H1N1 elevated to Level 1
Ryan Pleggenkuhle, Cindy Petersen and Tyler Loring
Issue date: 10/29/09 Section: News
On Wednesday, Kirkwood Community College officially moved to Level 1 (elevated awareness) in accordance with the college's Pandemic Influenza Policy.
According to an announcement in Tempo, Kirkwood's internal newsletter, Melissa Jensen, Emergency Services director said, "The current situation at Kirkwood is no more serious than any place else in the country. Taking the steps outlined in Level 1 of our policy can help prevent the spread of H1N1 and increase our preparedness should the local or national situation worsen."
According to the Pandemic Influenza Policy, some of the things Level 1 includes are: Identifying essential positions and services on campus, cross training of essential positions in the event of a work force reduction and fitting essential personnel with personal protection equipment.
The college's plan also includes levels 2, 3 and 4. Level 2 is curtailment. During this level some activities would be scaled down or canceled, additional education, "what if" discussions. Level 3 is closing. During this phase the college is closed with the possible exception of some critical functions. The last phase, Level 4, is resumption/recovery. This phase calls for returning to normal operations when the influenza pandemic has decreased/passed. The policy states these stages are based on the "World Health Organization, Iowa Department of Health and local health information, as well as other factors that directly impact Kirkwood."
In an earlier interview, Jensen said, "Is H1N1 affecting people on campus? Probably, but because officials aren't testing anyone unless they have an underlying medical condition, we can't be sure it's H1N1. If students are sick, they should drink plenty of fluids, get lots of rest and stay home 24 hours after their fever subsides," she said.
Lori Jeppson, campus nurse, said she has seen a record number of students with flu-like symptoms.
Last weekend President Barack Obama declared H1N1 a national emergency. The declaration enables the federal government to modify or waive rules and help health care facilities deal with the virus.
H1N1 is widespread in 46 states. In Iowa, five deaths have been attributed to the virus.
Jensen said that Kirkwood's flu Web site (www.kirkwood.edu/flu) has the answers to many of the questions anyone might have concerning the flu, as well as links to other Web sites.
"I have received so many questions on the subject from 'how can I tell if I have the flu' to 'how long do I have to stay home. I just direct them to the publication on Kirkwood's Web site. It has all the information that they need," she said.
According to an announcement in Tempo, Kirkwood's internal newsletter, Melissa Jensen, Emergency Services director said, "The current situation at Kirkwood is no more serious than any place else in the country. Taking the steps outlined in Level 1 of our policy can help prevent the spread of H1N1 and increase our preparedness should the local or national situation worsen."
According to the Pandemic Influenza Policy, some of the things Level 1 includes are: Identifying essential positions and services on campus, cross training of essential positions in the event of a work force reduction and fitting essential personnel with personal protection equipment.
The college's plan also includes levels 2, 3 and 4. Level 2 is curtailment. During this level some activities would be scaled down or canceled, additional education, "what if" discussions. Level 3 is closing. During this phase the college is closed with the possible exception of some critical functions. The last phase, Level 4, is resumption/recovery. This phase calls for returning to normal operations when the influenza pandemic has decreased/passed. The policy states these stages are based on the "World Health Organization, Iowa Department of Health and local health information, as well as other factors that directly impact Kirkwood."
In an earlier interview, Jensen said, "Is H1N1 affecting people on campus? Probably, but because officials aren't testing anyone unless they have an underlying medical condition, we can't be sure it's H1N1. If students are sick, they should drink plenty of fluids, get lots of rest and stay home 24 hours after their fever subsides," she said.
Lori Jeppson, campus nurse, said she has seen a record number of students with flu-like symptoms.
Last weekend President Barack Obama declared H1N1 a national emergency. The declaration enables the federal government to modify or waive rules and help health care facilities deal with the virus.
H1N1 is widespread in 46 states. In Iowa, five deaths have been attributed to the virus.
Jensen said that Kirkwood's flu Web site (www.kirkwood.edu/flu) has the answers to many of the questions anyone might have concerning the flu, as well as links to other Web sites.
"I have received so many questions on the subject from 'how can I tell if I have the flu' to 'how long do I have to stay home. I just direct them to the publication on Kirkwood's Web site. It has all the information that they need," she said.
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