• e2 Campus Signup Sheet
• H1N1 Flu FAQs
• H1N1 Flu Health Update

La Sierra University is taking precautions to reduce the potential for the spread of H1N1 flu if the need should arise on our campus.

To minimize transmission on campus, any student, faculty member or staff person who becomes sick with the flu is encouraged to stay away from campus, out of the classroom or office, until they become symptom-free. Watch for the standard flu symptoms, including fever (100 degrees or higher), cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Some people have reported diarrhea and vomiting associated with H1N1 Flu.

Faculty members need to begin making plans now to accommodate students who contract H1N1 Flu during the academic instructional periods. It is the intent of Administration that NO student will be penalized academically for work missed while recovering from H1N1 Flu. We do not want students feeling pressure to attend classes for fear of suffering academic penalty while they are infectious. Faculty members need to:

• Inform students about plans and procedures for providing and completing course work.
• Assess the possibility of altering course-work requirements
• Provide on-going assignments by e-mail, internet links, phone, teleconferencing, or calling into recorded messages.
• Gather students’ email addresses and phone/cell numbers for use in communicating class information in a timely fashion
• Consider providing distance learning instructional materials for their students
• Consult with university health services personnel about students with health care needs
• Review how to accommodate students, particularly international students, who must remain on campus during any potential pandemic outbreak

Administration is reviewing and planning precautions to protect employees from exposure to the influenza virus during any pandemic. The following approach is being implemented regarding employees who may have contracted the H1N1 Flu virus:

1. ANYONE with flu-like symptoms shall not remain at work or in engage in any organized activity.
2. Employees are expected to stay away from work or leave work if they have flu-like symptoms.
3. Employees with flu-like symptoms should be tested as soon as possible by Health Services or their own physician.
4. Departments will seek to limit or eliminate non-essential social interaction of students or employees.

While we are still early in this world-wide situation, public health officials recommend several health practices you can start doing on a regular basis to lessen the chance you will contract the virus:

• Washing your hands often will help protect you from germs. Wash with soap and water, or clean with alcohol-based hand cleaner. We recommend that when you wash your hands -- with soap and warm water -- that you wash for 15 to 20 seconds.
  
  
• When soap and water are not available, alcohol-based disposable hand wipes or gel sanitizers may be used.
  
  
• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. It may prevent those around you from getting sick. Put your used tissue in the waste basket. Cover your cough or sneeze if you do not have a tissue. Then, clean your hands, and do so every time you cough or sneeze.
  
  
• Try to stay in good general health. Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids, and eat nutritious food. Try not to touch surfaces that may be contaminated with the flu virus.
  
  
• Practice social distancing from people exhibiting flu-like symptoms, including avoiding personal contact, and practicing alternate greeting techniques instead of traditional hand-shaking.

Administration will continue to update the campus with additional steps as the flu situation unfolds in our area. You may also sign up for emergency notifications via text message by registering your cell phone with e2campus. Phones need to be SMS capable and standard text message fees may apply for this service.

U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC):www.cdc.gov/swineflu

World Health Organization (WHO):
http://www.who.int/csr/disease/swineflu/en/index.html

For current information about the situation in our local Riverside area:

Riverside County Community Health Agency Department of Public Health Information Hotline: (951) 955-2000
Web: http://news.co.riverside.ca.us/swineflu/