Claremont Colleges Brace for Flu Season

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Published over 2 years ago

Flu season is approaching, and the Claremont Colleges are preparing themselves.The measures currently in place rely on a 5-C flu kit initiative and buddy system, and the colleges are also looking into measures to house sick students together. The colleges do not have access to H1N1 vaccinations on campus at this time.“Each residence hall and RA got [flu kits to meet] a third of their building capacity,” said Associate Dean of Students and Dean of Campus Life Ric Townes.The flu kits, assembled by Health Education Outreach, contain non-aspirin acetaminophen, tissues, hand sanitizer, a disposable thermometer, and information about what to do while sick.“[The flu kits are] as much a prevention as [they are] a treatment if you have the symptoms,” said Director of Student Health and Counseling Services Denise Hayes.To prevent the flu, each of the 5Cs will have a seasonal flu clinic, where flu shots will be distributed. According to Hayes, students can make appointments before the clinics open to receive the seasonal flu vaccines.Townes further recommended that students “identify a friend or neighbor to be a flu buddy” ahead of time, in case they catch the virus. The goal behind the buddy system is prevention, which Townes called a top priority for the colleges.“When the temperature is an issue, that is the critical period [during which] we want people to stay in bed. That’s when they can infect other people,” Townes said.The administration believes a flu buddy makes being ill more comfortable for the student and safer for the student body.“We’ve arranged through Dining [Services] so the flu buddy can get the person food, so the [buddy] can get [two meals],” said Townes.Marshall Perryman PO ’11, who recently had the flu, said he found the buddy system to be effective.“I didn’t [have to] go out for food the entire time. I didn’t really even leave,” he said. “My teachers have been super good about letting me extend my deadlines. The Office of Campus Life was especially accommodating…[they] kept in touch with me every day.”The protocol for flu-like symptoms is largely the same for most cases.Hayes said, “We can’t determine if it’s H1N1 because the CDC is no longer testing for H1N1…in some ways it doesn’t matter if it’s H1N1 or the seasonal flu because in most cases, the treatment is the same.”Pomona is still waiting for vaccinations against H1N1, though Townes said that the school is not alone in that situation. “It’s not just Pomona; it’s LA county, it’s Southern California, and we’re all in a line waiting [for vaccines].”Hayes added that the process by which the school receives vaccinations moves rather slowly, but that she feels certain they will arrive soon.“The H1N1 vaccine would have to come from the public health department,” Hayes said. “We have done what is necessary in order to receive [the vaccine]. The last we heard from the LA county health department is that they have gotten a first shipment, and that went to the highest risk population…I believe we’ll be in the next wave [as] a place of distribution.”Pomona is also considering grouping sick people together in a school-owned house on Seventh Street that neighbors the home of Dean of Students Miriam Feldblum.“There is a house that can hold up to 19 people,” Townes said. “We could put sick people there [or] we could leave the sick person in [his or her] room. We’re not clear how we’re going to proceed with that.” The Center for Disease Control Web site lists the following symptoms of influenza: cough, sore throat, stuffy nose, body aches, headaches, chills, and fatigue. Those stricken by the flu might experience a fever and diarrhea, though not all do.Additionally, the Student Health Services Web site has a flowchart students can use to see if their symptoms indicate a flu-like illness, which is available at http://www.cuc.claremont.edu/shacs/influenza.asp. Another document on the same page explains the differences between the common cold and the flu.Pomona’s administration is being extremely careful with the language used to address this year’s flu season.“We want to be clear someone had influenza-like symptoms,” Townes said. “We don’t know if they even had influenza or if they had ‘swine flu.’ Unless we have someone confirm that someone has had [H1N1], we’re not going to say that.”

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