SEE H1N1 FLU INFO BELOW

CERTIFICATION OF ILLNESS Document (Read Directions Below)

Our mission is to support the personal growth and development of the students by offering an integrated approach to address the physical as well as the emotional well-being of those needing our services.

"Good Health" and "life as a University student" are not always a perfect match. Good health is comprised of both physical and emotional well-being. It is the goal of Shepherd University's Student Health Services to provide guidance to our students in their pursuit of good health. We believe it is better to be an educated health care consumer and an active member of the health care team, than a passive recipient of medical services.

Please call to schedule an appointment."Walk-in" visits will be worked in ONLY as the schedule permits. EMERGENCY visits are given priority. Inform the receptionist of the emergency, or in case of a LIFE THREATENING EMERGENCY call 9-911 (on-campus) and 911(off-campus).

In non-emergency situations, and if the Health Center is closed, visit a local medical facility. Students are responsible for any special charges incurred through Health Services or other offsite medical facility.

H1N1 FLU INFORMATION

What you can do to stay Healthy:  There are everyday actions people can take to stay healthy. General Public Recommendations for Current Situation are:

• Prevention, which involves staying away from others who are ill;
• Handwashing; Wash your hands frequently with soap and water, or hand sanitizer.
• Maintain & clean surfaces where hand contact occurs.
• Avoid touching eyes, mouth, or nose;
• Cover coughs and sneezes (with a tissue if possible and throw the tissue in trash
  immediately); or cough/sneeze into elbow bend (not hands).
• Avoid crowds or heavily congested settings.
• Avoid touching surfaces that could be contaminated by swine flu droplets from coughs, sneezing or contaminated hand contact.
• Get plenty of rest, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of liquids, and eat nutritious food.

To Prevent “Regular & H1N1 Swine” Flu - Good Advice:

Dr. Vinay Goyal is an MBBS,DRM,DNB (Intensivist and Thyroid specialist) having clinical experience of over 20 years. He has worked in institutions like Hinduja Hospital , Bombay Hospital , Saifee Hospital , Tata Memorial etc. Presently, he is heading our Nuclear Medicine Department and Thyroid clinic at Riddhivinayak Cardiac and Critical Centre, Malad (W).

The following message given by him makes a lot of sense and is important for all to know; The only portals of entry are the nostrils and mouth/throat. In a global epidemic of this nature, it's almost impossible to avoid coming into contact with H1N1 in spite of all precautions. Contact with H1N1 is not so much of a problem as proliferation is.

While you are still healthy and not showing any symptoms of H1N1 infection, in order to prevent proliferation, aggravation of symptoms and development of secondary infections, some very simple steps, not fully highlighted in most official communications, can be practiced (instead of focusing on how to stock N95 or Tamiflu):

1. Frequent hand-washing (well highlighted in all official communications) .

2. "Hands-off-the- face" approach. Resist all temptations to touch any part of face (unless you want to eat, bathe or slap).

3. *Gargle twice a day with warm salt water (use Listerine if you don't trust salt). *H1N1 takes 2-3 days after initial infection in the throat/ nasal cavity to proliferate and show characteristic symptoms. Simple gargling prevents proliferation. In a way, gargling with salt water has the same effect on a healthy individual that Tamiflu has on an infected one. Don't underestimate this simple, inexpensive and powerful preventative method.

4. Similar to 3 above, *clean your nostrils at least once every day with warm salt water . *Not everybody may be good at Jala Neti or Sutra Neti (very good Yoga asanas to clean nasal cavities), but *blowing the nose hard once a day and swabbing both nostrils with cotton buds dipped in warm salt water is very effective in bringing down viral population.

*Neti pot s and sinus rinse kits are available at the drug store and relatively inexpensive….under $15.

5. *Boost your natural immunity with foods that are rich in Vitamin C (Amla and other citrus fruits). *If you have to supplement with Vitamin C tablets, make sure that it also has Zinc to boost absorption.

6. *Drink as much of warm liquids (tea, coffee, etc) as you can. *Drinking warm liquids has the same effect as gargling, but in the reverse direction. They wash off proliferating viruses from the throat into the stomach where they cannot survive, proliferate or do any harm.

If you pay attention to this advice, it just may save you days of illness, and for some, possibly your life!

Symptoms:

Persons with a fever and cough or sore throat,and sometimes body aches, headache, chills and fatigue (and sometimes vomiting and/or diarrhea) should STAY HOME from work or school to avoid spreading infections, including influenza and other respiratory illnesses, to others in their communities. 

Take your temperature.(Not everyone with flu will have a fever).

Treat the symptoms with over the counter medications (ie: Tylenol / Ibuprofen for fever over 100 or pain, body aches; cough medicine; decongestants; warm salt water gargles for sore throat…)

If you have flu symptoms, send someone you know to get items that you need. Check with the Health Center or your RA for details.

CDC recommends keeping a 6 foot distance between a sick person & well person, and to use good hygiene/cleaning practices to prevent contamination of others & of items.

TREATMENT AVAILABLE FOR SERIOUSLY ILL

If you suspect that you might have H1N1 "swine" flu, you can contact your health care provider, or please CALL the Student Health Center at 304-876-5161, and we will direct you toward the proper care and treatment.

The CDC expects that MOST people will recover without needing medical care.

ANTIVIRAL DRUGS can be given to treat those who become or who could become SEVERELY ILL with influenza. They must be prescribed by a health care provider…The drugs work best if given within 2 days of becoming ill, but may be given later if illness is severe or for those at high risk for complications [people age 65 and older, children under 5 years old, pregnant women, and PEOPLE OF ANY AGE WITH CHRONIC MEDICAL CONDITIONS (such as asthma, diabetes, or heart disease), and people who are immunosupressed].

The CDC now advises that “Students, faculty or staff who live either on or off campus and who have ILI ( influenza like illness – see above symptoms) should SELF ISOLATE (ie:, stay away from others) in their dorm room or home for at least 24 hours after their fever is gone except to get medical care or for other necessities (their fever should be gone without the use of a fever – reducing medicine). They should keep away from others as much as possible, to keep from making others sick." For more information, access the CDC website listed below.

In adults, EMERGENCY WARNING SIGNS that need urgent medical attention include:

• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
• Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
• Sudden dizziness
• Confusion
• Severe or persistent vomiting

Shepherd University is following the guidance of the Centers for Disease Control regarding influenza –response.

The CDC is encouraging all persons who have flu-like symptoms to SELF-ISOLATE until the illness has passed. Only persons with special conditions should immediately see a doctor if they have flu-like symptoms.  The CDC hopes that self-isolation strategies will slow the spread of flu around the country.

The CDC has urged colleges and universities to modify, where possible, policies that make it difficult to follow their recommendation of self-isolation.  In support of that guidance, Shepherd University has adopted a CERTIFICATION OF ILLNESS form which employees or students can use this flu season in lieu of medical documentation when absent due to the flu.  It is the responsibility of each student to coordinate with their instructors on the manner in which absences due to illness will be managed.

Employees and students are advised that the use of this form constitutes a legal certification that they genuinely isolated themselves for the period that they designate.  Completion of this form by persons who did not engage in self-isolation due to flu-symptoms is a fraud on the University.

CERTIFICATION OF ILLNESS Document (print and bring in to your instructor when you are well.) BELOW

When the H1N1 vaccine becomes available, probably January '10, staff and students will be informed right away (there is the possiblility that there will be little notice as to when the vaccine will be given to us). At that time flu clinics will be held.

We strongly recommend, again, that all staff and students get the regular flu shot as early as possible this year. (Many providers, like us, have nearly or already run out of the vaccine.)

Finally, H1N1 flu (formerly "swine" flu) is NOT spread by eating food.  You do NOT get it by eating pork.   Eating properly handled and cooked pork products is safe.

  Please read the H1N1 flu information, and swine flu updates access the link below

http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/sick.htm

Press Release | What is it? | To the Faculty and Students