Health Issues

An email I received from Jessica Lofland, Director of Student Services.

Today a student went to the nurse with a 101 degree fever and a sore throat. The student was bound and determined to go to class and to participate in practice this afternoon. After much discussion, he finally decided to stay home for at least the afternoon to rest.

My point? A fever indicates an infection that the body is trying to fight. During the time when a person has a fever, they are very often contagious. Whether it is the flu (H1N1 or seasonal), strep throat, mono, or the chicken pox, the students need to limit their contact with others while they have a fever. We, as faculty and staff members, need encourage ill students to stay home, rest and get healthy. Please remind your students that it is in the best interests of the entire campus community to get healthy rather than spread a germ.

• Cover your cough—cough into a tissue or your sleeve, not your hand.
  
• Wash your hands—at least 20 seconds or sing “Happy Birthday” through twice.

• Use alcohol-based hand sanitizer if you cannot wash your hands.

• Stay home if you are sick—self-isolate until you have been fever-free for at least 24-hours without the help of medication.

If your students contact you to let you know they are sick, please ask them to contact the Student Affairs Office at 349-1360 so that we can notify all of their instructors. We also will work with students on-campus to make arrangements for meal delivery and to help them with other needs.