RN to BSN Program
Pandemic Flu Information
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Edinboro University's Response
How worried should I be about this new strain?
The first rule of thumb is that there is no cause to panic. So far, H1N1 flu has not been more threatening than regular seasonal flu. During the initial life-cycle of this new strain, both hospitalizations and deaths from it appear lower than averages experienced with the seasonal flu. What's more, there has been no dramatic mutation of the virus. We're urged by health officials to be cautiously vigilant, however, because H1N1 remained firmly entrenched during the summer months, when flu usually takes a vacation.
In dealing with potential cases of H1N1, has Edinboro University changed normal operations?
Currently, there are no changes to university operations or activities as a result of the pandemic.
How can I make sure I'm up to date with what's happening on campus?
Edinboro's home page has links to the most up-to-date H1N1 information. Simply go to www.edinboro.edu and click on to "Pandemic Flu Information."
When will the University decide whether to cancel or postpone classes or events?
Our professionals at the Ghering Health and Wellness Center, as well as our health and safety officer, are in regular consultations with the Erie County and Pennsylvania Health Departments and other relevant agencies. In concert with our professionals, the Campus Emergency Response Team and President Brown will follow the advice and recommendations issued by those departments in the event of public health emergency. Further action, including facility closures, will be carried out at the direction of these public health departments.
Will Edinboro University provide flu shots?
Employee shots for the seasonal flu are now being scheduled through the Commonwealth's Web site. Students, faculty and staff will be notified when more information about the availability and distribution of the H1N1 flu vaccine is released. When it becomes available, those identified in high-risk groups (children under two, pregnant women, those with health issues like asthma, diabetes and heart disease) are urged to get their shots early. It has also been determined that teens and young adults are more vulnerable to this flu strain. The campus community will be notified when and where the H1N1 vaccinations are available.
What should I do if I think I have the flu?
If you have a fever, you should see your health care provider or visit the Ghering Health and Wellness Center. Then, if you have mild flu symptoms, you are urged to stay home or in your residence hall room to avoid making others sick. You should remain at home or in your room, except to get medical care or for other necessities until your fever has been gone for at least 24 hours without fever-reducing medications. Additional advice about how to avoid spreading the flu is available from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
If you have severe flu symptoms, or if you are at high risk for complications from the flu, please seek medical care. (People at high risk for flu complications include those with such conditions as diabetes, asthma and cardiac issues). Your health care provider will decide whether flu testing or treatment is needed.
- Students with flu-like symptoms may call their personal health care providers, or the Ghering Health and Wellness Center 814-732-2743.
- Faculty and staff members should call their own personal health care providers.
Exactly what are "severe" symptoms?
You should seek immediate medical advice if you have any of these symptoms:
- Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath;
- Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen;
- Sudden dizziness;
- Confusion;
- Severe or persistent vomiting;
- Flu-like symptoms that improve, then return with fever and a more severe cough;
- Severe headache or neck stiffness; and/or
- Difficulty swallowing fluids.
Can the University require that I go home or stay home if I am not feeling well?
Edinboro University employees are urged not come to work sick, and students should not attend class sick.
Edinboro's supervisory personnel have the responsibility to keep our employees healthy and safe. You might be sent home if you come to work with severe flu-like symptoms. Supervisors should consult Human Resources if they have concerns about an employee's health. At the same time, faculty members have the responsibility to keep their classes healthy and can send home students with severe flu-like symptoms to avoid spreading infection to the entire class.
What are the general symptoms of H1N1?
Once again, H1N1 symptoms are similar to those of the regular seasonal flu: fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, runny nose, fatigue, sometimes nausea, vomiting or diarrhea. A mere case of the sniffles or a mild cold should not cause alarm.
However, please contact your health care provider if you're worried about symptoms you're having. Only your health care provider can determine whether influenza testing or treatment is needed. If you are sick, stay home and avoid contact with other people as much as possible to keep from spreading your illness to others. If you become ill and experience any of the following warning signs, seek immediate medical care.
Warning signs in childrenthat that need urgent medical attention include but are not limited to:
- Fast breathing or trouble breathing;
- Bluish skin color;
- Not drinking enough fluids;
- Not waking up or not interacting;
- Being so irritable the child does not want to be held;
- Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough;
- Fever with a rash
In adults, such emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include, but are not limited to:
- Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
- Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
- Sudden dizziness
- Confusion
- Severe or persistent vomiting
Consult your doctor if you are not able to treat your illness effectively at home.
A co-worker, student or classmate went home sick with possible H1N1 flu. What should I do?
Respond in the same way you would if your classmate or co-worker had the regular flu bug. No special precautions or actions are recommended for healthy individuals exposed to the H1N1 virus. Continue to come to work or go to class as usual. The latest advice for protecting yourself, your family and your community from the H1N1 flu is available at http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/sick.htm.
What if a family member or my child/children get sick? Can I stay home to care for them?
In the event a family member is ill, please contact your supervisor immediately to discuss the situation and make appropriate arrangements. Employees are to use leave time for absences. When in doubt, contact Human Resources for more information.
Is Edinboro University prepared to handle the so-called "pandemic"?
Yes. Edinboro's Campus Emergency Response Team has been meeting for months in discussions relating to H1N1. The University, as part of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education, also has a comprehensive pandemic plan that deals with emergency contingencies while implementing a business continuity plan should there be a widespread campus outbreak of H1N1. In fact, Edinboro has actively prepared for the eventuality of a flu pandemic for several years. Plans and procedures are in place to ensure an effective response.
Remember, "pandemic" does not refer to the severity of a contagious disease or illness, but only to how geographically widespread it might be.
Under President Brown, the Campus Emergency Response Team and Ghering Health and Wellness Center professionals continue to closely monitor the ongoing global pandemic so as to best protect our campus and our facilities in Erie and Meadville. Ghering Health and Wellness Center representatives are regularly in contact with the Erie County and Pennsylvania Health Departments.
Edinboro's housekeeping and custodial staffs have been trained by the Erie County Health Department in sanitizing procedures; good hygiene advisory posters have been placed in key, high-traffic locations, and hands-sanitizing dispensers are being installed throughout our campus and will be refilled as needed.
What should I do if I have flu-like symptoms or have actually been diagnosed with the flu?
Pregnant women and people who have chronic medical conditions (asthma, diabetes, cystic fibrosis, heart disease) or who are immune-compromised, are at greater risk for developing severe illness from the flu. If you have these conditions and develop flu-like symptoms, immediately contact the Ghering Health and Wellness Center or your health-care provider.
If you do not have underlying health issues and develop mild flu-like symptoms, go home to recuperate. You may return to work or school once you have recovered and are fever-free for at least 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medicines. If you live in a residence hall and cannot go home, contact Residence Life for assistance in making arrangements for special accommodations. (You will need to wear a mask whenever you leave your room or receive delivered meals.)
If you have the flu, please take the following actions:
- Isolate yourself in your room or at home until 24 hours after fever has cleared without the use of fever-reducing medications. If you reside with another person, you might want to consider wearing a mask to prevent the spread of your illness.
- Let someone know you are sick. Ask a friend or family member to check on you daily while you're ill.
- Cover all coughs and sneezes with disposable tissue and immediately discard used tissue into a trash receptacle.
- Frequently wash your hands with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer, especially after cough, sneezing or wiping your nose.
- Increase your fluid intake.
- Have personal care items available to treat flu-like symptoms. These include hand sanitizers, tissues, over-the-counter medicines, a thermometer and fluids. Since it could take a week to recover from the flu, make sure you have enough supplies available.
What is the self-treatment?
You may take over-the-counter medications as needed for relief of many flu-like symptoms. Ghering Health and Wellness Center professionals or your health care provider or pharmacist can advise you in this regard.
What about student/faculty/staff travel abroad?
Since H1N1 has been spread globally, current or prospective travelers are encouraged to read the CDC's advice for travelers at: http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/.
How should I prepare for my trip?
Travelers from the United States going to countries with a large number of reported cases are at risk of contracting the disease. Persons with chronic conditions such as diabetes, lung disease, and heart disease are recommended to take anti-viral medications for prevention of H1N1 influenza during travel. The recommended antiviral drugs for H1N1 influenza are Tamiflu® and Relenza®.
Talk with your doctor, however, about correct indications for using influenza anti-viral medications. For more information about what to do if you become sick while traveling outside the United States, visit http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/contentSurvivalGuide.aspx.
Where should I seek medical care while traveling?
Always seek medical care if you are severely ill. Try not to travel while you are sick except to get local medical care. If you need to find local care, a U.S. consulate officer can help you locate medical services and will inform your family or friends in the United States of your illness.
To contact the U.S. Embassy or consulate in the country you are visiting, call the Overseas Citizens Services at:
- 1-888-407-4747 if calling from the U.S. or Canada
- 00 1 202-501-4444 if calling from overseas; or
- Find your local U.S. Embassy at http://www.usembassy.gov/.
What should I do after my return from an area that has reported cases of H1N1 flu?
- Closely monitor your health for seven days.
- If you become ill with fever and/or other symptoms of H1N1 flu, such as coughing and sore throat and possibly vomiting and diarrhea during this period, call your doctor or clinic for an appointment right away. Your doctor may test you for influenza and decide whether influenza anti-viral treatment is indicated.
- When you make the appointment, tell the doctor the following:
- Your symptoms;
- Where you traveled; and
- Whether you had close contact with a person infected with H1N1 flu.
Avoid leaving your home while sick except to get local medical care, or as instructed by your doctor. Do not go to work or school while you are ill, and wear a surgical mask where in contact with other people.
With all the media coverage, is there more reason for concern about H1N1 than there is about seasonal flu?
Once again, the best advice we've heard is to not panic! The common sense approach in keeping any flu virus from spreading always works best. For those with flu-like symptoms, the same precautions you've observed in the past when dealing with contagious illnesses will again serve you well.
Edinboro University's Campus Emergency Response Team, as well as the Ghering Health and Wellness professionals, will periodically keep you informed and updated as to the latest developments in regard to H1N1.
