The current flu virus that is circulating this year is H1N1, which is known to affect young adults more strongly than what is typical. We want to provide you with some helpful tips to keep yourself and our community well.

The single best way to prevent seasonal flu is to get vaccinated each year. It’s not too late to get the flu shot or nasal spray and it takes only two weeks for the benefits to kick in. Both types of immunizations are available at Walgreens and CVS and are covered by insurance. No appointment is needed!!  

Good health habits often can help stop the spread of germs and prevent respiratory illnesses like the flu. Things to keep in mind:

1. Avoid close contact: Avoid close contact with people who are sick. When you are sick, keep your distance from others to protect them from getting sick too.

2. Stay home when you are sick: If possible, stay home from work, school, and errands when you are sick. If possible, we ask that you go home if your family lives nearby (within driving distance) or stay in your room and avoid contact with others. You will help prevent others from catching your illness.

·         Call the Health Clinic at 847-735-5050 and speak with the nurse practitioner who will stay in touch with your throughout your illness.

·         It is important to let us know if you have any chronic medical conditions such as asthma, diabetes, weakened immune system.

·         Dean Flot will contact your professors via email to let them know that you have “flu-like” symptoms and cannot attend class. However, it is the student’s responsibility to email professors to work out arrangements for making up work.

3. Cover your mouth and nose: Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. Then wash your hands. It may prevent those around you from getting sick. It is natural for us to cover our nose and mouth with our hands when we cough or sneeze, but to decrease the spread of germs through contact with skin and other surfaces, it is better to cough or sneeze into a tissue, clothing or the inside of the arm.

4. Clean your hands: Washing your hands often will help protect you from germs. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub.

5. 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.

6. Practice other good health habits: Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces at home, work or school, especially when someone is ill. Common surfaces that should be cleaned include door knobs, computer keyboards, and remote controls.  Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids, and eat nutritious food.

Students often are not sure if they have the flu and how to treat it. Many tend to have questions about the effectiveness and safety of the flu vaccine. The Center for Disease Control is an excellent resource to answer these questions (http://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/disease/symptoms.htm). Students are also encouraged to call the nurse practitioner in the health clinic for any questions or concerns.  

Listed below are the names and numbers of the pharmacies near the college:

·         Walgreens: 847-234-2413

·         Osco: 847-735-1032

·         CVS: 847-810-5990

We hope this information is helpful and that you will do your part in helping to keep our community healthy.

Be Well,

Jennifer L. Fast, PsyD                                           Kathy Salinger, NP-C

Director of Health & Wellness                                Associate Director of Health Services

jeziorski@lakeforest.edu                                       salinger@lakeforest.edu

847-735-5240                                                      847-735-5050