Student Response to Flu-like Symptoms
Personal responsibility for self-care and self-isolation will be important with the H1N1 flu:
- Know the signs and symptoms. The symptoms of H1N1 flu include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headaches, chills and fatigue. Diarrhea and vomiting have also been reported.
- Monitor your fever. The H1N1 flu typically has a high fever (100'F-103'F) for the course of the illness. A fever is a temperature of 100 degrees Farenheit (or 38 degrees Celsius). Look for signs of feeling warm, flushed appearance, sweating or shivering.
- Go home. Go home if you have flu-like symptoms (by private vehicle, not public transportation). Carroll College is not able to provide daily supervision of medical care to students located across campus housing or in off-campus houses or apartment buildings.
- Self-isolate. Stay in your room if you have the flu or flu-like illness for the course of the illness (7-9 days) and remain out of contact of others until at least 24 hours after the fever ends without aid of fever-reducing medicine. With the H1N1 flu, you are contagious and can spread germs to others for at least 7 days.
- Hydrate. Due to vomiting and diarrhea, it is important to drink plenty of fluids, particularly products like Gatorade which will replace you electrolytes. The flu can become more serious if you do not keep yourself hydrated by drinking lots of fluids each day you are ill.
Notification of the College of H1N1 Flu
Students with the H1N1 flu virus can contact the Student Life Office (406.447.4415 or jsheehy -is-at- carroll -dot- edu) to notify professors of their absence from class due to the H1N1 flu.
When To Seek Medical Care
Students should promptly seek medical care if they have a medical condition that puts them at increased risk of severe illness from flu, are concerned about their illness, or develop severe symptoms such as increased fever, shortness of breath, chest pain or pressure, or rapid breathing.
Roommate with Flu or Flu-like Symptoms
As contagious as the H1N1 flu is reported to be, you should encourage your roommate to go home (by private vehicle, not public transportation) for the duration of the illness. The flu symptoms will likely last 7-9 days and your roommate should not return to campus, classes or work until at least 24 hours after the fever breaks without use of fever-reducing medication.
If your roommate is not able to go home, seek alternative housing for the duration of your roommate's illness. Find a friend who will let you stay in their room, house or apartment. Contact Community Living about temporary housing in an empty bed or empty room elsewhere on campus. It is important for you to relocate out of your room for the duration of your roommate's illness to decrease your chance of being infected with the H1N1 flu virus.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that the likelihood of being infected with the H1N1 flu virus by a roommate is 15%-20%.
Pay Attention to Personal Health
The realities of missing classes and work for 7-9 days or more due to the H1N1 flu virus offers an incentive for students to pay attention to their personal health during the 2009-2010 academic year. Get plenty of sleep each night. Eat regular meals. Exercise. Stay ahead in your academic work with reading, writing papers and preparing for exams to reduce the number of late nights to cram for your classes. Build in time to relax and enjoy the company of friends to keep your stress at a low level.
The best advice for maintaining your personal health is to wash your hands with soap and water frequently each day. Keep your hands away from your eyes, nose or mouth to prevent the spread of germs. Use alcohol-based hand cleaners and wipe down high-touch surfaces with sanitary wipes.
Check with your medical care professionals about receiving the regular flu vaccine and discuss whether you have any high-risk health conditions that would support you receiving an H1N1 flu vaccine when available. Pay attention to your personal health during the 2009-2010 academic year so you do not compromise your immune system.
NEW INFO: No Need to Get Tested
Local health officials have advised Carroll College that after the first four confirmed cases of H1N1 flu virus it is no longer necessary for students to be tested for the virus before self-isolating at home. Students should seek out self-care advice from the Health Center or their primary healthcare provider. The Health Center is having the Student Life Office send out notices to professors of students who have the H1N1 flu virus to expect the student's absence from class.
Referral to Urgent Care clinics
The Health Center is losing one of the two registered nurses who provide patient care to students. Until a replacement can be found, the Health Center will need to limit the number of students that can be scheduled per day to see the remaining nurse, Kathleen Trudnowski, RN.
When the nurse's appointment schedule is full, the Health Center will be referring students to seek medical care at one of the two Urgent Care clinics in the community:
- Urgent Care, St. Peter's Hospital, 2475 Broadway, 406.447.2770.
- Urgent Care, North Montana (near Jade Garden restaurant), 3330 Ptarmigan Lane, 406.443.5354.
Update: We do have a part-time registered nurse assisting our full-time registered nurse for the remainder of the semester.