ACC Staff Notes

Nov. 10, 2009

Effective today, if you have a household exposure to someone with flu-like symptoms, you do NOT need to stay home for the previously-required 5 days. This policy was implemented earlier as part of a comprehensive plan to keep H1N1 away from the ACC campus. Now that we DO have students/clients who have contracted the illness, we have lifted the 5-day requirement for employees. With this change, we still fully comply with current Centers for Disease Control guidelines. You, as an employee, ARE still required to stay home for 7 days, if you become ill. We also ask you to call, not come to work, when and if you show sign(s) of symptoms.

Oct. 15, 2009

If you receive the FluMist (instead of the flu shot) you can return to work immediately - you don’t have to wait two days, as earlier reporter.
On a related note, if you do receive any live virus vaccine (TB, MMR, Chickenpox, seasonal flu), you do need to wait a full month before receiving the H1N1 FluMist.

October 1, 2009 - Flu Mist

If you receive the FLU MIST, which is delivered as a live virus (for either the seasonal influenza or H1N1 influenza), you’ll need to wait 2 days before returning to work at ACC. This does NOT apply to the injection. So, if you choose (or have chosen) the flu shot, you are able to work with the individuals we serve without any interruptions.

Sept. 30, 2009 - What to Do If You Become Ill

If you think you are ill with influenza, avoid close contact with others as much as possible. REMEMBER SYMPTOMS SHOULD BE: FEVER GREATER THAN 100 DEGREES F. AND A RESPIRATORY SYMPTOM SUCH AS SORE THROAT, COUGH, OR RUNNY NOSE. STAY AT HOME. Do not go to work, school, run errands, or travel while ill. Stay at home for 7 days after the start of illness and 24 hours after fever is under 100 degree F without fever reducing medication; whichever is greater.
Contact your health care provider. They will determine whether influenza testing is needed or whether you should take antiviral medications. Contact health care provider, about any special care you might need if you are pregnant or have a health condition such as diabetes, heart disease, asthma, or emphysema. Do not go to the clinic or hospital unless severely ill.

Seek medical care if you are severely ill such as:
—Difficulty breathing or chest pain
—Purple or blue discoloration of the lips
— Vomiting and unable to keep liquids down
—Signs of dehydration such as dizziness when standing, absence of urination, or in infants a lack of tears when they cry
—Seizures
— Less responsive than normal or become confused.
Contact ACC to notify us of your illness
Get plenty of rest and drink clear fluids (such as water, broth, sports drinks, electrolyte beverages for infants) to keep from becoming dehydrated.
Do NOT give aspirin to children or teenagers who have the flu; this can cause a rare but serious illness called Reye’s syndrome.

Sept. 29, 2009 – Tips for Preventing the Spread of H1N1

Avoid contact with ill persons
When you cough or sneeze, cover your nose and mouth with a tissue or your sleeve (if you do not have a tissue). Throw used tissues into the garbage.
After you cough or sneeze, wash your hands with soap and water, or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
Wash your hands often; washing your hand and the hands of the children/young adults often will help protect you from the germs.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth. Germs are often spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose, or mouth.
Practice good health habits. Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids, and eat nutritious food. Keep your immune system healthy!
Keep ill children at home, and if you the employee is exposed to an ill individual within your home, you must then also stay home for 5 days following exposure.
You are strongly encouraged to obtain the seasonal influenza vaccine this fall. As soon as it is available, you will be notified. We do have about 200 doses reserved for ACC employees.
When the H1N1 Influenza vaccine is available, it will be given to ACC thru public health. We will then have a tier of individuals to receive this vaccine. This will be the children/young adults we serve and then health care employees, as it is available. All individuals will need to receive two doses 3-4 weeks apart to be fully immunized. According to the ND Department of Health, H1N1 Influenza Vaccine – priorities will be:
—Pregnant women.
—Household contact and caregivers for those under 6 months of age.
—Health Care workers.
—All those 6 months of age to 24 years of age.
—25 – 65 with high risk medical conditions.

September 28, 2009 – What Do We Do If Children/Young Adults Are Ill with H1N1

Children/young adults will need to be isolated; either isolation room or cohorted together. They can share the same room and the same bathroom – but should not share a room or bathroom with someone else who is not ill.
Staff will need to gown, glove, and mask when entering the room of an ill individual.
If the individual has a tracheotomy or receives a nebulized medication the care providers will need to wear a special N95 mask. The medical evaluation that most staff have completed is for this mask. If you need to wear one – you will need to be fit tested for a N95 mask and employee health or one of the nurses that are trained in fit testing will complete this.
Pregnant women and those with a severe chronic medical condition will not be allowed to work with individuals with H1N1 Influenza.

September 22, 2009 – Campus

Eight hand sanitizer dispensers have been installed near entrances to the ACC Jamestown Campus. Please use the hand sanitizer when entering and exiting the building to help keep outside elements from contaminating the Center and to keep elements from the Center from entering your home. The hand sanitizer is alcohol-based and staff is asked to closely monitor any student near these stations.