Fight the Flu - If You Get Sick

Know the symptoms of the flu.  According to the CDC, the symptoms of the influenza A H1N1 flu virus in people are similar to the symptoms of seasonal flu and include:

• Fever over 100 degrees, may be accompanied by chills
• Cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose
• Body aches and headache
• Severe fatigue 

• A significant number of people who have been infected with the influenza A H1N1 also have reported diarrhea and vomiting.  

What to do if you experience flu-like illness

• Community members (students, faculty and staff) who are sick with a flu-like illness (fever with cough and/or sore throat) should isolate themselves until they have been without a fever for 24 hours, without the use of fever reducing medicines.  This is to keep from infecting others and spreading the virus further.   This isolation should extend to not attending classes, internships, field placements, student activities, athletics, and other events.  

• The majority of people with the flu will not need medical treatment.  Students or staff experiencing flu-like illness may telephone their health care provider or Clark College Health Services (360-992-2264) for advice.  It is preferable to contact the office by telephone to avoid exposing other students and staff to the flu.

• Please do not bring children who are recuperating from the flu to campus.  If they are not able to attend school, they should be cared for at home.

• Students who need to isolate themselves or need to stay home to care for an ill child need to contact their faculty by e-mail or phone as soon as possible to communicate their situation.

• The current recommendation in Clark County is to perform specific tests for H1N1 only people hospitalized with flu-like illness.  Therefore it is important to follow these guidelines as it may not be possible to determine whether you have seasonal influenza or H1N1.

Please note:  We know that some faculty have historically adopted attendance policies that allow students a certain number of absences without penalty.   We strongly advise that students should always be attending class when they are not ill, because students may need to miss class if they later become ill with the flu. 

 

Be prepared!

Have a “flu kit” on hand. Many companies sell pre-packaged kits, but this can be assembled at home for a very low cost.  This should include:

• A thermometer

• Medications such as acetaminophen (i.e.; Tylenol) or ibuprofen (i.e. Advil)

• Tissues

• Sports drinks such as Gatorade or Propel.  These now come in powdered form to mix with water.

• Hand wipes or hand sanitizers to prevent spreading the virus to others.