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Emergency Update |
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May 1, 2009, 3:34 p.m.
Dear Members of the Pomona College Community,
We thought it important to update you regarding the College’s response to the recent H1N1 influenza (swine flu) outbreak. To date, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has identified 141 cases of H1N1 virus in the U.S. and the federal government has declared a national public health emergency. As of Friday, 13 cases have now been confirmed in California. At this time, we have no reports of either possible or confirmed cases of the virus at Pomona or any of the Claremont Colleges.
Pomona administrators are closely monitoring developments in the current outbreak of H1N1 influenza and taking steps to manage the situation. The college has a comprehensive preparedness plan in place, which contains specific protocols to enact in the event of an outbreak on campus. In addition, Student Health Services is in contact with the Los Angeles County Public Health Department and is following their guidelines as well as those of the CDC. As an institution, we are committed to sharing information with members of our community in a timely and organized manner. To that end, we’d like to share some of the precautions we’ve taken thus far:
Administrators from all across campus (Executive Staff, Dean of Faculty, Dean of Students, Office of Campus Life, Human Resources, Campus Planning and Maintenance, CUC Student Health Services, etc.) are meeting regularly to review the situation and strategize about appropriate next steps.
The Council of Presidents of the Claremont Colleges has activated the CUC Medical Emergency Response Task Force. The group is meeting regularly to coordinate efforts and information across the Claremont campuses. Dean Feldblum, Mark Wood, Senior Director of Communications, and Cynthia Peters, Director of Media Relations, are serving on this task force.
Detailed plans are in place regarding preventative measures, patient care and symptom evaluation and testing. Student Health Services is following the protocols of the LA County of Public Health Department.
Pomona’s emergency operations team is meeting regularly and making recommendations regarding the implementation of emergency protocols.
The Office of Campus Planning and Maintenance is providing enhanced and more frequent cleaning services to restrooms, dining areas, classrooms, computer labs, and residence halls.
Hand sanitation stations are available in both Frary and Frank Dining Halls. In addition, hand sanitizers have been made available in other common areas on campus (offices, computer labs, athletic facilities, etc.).
A limited number of personal hand sanitizer bottles are available for pick-up at the RA Desks (Walker, Mudd-Blaisdell and Wig halls) and in the Student Mailroom in Smith Campus Center.
Students, staff or faculty members who are ill are asked to stay home from classes and work. In addition, those who are ill are encouraged to pick up a face mask from the Office of Campus Life, RA Desks or Human Resources to help stop the spread of germs.
Students, staff, and faculty have been strongly urged not to travel to Mexico.
Similar to the “regular” human flu, the H1N1 virus (swine flu) has been shown to be transmitted from person-to-person through coughing, sneezing or by touching contaminated items. Members of the Pomona College community who develop flu-like symptoms (high fever, cough, runny nose, body aches, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea) should contact a medical professional immediately. At greater risk are those who have traveled to areas of Mexico that have confirmed cases or a H1N1 flu-infected area within 7 days of the onset of symptoms or those who have been in contact with someone in the last 7 days who is ill and has traveled to those areas in Mexico with confirmed cases or a H1N1 flu-infected area.
STUDENTS: If you feel ill, you should report to Student Health Services (909-621-8222 or www.cuc.claremont.edu/shacs/SHS) where in-house testing is available. After hours, students should contact Campus Safety (909-607-2000) and ask to speak with the On-Call Provider. If you are concerned about missing class due to illness or need some other academic support, please contact the Dean of Students Office (909-607-8017).
FACULTY AND STAFF: If you have similar symptoms, please consult your health care provider for diagnosis and treatment.
In your everyday campus lives, please use common sense, caution, and consideration to contain the spread of any contagious illness. We recommend the following:
Wash your hands often with soap and water (15-20 seconds), especially after you cough or sneeze. The virus also lives on inanimate objects, so wash your hands frequently after touching door handles, railings, keyboards, water faucets or other public objects. Alcohol-based hands cleaners are also effective.
Try to stay in good general health. Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids, and eat nutritious food.
Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way.
Think carefully about nonessential travel.
Do not share cups or eating utensils.
Try to avoid close contact with sick people. Influenza is thought to spread mainly person-to-person through coughing or sneezing of infected people.
If you get sick, the CDC recommends that you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.
Pomona College has compiled links to some important web sites and other useful information. In addition, regular updates will continue to be posted on the Pomona College website: www.pomonaemergency.info.
Centers for Disease Control: www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/general_info.htm
World Health Organization: www.who.int/csr/disease/swineflu/en/index.html
Los Angeles County Department of Public Health: www.publichealth.lacounty.gov
Claremont University Consortium Student Health Services: www.cuc.claremont.edu/shacs/SHS
CDC Guide for Taking Care of a Sick Person at Home - www.cdc.gov/swineflu/guidance_homecare.htm
CDC – H1N1/Swine Flu FAQ: http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/swineflu_you.htm
California Dept of Public Health - http://www.cdph.ca.gov/
HealthInfo/news/Pages/SwineFluLndingPg042409.aspx;
http://www.cdph.ca.gov/HealthInfo/discond/Pages/SwineInfluenza.aspx
Sincerely,
Dean Miriam Feldblum
To view previous updates on H1N1/Swine Flu, please click here.
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· Preparation ·
General Emergency Procedures ·
After a Major Emergency ·
· Emergency Home ·
Office of Communications Home ·
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This page is designed to inform the Pomona College community about emergency preparedness--
what to do in advance of, during, and after a major emergency. Please read it carefully.
If a major emergency--such as an earthquake, fire, or hazardous material accident--occurs, the
Executive Staff will activate the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) from which it will direct
the College's response. Simultaneously, specially trained response groups will be activated.
All efforts are designed to protect students, faculty and staff. The College is prepared to
respond 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
In the event of an emergency, regular updates will be posted our on-campus Emergency Web, at
http://www.pomona.edu/emergency/ and on our off-campus
Emergency Web at, http://www.pomonaemergency.info.
Please note the off-campus Emergency Web address, which will be
available in the event that public access to the Pomona Web is interrupted.
Regular updates in
the form of recorded messages will also be made available through the College's emergency
hotline,
at 1-877-PomonaC (1-877-766-6622).
Emergency Phone Numbers:
· Emergency Message Hotline: 1-877-766-6622 (1-877-POMONAC)
· Campus Safety: 909-607-2000
· Student Information: 909-621-8256
· Staff/Faculty Information: 909-621-8175
· Public Information: 909-621-8146
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