Lyndon State College – Novel H1N1 Influenza Update
September 2, 2009
Members of the Lyndon State College Community:
In April 2009, the federal government declared a public health emergency after several cases of Novel H1N1 (referred to as “swine flu” early on) were confirmed in the United States. On June 11, 2009, the World Health Organization declared the novel H1N1 influenza to be a pandemic.
Although the potential impact on Lyndon is impossible to predict, we must assume for the purposes of planning that we could have a severe outbreak in the fall and winter months of 2009-2010. We’d like to make you aware of on- and off-campus resources available to help you better understand this virus and make informed decisions to keep yourself healthy.
We’d also like to make you aware of ongoing planning efforts at Lyndon and to let you know how to stay informed of developments in the event an H1N1 outbreak occurs here.
General Information
Public health agencies are our best source for the most up-to-date facts and advice about:
- How best to protect yourself from H1N1 (swine) flu
- Practice good hand hygiene (frequent hand washing and use of alcohol-based hand sanitizers
- Practice respiratory etiquette. Cover sneezes and coughs.
- Symptoms to look for
- Symptoms may include fever or chills and cough or sore throat
- Also, runny nose, body ache, headache, tiredness, diarrhea, or vomiting
- What to do if you think you may have the flu
- Stay at home if you are sick. Students living on campus should try to return to their family home, if possible.
- Minimize social contact. Try to arrange for one person to provide care and meals. Try to maintain isolation until your fever has subsided without the use of fever-reducing medications for at least 24 hours.
- If you believe you are in a high risk category or if you have severe symptoms, you should seek medical attention.
- What to do if you think you may have been exposed
- Utilize hygiene practices noted above
- If you are in a high risk category, such as a pregnant woman or someone with a chronic medical condition, you should call your health care provider to determine if you should consider an antiviral treatment.
Recommended Web Sites
Campus Updates
Campus updates are available several ways:
Prevention
You can help avoid the spread of H1N1 flu—and other infectious diseases—by following CDC guidelines for keeping healthy. No single action will provide complete protection from H1N1 influenza, but an approach combining the following steps can help decrease the likelihood of transmission.
- Stay home from work or class when you are sick.
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.
- When you cough or sneeze, cover your nose and mouth with a tissue and throw the tissue away after you use it. Alternatively, cough or sneeze into clothing; i.e., your sleeve rather than your bare hands.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs and viruses spread that way.
Ongoing Planning
The Emergency Response Team (ERT) was convened in the spring of 2009 during a period of intense national and worldwide concern for a potential pandemic resulting from the spread of the H1N1 influenza virus. Pursuant to the Lyndon Crisis Communication Plan, President Moore designated the ERT members to develop emergency response and contingency plans if a pandemic crisis were to develop, and to provide for an orderly and uniform dissemination of information to the college community. The ERT will meet on a weekly basis (daily if necessary) through the fall semester with a focus on updating the pandemic response plan and providing specific recommendations to President Moore and the Deans’ Council. A listing of the ERT members appears at the end of this document.
Planning efforts have been guided by the following principles:
- To protect and support the health, safety and welfare of the students, faculty, administration, and staff, as well as the assets and property of the college;
- To maintain the commitment to fulfilling the college mission to prepare every student for personal and professional success.
- To minimize any potential influenza-related disruptions to academic programs or college operations.
- To recover as quickly and responsibly as possible from any interruptions of college operations.
Please look for further announcements in the coming weeks. We will use email, the Lyndon website and portal, posters, etc. to convey information regarding H1N1 and pandemic planning at Lyndon. You are also encouraged to forward questions or concerns to any of the ERT members listed below. Thank you in advance for your cooperation in this very important matter.
Jonathan Davis, Associate Dean for Student Affairs
Wayne Hamilton, Dean of Administration
Emergency Response Team Co-Chairs
Members of the Emergency Response Team
- Tom Archer – Physical Plant
- Jim Bozeman – Faculty Assembly Chair
- Paula Chamberlin – Health & Counseling
- Miriam Simon – Health & Counseling
- Donna Dalton – Academic & Student Affairs
- Jonathan Davis – Student Affairs (co-chair)
- Mike Dente – Information Technology
- Terry Dwyer – Physical Plant
- Sandy Franz – Human Resources
- George Hacking – Public Safety
- Wayne Hamilton – Administrative Affairs (co-chair)
- Ben Johnson – Aramark Food Services
- David Johnston – Faculty Federation Chapter Chair
- Patricia Krahnke – Admissions & Marketing
- Erin Rossetti – Residential Life
- Bob Whittaker – Institutional Advancement
- David Wood – Physical Plant
Questions?
Jonathan Davis
Associate Dean of Student Affairs
jonathan.davis@lyndonstate.edu
802-626-6418