Flu Prevention Measures Include Hand Sanitizers
With flu season just around the corner, Alma College is taking steps to promote prevention, good hygiene, frequent cleaning and vaccinations.
“In preparing for the flu season and in response to the growing concern of the H1N1 virus, or swine flu, Alma College is initiating a series of preventative measures that follow the Center for Disease Control guidelines for higher education,” says Anne Lambrecht, director of counseling, health and wellness center.
“An H1N1 flu outbreak should be taken seriously but not be cause for panic,” she says. “At this time, we are taking steps to prevent the spread of flu at Alma College for as long as possible, but we need everyone’s help to accomplish this. We are working closely with the Mid-Michigan District Health Department to monitor flu conditions and make decisions about the best steps to take concerning Alma College.”
Posters like this one encourage good hygiene.
Prevention measures include the installation of alcohol-based hand sanitizers in the public lobbies of every building on campus, including all locations where food is handled and prepared; making tissues available in rooms across campus; and disseminating information covering hand hygiene, coughing and sneezing etiquette, and signs and symptoms of influenza.
Regular schedules for enhanced cleaning of high-touch surfaces are being established, and disposable wipes will be made available so that commonly used surfaces can be wiped down by students, faculty and staff before each use. Plus, students will be encouraged to frequently clean their living quarters.
“In addition, we are encouraging students, faculty and staff to get the annual flu and H1N1 vaccinations when they become available,” says Lambrecht. “We anticipate that the Mid-Michigan District Health Department will control distribution of the vaccine, with an expected release date in mid-October.”
(Source: Centers for Disease Control)
• 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. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth; germs are spread this way.
• 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). Click here for more information about priority groups for vaccination.
Posted: Tue, September 8th, 2009 at 9:00AM
