Pandemic Flu Response Plan
CLICK HERE to download the Response plan for Pandemic Flu
Special message regarding H1N1 flu
August 21, 2009
Dear Abbey student,
As you prepare to arrive on campus for the upcoming academic year, we want to share with you important information about the H1N1 virus, more commonly known as “swine flu.” Illness with this new virus has ranged from mild to severe. Though most people who have been sick have recovered without needing medical treatment, hospitalizations and deaths from infection with this virus have occurred on rare occasions. The college has not experienced any cases of the illness.
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the US Department of Health and Human Services recommend households (and students) have supplies on hand to participate in their own care. Items you should have readily available in your living space, whether on or off campus include:
- Thermometer
- Tissues
- Fever reducers
- Cold/flu medications
- Alcohol-based hand sanitizer
- Disinfectant wipes
Many of these items are available for purchase in the Campus book store and Wal-Mart in Abbey Plaza. These supplies are also available at local pharmacies, grocery stores and discount stores. The Wellness center will have an emergency but limited supply of these products.
It is also important that we have current emergency contact and address information on every student so we can contact the proper persons if needed in the event of an emergency. You should update your emergency contact information as soon as possible.
The important first step in reducing the spread of the flu (whether seasonal or the H1NI strain) is to help students understand ways to reduce their risk of getting the flu. The Wellness Center will conduct an awareness campaign this fall to better educate students, faculty and staff on personal prevention measures, including proper hand washing techniques and effective cough/sneeze etiquette. In the meantime, we ask that you follow these recommendations outlined by the CDC:
- Wash hands frequently and thoroughly (20 seconds or more) with soap and water or use alcohol-based hand cleaner when soap and water are not available.
- Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. If a tissue is unavailable, cough or sneeze into your bent elbow to reduce spray and to avoid hand contamination.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
- Students who are sick with an influenza-like illness (ILI) (fever of 100.4 or above plus at least cough or sore throat and possibly other symptoms like runny nose, body aches, headaches, chills, fatigue, vomiting and diarrhea) should consult with their medical provider, Health Services or other local medical agency as to whether they should attend classes. Generally, the CDC recommendation is to keep away from others as much as possible; including avoiding travel, for at least 24 hours after fever is gone except to get medical care or for other necessities. (Fever should be gone without the use of fever-reducing medicine). If, after contacting a health care provider, it is determined you should not attend classes, notify your faculty member(s) immediately.
- Students with influenza-like illness should not participate in other academic activities, work-study, internships or athletics until they are fever-free for 24 hours.
- Students should avoid close contact (i.e. being within about 6 feet) with persons that are ill with these symptoms.
Students will also want to read the CDC publication H1N1 Flu and You. The link to this publication is: http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/qa.htm
We do want to advise students and parents that in the event of an outbreak, sick or affected students may be advised to go home for several days to recuperate. We will work with students to maintain their academic progress to the greatest extent possible.
We encourage students to take advantage of the flu vaccines offered by Health Services this fall. While these shots do NOT protect against H1N1, they will limit susceptibility to other strains of flu. When the swine flu vaccine becomes available, Health Services will inform students of the time and location to obtain vaccinations.
The amount of media attention paid to the H1N1 virus has understandably created concern among many people. Please know that Belmont Abbey College is ready to handle any situation that arises and that our communication to you is a top priority as conditions unfold.
Please feel free to call the Health and Wellness Center 704 461 6877 if you have any questions.
Sincerely,
Dr. Lucas Lamadrid Vice President for Enrollment and Student Affairs
Claudina Ghianni FNP, MPH Director Health and Wellness Center
Dear Belmont Abbey Students,
We hope that this email finds you off to a good start to the fall semester at BAC. As we enter flu season, we want to make you aware of the College’s recommendations with regard to seasonal and the H1N1 Flu virus. Please take a few minutes to read this message carefully.
As we continue this semester, there are several important actions you can take:
First and foremost, don’t go to work, class or group activities such as practice and meetings when you’re sick with flu symptoms. Do not try to “tough it out.”
* In order to limit the spread of disease, everyone on campus must consider it a mark of good citizenship to stay home from work and class at the first sign of influenza symptoms (fever of 100 degrees F/37.8 degrees C or higher with cough or sore throat) until at least 24 hours after you have been completely fever-free (without fever-reducing medication). For most people, this takes 3 to 5 days.
* Communicate with your instructor if you have to miss classes or a deadline due to illness. You are responsible for obtaining class notes that you have missed and for making up assignments, papers or exams within a reasonable period of time. Your instructors are being asked to address these issues. Any extension of time for completion of assignments, examinations, or projects/papers for any reason must be prearranged and approved by your instructor at his or her discretion and will only be granted in extreme extenuating circumstances
* You do not need to present a medical excuse for brief illness-related absences. You do need to communicate to your instructor that you will not be in class and make arrangements for any missed assignments, projects, papers, or exams.
* Take basic precautions, but don’t let a fear of flu interfere with your activities. While we want to give you tools and information for dealing with this unusual semester, we don’t want to make you uncomfortable interacting with other people in your classrooms or around campus.
* Remember that people may still sneeze in class due to allergies or cough due to a cold. Simply being in the same room with other people is not considered a high-risk activity.
* Support your own good health with frequent hand washing and trying to avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth. Influenza virus spreads through close contact with respiratory droplets, which generally means touching a contaminated surface with your hands and then touching your hands to your face. These hygiene measures are among the most powerful precautions you can take for yourself, as it will be impossible for every surface to be disinfected every time anyone touches it.
We wish you a very healthy and productive semester at the College. Thank you for your cooperation. For more information about the H1N1 flu please check this website regularly. http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/
Dr. Lucas Lamadrid
Vice President for Enrollment Management
& Student Affairs
Belmont Abbey College
100 Belmont-Mt Holly Rd
Belmont, North Carolina 28012
