How Bethel is Preparing for H1N1 Flu
Staying Healthy
Treatment and Response
Monitoring Outbreaks
Vaccinations
Classes, Work, and Other Activities in the Case of Illness
Further Communication
Resources

H1N1 Protocol for BSOE Community

How Bethel is Preparing for H1N1 Flu

-Bethel’s Health Services is closely monitoring Minnesota Health Department updates on the status of H1N1 and will follow any guidance from the state or federal governments regarding this virus.

-Members of the Crisis Management Team are meeting regularly to ensure that we keep our community as healthy as possible and that we’re prepared to respond quickly in the event of an outbreak.

-Bethel has taken additional measures to encourage healthy habits among the Bethel community, including posting hand-washing signs in the bathrooms; installing anti-bacterial hand sanitizer dispensers in critical locations; and providing bottles of hand sanitizer to incoming students (in mid-September).

Staying Healthy

-The symptoms of H1N1 include fever (above 100º F), cough, sore throat, stuffy nose, and in some cases diarrhea and vomiting.

-H1N1 is spread when a person with flu coughs or sneezes and you come in contact with these airborne particles. It may be contracted by touching something with flu viruses on it, then touching your eyes, nose, or mouth.

-It is essential that you do your best to stay healthy by following this advice:

-Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue every time you cough or sneeze. Throw the used tissue in the waste basket.

-If you don’t have a tissue, sneeze or cough into your sleeve.

-Clean your hands often and thoroughly with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand cleaner.

-Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth.

-Avoid close contact with people who are sick, if possible.

-Stay healthy: eat nutritious foods, get enough sleep, and exercise.

Treatment and Response

-If you are experiencing conditions such as a fever, cough, and/or sore throat that concern you, please consult your health care provider or call Bethel Health Services at 651.638.6215. Because self-isolation is recommended for those with H1N1, you’re advised to call your care provider or Bethel Health Services before coming in for a visit.

-It is recommended that students have a thermometer in their dorm room. If students need a thermometer, disposable thermometers are available in Health Services or residence hall RA shacks.

-If you have multiple symptoms of H1N1, including a fever, you should try to self-isolate yourself as much as possible. This self-isolation means that you should avoid public areas as much as possible and not attend class, work, or extracurricular activities. (see Classes, Work, and Other Activities in the Case of Illness section below). Bethel is also working to identify possible alternate housing options for students in the case of illness.

Monitoring Outbreaks

If employees or students have been diagnosed with H1N1 or have multiple symptoms, including a fever, you are asked to notify Health Services at health-services@bethel.edu. Information voluntarily offered about suspected cases will be continually gathered to help identify clusters of illness in our community. For example, it is important for Bethel to know if several students in one residence hall have H1N1, so that we can be aware of and better respond to any outbreaks.

Vaccinations

When the H1N1 vaccine is first available, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are recommending that programs and providers try to vaccinate:
-pregnant women,
-people who live with or care for children younger than 6 months of age,
-health care and emergency medical services personnel, persons between the ages of 6 months through 24 years of age, and
-people from ages 25 through 64 years who are at higher risk for novel H1N1 because of chronic health disorders or compromised immune systems.

Similar to previous years, Bethel will offer seasonal influenza vaccine clinics in the late fall at the Community Health Fair. We are also working with the Minnesota Department of Health to see if it is possible for Bethel to offer H1N1 vaccine clinics when that specific vaccine becomes available.

Classes, Work, and Other Activities in the Case of Illness

-If you are showing signs of H1N1, including a fever over 100ºF, please do not attend class, work, or other extracurricular activities.

-Faculty members and supervisors are asked to accommodate students or employees who need to miss class or work due to illness.

-Students and employees must communicate with the appropriate faculty members and supervisors as soon as they are aware that they may miss class or work.

-We will monitor any outbreaks of H1N1 among the Bethel population. Should there be a need to cancel any classes or events, the decision will be made by the Crisis Management Team in coordination with government officials, and the community would be notified via email and/or the Bethel Alert System.

Further Communication

Regular updates on the H1N1 situation will be communicated via Bethel E-Announcements. If an urgent situation develops, you will receive information via email and/or the Bethel Alert system. Please remember that you are responsible to check these communication channels on a regular basis.

Resources

Bethel Health Services
health-services@bethel.edu
651.638.6215

Minnesota Department of Health
www.health.state.mn.us
Hotline: 877.676.5414
TTY: 651.201.5797

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
www.cdc.gov/h1n1/
800.CDC.INFO (800.232.4636)
TTY: 888.232.6348