About Lipscomb
While I would like to write pages sharing the good news from the campus, the primary purpose of this communication is to share information about the University’s response to the influenza that is spreading across our nation. I want you to know the steps we have taken to provide the safest environment possible for our Lipscomb students.
As you are probably aware, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) is the federal agency charged with managing public health concerns in our nation. It has focused recently on two strains of influenza that are already evident in the United States; one is the seasonal flu which emerges as a health challenge each year, and the other is a new strain of influenza labeled H1N1. While the former has been anticipated and a vaccine prepared to fight it, the CDC does not expect a vaccine for the H1N1 strain to be available until later this fall. It is not known how effective the vaccine will be when it is developed or what the availability will be. We will continue to look to the Center for Disease Control as well as our Tennessee public health agencies for the latest information on the viruses. You can access the information available from those agencies at the following websites: www.cdc.gov/H1N1FLU; http://health.state.tn.us/; www.hhs.gov; and www.who.int/en/.
Recognizing that the lifestyle and living circumstances of college students may make them more vulnerable to catching the flu, an inter-disciplinary group of Lipscomb administrators began meeting last spring to plan for any flu outbreak this fall. That team includes leaders from Health Services, Campus Life, Risk Management, and Pharmacy in collaboration with many other departments. They have worked through the summer learning about the potential challenges with the flu this year, training our “first line” responders in campus housing, acquiring supplies and establishing communication processes for both students and parents. The team will continue to meet on a regular basis and implement the plans as necessary.
More specific actions that have been taken include the following:
• Eighty-five wall-mounted hand sanitizers have been placed in all dorms and high traffic areas around campus.
• Upon checking into their dorm rooms, all resident students were given written guidelines for hygiene practices to help minimize flu transmission.
• Head Residents and Resident Assistants have been trained to recognize symptoms and to assist students who become ill.
• An awareness campaign has been implemented, including posters and flyers outlining preventative ways to stay healthy.
• Health Services has stockpiled disposable thermometers, masks and Tamiflu to assist in combating flu symptoms.
In terms of vaccines that might prevent the flu or lessen its symptoms, the University ordered three times the quantity of vaccine for the seasonal flu that was ordered in previous years. The first limited quantity has arrived and we expect to receive additional shipments over the next several weeks. Unfortunately, some suppliers are limiting the quantity of the seasonal flu vaccine they ship because of the government’s instructions to produce a vaccine for the H1N1 strain of the flu. We do not know how much seasonal vaccine the University will ultimately receive. We highly recommend that students go to their local physician or a pharmacy clinic to obtain the flu vaccine, and do so as soon as possible. It takes 2-6 weeks for the vaccine to become effective in preventing the flu.
The university has applied to be an official immunization center once there is a vaccine for the H1N1 strain of the flu. We have not received a response to that application, but when we do, we will share that news with the Lipscomb community. Again, it is important to recognize that a vaccine has not yet been created for the H1N1 strain of the flu. Of some comfort, however, is the early evaluation that for most people, the H1N1 strain does not seem much worse than the seasonal variety of the flu.
If your Lipscomb student should exhibit symptoms of either strain of the flu the university will recommend the same approach recommended by the CDC (http://cdc.gov/h1n1flu/sick.htm). They state to stay home for 7 days from the onset of symptoms or until the resolution of symptoms, whichever is longer, and avoid unnecessary contact with others until the patient registers a temperature of under 100° F for 24 hours without medication.
“Stay home” may have one of two meanings. For students from Middle Tennessee who live on campus or commute to campus, it is recommended that they return home for their recovery. In that context they can utilize their personal physician and minimize infecting others with the virus. For students who are from outside Middle Tennessee and live on campus, they can remain on campus in either their residence or in one of a limited number of isolated recovery rooms that have been prepared for their use. On campus students will be provided basic comfort supplies and Lipscomb Dining Service will arrange for the delivery of special meals. Students infected with the virus will be expected to remain in their residence for the period of time specified above.
Each student who contracts the flu and will miss classes or assignments needs to contact Associate Provost Steve Prewitt at (615) 966-5804 or, in the case of pharmacy students, the student’s course coordinator. Personnel in those academic offices will notify faculty of the student’s illness and assist in make-up of academic work.
While we do not know what to expect as the flu season emerges, you can be assured that the university is responding, on a daily basis, to the needs of our students.
We have established a special website — h1n1.lipscomb.edu — to update the Lipscomb community of developments. If you have any questions or need additional information, I encourage you to contact our Office of Risk Management at riskmanagement@lipscomb.edu or 615-966-5661.
Thank you for your prayers and your patience as we seek to secure the health and comfort of your student.
Cordially,
L. Randolph Lowry
President
In the News
Click here to view safety tips for students (taken from a Today Show story, Sept. 8)