asked to promptly seek medical attention if they develop severe symptoms such as increased fever, shortness of breath, chest pain or pressure, or rapid breathing.
Additionally, the college has ordered and distributed materials from the Alabama Department of Public Health titled: Do you wash your hands?" (Instructions for hand-washing etiquette); "Cleaning and Sterilizing" (how to clean and sanitize surfaces); "Did you cover your cough?" (instructions for respiratory etiquette); "Flue and You" (four simple things you can do to protect yourself, your family and your friends), and "Prepare for Home Care" (Adult comfort care during pandemic influenza).
Judson has distributed individual bottles of hand-sanitizer and individually wrapped hand-sanitizing towelettes to all students, faculty and staff.
How Can Parents Help?
- Stay in touch with your student to see if she should seek medical attention.
- Encourage her to follow advice in the brochures that she received.
- Tell her to avoid touching eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way (in and out).
- Encourage her to avoid close contact with sick people. If someone at home is sick, encourage her to stay at school. Avoid sick people at family reunions.
- Encourage her to self-isolate at home, or school if necessary, until she is free of fever without the use of a fever-reducing medicine for at least 24 hours in order to keep from making others sick.
- Remind her that she will be allowed to make up missed school work, and she will not be penalized in sports for missing practices or games due to illness.
- Please refrain from visiting campus for sporting events or other activities if you or other family members are ill.
The ADPH has advised us that the regular flu shot will be available free of charge this month at the local health department. All students are encouraged to get this shot.
The H1N1 flu shot should be available mid-October. As soon as it's available, Judson will have a flu shot clinic ON CAMPUS to enable students to get the vaccine. This is a two-shot vaccine. The second dose will be given 30 days after the first dose. We will notify students and parents as this become available.
Judson administration are in the process of creating an email distribution list using parent email addresses given to us by students in order to send campus updates to parents. Please let us know of your preferred email address, in case your daughter does not have it. Information regarding these updates can also be found on Judson Colleges' page on Facebook and Judson's Parent page on Facebook®. For the most up-to-date information on flu, visit http://www.flu.gov/, or call 1-800-CDC-INFO (232-4636).
Contacts:
All questions concerning this issue or those needing additional information, may contact the Office of Student Services during office hours at 334.683.5108. Judson's 24-hour emergency number is 1-800-3-JUDSON (583766). You may also email the Vice President and Dean of Students, Sandra Fowler at sfowler@judson.edu.
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