College Health Service reminds community about prevention, care
Flu season is approaching and this year there is heightened concern over
possible outbreaks of various viral infections, including avian flu. Dr. John
Turco, Director of the Dartmouth
College Health Service, recently sent a letter to students and employees
addressing these concerns and reminding community members that there are many
things they can do to avoid becoming ill.
"All of us need to do as much as we can not only to protect ourselves
individually but also to protect our community from an outbreak of one of these
viruses," he wrote.
The full text of Turco's letter, as well as information about preventing,
diagnosing and treating upper respiratory infections, is available on the Health Service Web
site.
Turco recommended that members of the Dartmouth community contact their
healthcare providers to schedule a flu shot this fall, since supplies of
vaccine are limited at the present time. Because the Health Service is the
primary healthcare provider for students, Turco said that students will be the
first to receive flu shots from the College. "In the past, we have been
able to offer flu shots to students and to employees," he said, "but,
since supplies are unpredictable, we will be using the vaccine we currently
have to immunize students."
Dartmouth Medical School
students and Health Service employees will also be vaccinated since both groups
come into close contact with patients. "When vaccines are in short
supply," he said, "these are three groups of individuals who should
be immunized, as specified by the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention. If more vaccine becomes available, we will
be able to offer it more widely."
Flu shot clinics will be offered this year (see list below) and the Health
Service will keep the community updated on the availability of vaccine.
Dartmouth employees have several options," Turco said. "They can get
flu shots from their primary care physicians or, if more vaccine becomes
available, at the flu clinics at Dick's House or at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center."
For information on DHMC clinics, visit DHMC
and click on "Flu."
In the meantime, Turco stressed the importance of prevention and
hygiene.
"If we individually and collectively practice good hygiene, get flu
shots when available, take care of ourselves when illness occurs and follow the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines on when to stay home from
work," Turco wrote, "we can minimize the chances that an upper
respiratory viral outbreak will occur at Dartmouth this winter." The CDC
guidelines can be found on their Web
site.
The Health Service will provide updates about vaccine availability and keep
the community informed as necessary with other information about worldwide flu
developments.
By LAUREL STAVIS
FLU SHOT CLINICS AT DARTMOUTH
For Dartmouth students only, undergraduate and graduate:
- Tuesday, Nov. 8, 10 a.m--2 p.m., Tindle Lounge
- Thursday, Nov. 10, 9:30 a.m. -4:30 p.m., Dick's House Library
- Sign in is
required
For Dartmouth employees, depending upon available supply of flu vaccine:
- Monday, Nov. 14, (for faculty, staff and students still needing vaccine)
9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m., Novak Café, Baker-Berry Library
- Monday, Nov. 21, (faculty and staff only) 8 a.m.- 4 p.m., Dick's House
Library
- Sign in is required
TIPS ON AVOIDING FLU AND OTHER UPPER RESPIRATORY INFECTIONS
- Wash your hands often, using hot water and soap or an alcohol-based hand
sanitizer.
- Get enough sleep.
- Keep your hands away from your nose, eyes or mouth.
- Do not share cups, water botles, mouth guards, etc.
- Cough into your arm, not your hand.
- Sneeze into a disposable tissue.
|
RSS/XML Feed