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If You are Sick with the Flu

I received word today that H1N1, commonly called “Swine Flu”, has been found this week in several students at H.I.S.T.  So far, classes are NOT canceled, but the faculty are requesting that all students take extra care so that we can keep the spread of this flu to a minimum.  If you think you are coming down with the flu, DON’T COME TO CLASS!

Seriously, it’s better to miss a week of class than it is to get all the rest of us sick!  Here are some more tips if you think you might be sick;

  • Know the signs and symptoms of flu. Symptoms of flu include fever or chills and cough or sore throat. In addition, symptoms of flu can include runny nose, body aches, headache, tiredness, diarrhea, or vomiting.
  • Stay home or in your dorm if you are sick for at least 24 hours after there is no longer a fever (38 degrees Celsius) or signs of a fever (have chills, feel very warm, have a flushed appearance, or are sweating).  Staying away from others while sick can prevent others from getting sick too. Ask a roommate or friend to check up on you and to bring you food and supplies if needed.
  • Cover you mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing.
  • Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after coughing or sneezing. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective if soap and water are not available.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth.  Germs spread this way.
  • Drink plenty of clear fluids (such as water, broth, sports drinks, and electrolyte beverages for infants) to keep from becoming dehydrated.

This entry was posted on Saturday, September 5th, 2009 at 7:08 pm and is filed under China, Education, Health. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

4 Responses to “If You are Sick with the Flu”

  1. Hana R Solomon, MD Says:
    September 6th, 2009 at 11:15 pm

    Consider the idea of washing the nose, flushing the personal filter with hypoertonic saline. this daily routine will help reduce the risk of infections.

  2. Steve Says:
    September 7th, 2009 at 12:15 pm

    Definitely NOT for me! The idea of “washing” the inside of my nose personally sounds like pure torture and medically it comes off as quackery!

  3. Steve Says:
    September 7th, 2009 at 12:18 pm

    We are still taking precautions on the HIST campus to prevent the spread of (any kind of) flu and at the same time monitoring the health of the student body in order to make prudent decisions about classes. However, it seems that there is no reason for alarm, things are stable and everyone is currently doing just fine.

  4. Steve Says:
    January 31st, 2010 at 8:08 am

    My mother recently told me I should try this… scary! :-)

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