Remember in April when we first started hearing about the Swine Flu? TV news was all swine flu all the time in their coverage, everyone was freaking out, schools were canceled (some for just reasons, some for fear), and as summer came, the news of H1N1 just faded away. As the fall semester started, I had the opportunity to visit John Carroll University. During the 2 days I spent on the JCU campus I noticed posters in the bathroom, on bulletin boards, and in computer labs encouraging everyone to wash their hands and cover their mouths when coughing. It was obvious to me they were taking proactive measures to limit H1N1 and other diseases before the semester started. Upstream Thinking
I thought of this when I recently read an article about a University of New Mexico student passing away “from what appears to be the H1N1 virus.” The world of student affairs can be so hectic and chaotic it is hard to be proactive when you are just trying to keep your head above water. The article says UNM had done everything possible to prevent a H1N1 outbreak and I have no reason to doubt them, but I am wondering: nation-wide, how prepared are we?
Does your campus have a plan? If so, do you think it is being carried out effectively?
If you do not have a plan the Center for Disease Control has H1N1 Resources for Colleges and Universities is a good place to start.
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