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</font><p style="margin:0in 0in 8pt"><span style="line-height:107%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;font-size:12pt"><font color="#000000">We have had multiple cases of the flu on campus over
the last week.<span> </span></font><font color="#000000">With students living in
close proximity to one another it is important to understand the illness and
know how to prevent its spread.</font><span><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">With the
common cold, symptoms usually come on gradually, but with the flu, the symptoms
appear quite suddenly. They can include:</font></span></p><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin:0in 0in 8pt"><span style="line-height:107%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;font-size:12pt"><font color="#000000">•Fever (although not always present) and chills</font></span></p><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin:0in 0in 8pt"><span style="line-height:107%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;font-size:12pt"><font color="#000000">•Cough</font></span></p><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin:0in 0in 8pt"><span style="line-height:107%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;font-size:12pt"><font color="#000000">•Sore throat</font></span></p><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin:0in 0in 8pt"><span style="line-height:107%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;font-size:12pt"><font color="#000000">•Runny or stuffy nose</font></span></p><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin:0in 0in 8pt"><span style="line-height:107%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;font-size:12pt"><font color="#000000">•Muscle aches, body aches</font></span></p><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin:0in 0in 8pt"><span style="line-height:107%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;font-size:12pt"><font color="#000000">•Headache, sometimes severe</font></span></p><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin:0in 0in 8pt"><span style="line-height:107%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;font-size:12pt"><font color="#000000">•Fatigue</font></span></p><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin:0in 0in 8pt"><span style="line-height:107%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;font-size:12pt"><font color="#000000">•Vomiting and diarrhea, more likely in young children</font></span></p><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin:0in 0in 8pt"><b><span style="line-height:107%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;font-size:12pt"><font color="#000000">Care
for flu sufferers:</font></span></b></p><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin:0in 0in 8pt"><span style="line-height:107%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;font-size:12pt"><font color="#000000">If you think you have the flu, it’s always best to
check with your doctor or nurse practitioner to see if you should be treated
with antiviral medications. If you are not a high risk of developing
complications, your doctor may tell you just to manage the flu at home, but to
go to the emergency if you seem to get worse or develop new symptoms.</font></span></p><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin:0in 0in 8pt"><span style="line-height:107%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;font-size:12pt"><font color="#000000">At-home care of the flu means managing the symptoms
and preventing dehydration:</font></span></p><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin:0in 0in 8pt"><span style="line-height:107%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;font-size:12pt"><font color="#000000">•Rest. Stay in bed to let your body restore itself and
to prevent spreading your infection</font></span></p><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin:0in 0in 8pt"><span style="line-height:107%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;font-size:12pt"><font color="#000000">•Drink a lot of fluids. It is easy to become
dehydrated when you have the flu. These should be water and clear fluids, such
as broths.</font></span></p><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin:0in 0in 8pt"><span style="line-height:107%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;font-size:12pt"><font color="#000000">•Take over-the-counter medications, such as
acetaminophen or ibuprofen if you are allowed to. If the sick person is a child
or teen, do not give aspirin because of a rare, but fatal complication that can
occur, called Reyes syndrome. Over-the-counter cold-and-flu remedies are not
recommended for children under the age of six years, as per the FDA.</font></span></p><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin:0in 0in 8pt"><b><span style="line-height:107%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;font-size:12pt"><font color="#000000">Seek
medical attention if:</font></span></b></p><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin:0in 0in 8pt"><span style="line-height:107%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;font-size:12pt"><font color="#000000">Anyone who has the flu and develops the following
signs, should seek medical help as soon as possible, regardless of age or usual
state of health.<span> </span></font><font color="#000000">You can receive help by
checking in with student services (upstairs in the student center):</font></span></p><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin:0in 0in 8pt"><span style="line-height:107%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;font-size:12pt"><font color="#000000">•Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath</font></span></p><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin:0in 0in 8pt"><span style="line-height:107%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;font-size:12pt"><font color="#000000">•Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen</font></span></p><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin:0in 0in 8pt"><span style="line-height:107%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;font-size:12pt"><font color="#000000">•Sudden dizziness</font></span></p><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin:0in 0in 8pt"><span style="line-height:107%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;font-size:12pt"><font color="#000000">•Confusion</font></span></p><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin:0in 0in 8pt"><span style="line-height:107%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;font-size:12pt"><font color="#000000">•Severe or persistent vomiting</font></span></p><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin:0in 0in 8pt"><span style="line-height:107%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;font-size:12pt"><font color="#000000">•Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever
and worse cough</font></span></p><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin:0in 0in 8pt"><span style="line-height:107%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;font-size:12pt"><font color="#000000">•High fever for more than three days</font></span></p><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin:0in 0in 8pt"><b><span style="line-height:107%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;font-size:12pt"><font color="#000000">Precautions:</font></span></b></p><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin:0in 0in 8pt"><span style="line-height:107%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;font-size:12pt"><font color="#000000">Influenza can be prevented with a few simple
precautions and, in many cases, with a vaccination.</font></span></p><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin:0in 0in 8pt"><span style="line-height:107%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;font-size:12pt"><font color="#000000">•Hand washing is the number one weapon against
influenza. Washing your hands after touching your face if you have the flu or
after touching potentially contaminated objects (such as door handles, public
phones) has been proven to effectively reduce the chances of passing on or
developing the flu.</font></span></p><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin:0in 0in 8pt"><span style="line-height:107%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;font-size:12pt"><font color="#000000">•Sneezing or coughing into your elbow is a good way to
reduce transmission of the flu virus. Unlike sneezing or coughing into your
hand, your elbow won’t touch common objects that will be touched by others.</font></span></p><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin:0in 0in 8pt"><span style="line-height:107%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;font-size:12pt"><font color="#000000">•If you have the flu, avoid others while you have
symptoms and for 24 hours after the symptoms have gone.</font></span></p><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin:0in 0in 8pt"><span style="line-height:107%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;font-size:12pt"><font color="#000000">Lastly,</font></span></p><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin:0in 0in 8pt"><span style="line-height:107%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;font-size:12pt"><font color="#000000">•Get your annual flu vaccination. Every year, a new
vaccine is developed based on the information about the new influenza strain
that is circling the globe. Getting a vaccination is your best protection,
although it may not be 100%. If you cannot get the vaccine for health reasons,
encourage your family members, friends, and coworkers to be vaccinated. If they
reduce their risk of getting the flu, your risk of catching it becomes lower.</font></span></p><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font></div><div><br clear="all"></div><div><div class="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div>Bryan Denny</div><div>Director of Student Life</div><div>Criminal Justice Chair/C.O.P. Director</div><div>Eastern Oklahoma State College</div><div>1301 W. Main Wilburton OK 74578</div><div>Ph: (918) 465-1818 Fax: (918) 465-4494</div><div><a href="mailto:bdenny@eosc.edu" target="_blank">bdenny@eosc.edu</a></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>
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