Campus urged to take proactive approach to H1N1
Adriane Marcellus
Issue date: 9/11/09 Section: News
College students will be impacted the most significantly by H1N1, or Swine Flu, according to the Center for Disease Control. In an effort to take a proactive approach to the potential pandemic, since last spring, senior staff and executive board members at the college have been discussing and creating a multifaceted plan of how to deal with a possible outbreak of H1N1.
"The probability we will have an outbreak is pretty high," Director of Health Services Jeffrey Goldstein said. It has happened at other schools, so it is bound to happen here, he said.
"We are trying to be as proactive as possible before an outbreak," he said.
The plan includes two tiers, education and isolation. "We are in this as a community. It is good for the whole that we have to follow these steps," he said.
The first part of the plan is education. Goldstein stressed the importance of educating the campus community about H1N1. He has started to talk to various departments on campus, about how to deal with a potential outbreak. The health center will also be distributing information via posters, in student mailboxes and the health center's website.
The next step is isolation. Goldstein stressed the importance of students taking action if they believe they may be infected with swine flu, and begin isolating themselves as soon as symptoms develop.
He said symptoms include fever, body aches and cough.
"Isolation involves separating sick students from well students," he said.
Goldstein also stressed the importance of students removing themselves from the rest of campus. The student should not attend class and or go to the dining hall. Basically, the student should be confined to his or her room.
He also said that faculty has been asked to relax some of the "tight rules in regard to excuses this semester." In the past, a Dean's excuse would be needed for an excused absence. Now, an email will work when students feel sick, Goldstein said, once again stressing the importance of students isolating themselves.
"The probability we will have an outbreak is pretty high," Director of Health Services Jeffrey Goldstein said. It has happened at other schools, so it is bound to happen here, he said.
"We are trying to be as proactive as possible before an outbreak," he said.
The plan includes two tiers, education and isolation. "We are in this as a community. It is good for the whole that we have to follow these steps," he said.
The first part of the plan is education. Goldstein stressed the importance of educating the campus community about H1N1. He has started to talk to various departments on campus, about how to deal with a potential outbreak. The health center will also be distributing information via posters, in student mailboxes and the health center's website.
The next step is isolation. Goldstein stressed the importance of students taking action if they believe they may be infected with swine flu, and begin isolating themselves as soon as symptoms develop.
He said symptoms include fever, body aches and cough.
"Isolation involves separating sick students from well students," he said.
Goldstein also stressed the importance of students removing themselves from the rest of campus. The student should not attend class and or go to the dining hall. Basically, the student should be confined to his or her room.
He also said that faculty has been asked to relax some of the "tight rules in regard to excuses this semester." In the past, a Dean's excuse would be needed for an excused absence. Now, an email will work when students feel sick, Goldstein said, once again stressing the importance of students isolating themselves.
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