The 2013 flu season is here, and is predicted to be severe. Dr. Jennie Ho from Student Health Services offers the following information on staying healthy, as well as what to do if you are feeling under the weather. Information about flu shots is also included below.
Tips on staying healthy during this time:
• Eat healthy food, get plenty of sleep, and exercise to keep up your resistance.
• Wash your hands often, as this will help protect you and others against germs. Use soap and water for at least 20 seconds, or use an alcohol based hand sanitizer.
• When coughing or sneezing, cover your mouth with a tissue or direct the cough or sneeze into your sleeve, not your hands.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• If you are sick, stay home and away from other people as much as possible to protect them from getting sick.
• Get your annual flu vaccine (see below for additional flu vaccine clinics).
Flu-symptoms and tips for recovery:
If you have cold/flu like symptoms (fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, runny or stuffy nose, and sometimes diarrhea and vomiting), you should do the following:
• Stay home and get plenty of rest. Do not attend class, lab, dining halls, or other public gatherings. Please e-mail your professors to inform them that you are ill. Note that cold/flu symptoms may last 1-2 weeks.
• Drink extra fluids like soups and tea with honey and lemon, which may be soothing.
• Gargle with salt water, suck on throat lozenges, or use a throat spray.
• Take Acetaminophen (Tylenol), Ibuprofen (Advil/Motrin) or Naproxen (Aleve) to reduce your fever and lessen your headaches and body aches.
• Use decongestants (Sudafed), antihistamines (Benadryl), and cough suppressants (Robitussin DM) as directed to reduce symptoms.
• Take a steamy shower or use a humidifier to relieve nasal congestion.
Please call Student Health Services (x 18222) for the following:
• Fever higher than 102 degrees F of if you have fever/chills for more than two days
• Thick green or yellow nasal drainage or painful sinuses
• Severely painful sore throat, large, red tonsils with white or yellow spots, or painful neck glands
• Cough that lasts longer than 1-2 weeks, green or brown sputum from the chest, chest pain, or wheezing
• Painful ears or pus draining from the ears
• Vomiting, diarrhea, or cold symptoms that last for more than 7 days
• If you are concerned and would like someone to evaluate you
FLU VACCINE CLINICS
• Wednesday, Jan. 30: 12-1 pm (Tranquada Student Services Building-Multipurpose Room)
• Wednesday, Jan. 30: 4-5 pm (CGU-Stauffer, 110)
The flu clinics will be opened to all students, faculty, and staff on a first come basis while supplies last. The fee is $20 and is covered by the student health insurance plan. Cash, Claremont cash, checks, and credit cards will be accepted.
Please contact SHS with questions or concerns (x 18222), or check the SHS website for further information: www.cuc.claremont.edu/shs
Additional Flu resources
Local Hospitals Contact Information
Pomona Valley Health Center Claremont Urgent Care Center
1601 Monte Vista Avenue, Suite 190
Claremont, CA 91711
Hours: 8 am – 8 pm (Mon-Fri)
9 am – 5 pm (Sat/Sun, Holidays)
Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center—Emergency Department
1798 N. Garey Avenue
Pomona, CA 91767
San Antonio Community Hospital—Emergency Department
999 San Bernardino Road
Upland, CA 91786
Montclair Hospital Medical Center—Emergency Department
5000 San Bernardino Street
Montclair, CA 91763
• CDC informacíon en Español: http://espanol.cdc.gov/enes/flu/
• California Department of Public Health: http://www.cdph.ca.gov/HealthInfo/discond/Pages/Influenza(Flu).aspx
• Los Angeles County Department of Public Health: http://www.publichealth.lacounty.gov/acd/Flu.htm