Update

As of today, there are no cases of influenza-like illness at Westmont.

The Westmont College Health Center has received another shipment of the 2009 H1N1 vaccine. Students may drop by when the Health Center is open to get vaccinated. All students, not just those who are at highest risk, may be vaccinated at this time.

Faculty and staff wishing to be vaccinated can contact their health-care provider or see the information under Prevention below.

H1N1 Update: Westmont Takes Precautions

Students on virtually every campus across the nation have become ill with the virus. We can’t completely control the impact influenza may have, but the Westmont Student Health Center is taking steps to mitigate its effect on campus. We are implementing the following actions in accordance with recommendations from the Center for Disease Control.

Education

The Student Health Center is providing information to students, faculty and staff regarding preventive measures, symptoms of H1N1 and when to seek medical care. This education occurs through e-mail messages, materials distributed by R.A.s and material on the Westmont Web site.

Prevention
  1. Novel H1N1 vaccine is available for students at the Health Center, and we encourage faculty and staff to arrange with their health care providers to be vaccinated as well.
  2. To avoid becoming ill, students, faculty and staff should take the following precautions:
    • Wash your hands thoroughly and often for 20 seconds or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
    • Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
    • Cough or sneeze into your elbow or a tissue and properly dispose of used tissues.
    • Avoid contact with people who are ill, especially if they have a fever and cough.
    • Clean living quarters and offices frequently, wiping down frequently touched surfaces such as: doorknobs, handrails, desks, tables, chairs, counters and surfaces.
    • Ask your health-care provider if you should be vaccinated and if you are at high risk for complications from H1N1.
    • Practice good health habits including adequate sleep, eating nutritious food and keeping physically active.
  3. Hand sanitizers have been installed in various locations on campus with the expectation that students, faculty and staff will use them frequently.
  4. We ask students to assemble Cold and Flu Kits to have on hand in case they become ill. These kits should include:
    • Thermometer to take your temperature
    • Alcohol wipes to clean  the thermometer
    • Fever-reducing medication such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibufrofen (Advil)
    • Bottled water, sports drinks, soups and juices and liquids to stay hydrated
    • Tissues to contain respiratory secretions
    • Soap for hand washing
    • Hand sanitizer (like Purell) to be used if hand-washing facilities are not available
    • Trash bags to dispose of waste products (e.g., tissues, plastic and paper products)
    • Surgical mask to use around other people to help avoid the spread of the virus
  5. Westmont custodial services have increased efforts to clean frequently touched surfaces to cut down on the spread of germs.
  6. The Health Center will provide antiviral medication as a preventative measure for students with high-risk health conditions who have been in close contact with someone known to have influenza.
  7. We encourage students, faculty and staff to take personal responsibility for helping to slow the spread of flu should anyone on campus become ill. Your actions will not only keep you healthy but protect others as well.
Response and Treatment

Individual experiencing flu symptoms should isolate themselves, and those around them should take specified precautions.

  1. When the following flu symptoms are severe or persistent, seek medical care. All students with these symptoms must report to the Health Center, where the staff will examine, test and treat them and develop a care plan. Faculty and staff should consult their personal physician.
    • Sudden fever or chills with cough and sore throat
    • Body aches and pains
    • Headache
    • Runny nose
    • Unexplained fatigue
    • Vomiting and diarrhea
  2. Everyone who has symptoms of influenza will be required to remain in isolation and limit contact with others until 24 hours after the fever has ended without the use of fever-reducing medicines.
    • Students:
      • Isolation will be accomplished by having student remain in their room. Both the student with influenza and their roommates will be given instruction on how to best minimize transmission of the H1N1 virus. The only exception to this protocol would be in a situation where the roommate has an underlying chronic illness. In this case the student with H1N1 will be moved to another area.
      • The Office of Advising and Disability Services and the residence life staff will help students who are ill get food, notify professors about missed classes and assignments and provide other support as necessary.
    • Faculty and staff:
      • Faculty and staff with influenza should stay home and not come to work to avoid bringing their illness to others on campus.
  3. Precautions for students whose roommates are ill or for others in close proximity to individuals with flu symptoms:
    • Limit your contact with the sick person and try to maintain a distance of 6 feet from him or her.
    • If close contact cannot be avoided, the sick person should wear a surgical mask, if tolerable, when around you and other people.
    • Frequently clean commonly touched surfaces, preferably using alcohol-based wipes.
Ongoing Response

The Student Health Center will monitor developments on campus and elsewhere and will collaborate with Westmont’s Situation Readiness & Response Team as appropriate.

The Westmont Health Center will stay in touch with the Santa Barbara County Health Department to get the latest information about H1N1.

For more information, please consult the Web sites and resources listed below.

The Swine Flu Phone Line has information on the status of the H1N1 outbreak. The public can call 1-888-722-6358 for updated recorded information in both English and Spanish, 24 hours a day.