As you may know, flu can be spread easily from person to person. Therefore, we are taking steps to prevent the spread of flu at Ivy Tech Community College-Bloomington for as long as possible, but, we need your help to accomplish this.

We are working closely with the local health department to monitor flu conditions and make decisions about the best steps to take concerning our institution. We will keep you updated with new information as it becomes available to us.

For now, we are doing everything we can to keep our institution operating as usual. Here are a few things you can do to help:

• Practice good hand hygiene by washing your hands with soap and water, especially after coughing or sneezing. Alcohol-based hand cleaners also are effective and there are hand-sanitizers located throughout campus.

• Practice respiratory etiquette by covering your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. If you don’t have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your elbow or shoulder, not into your hands.  Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth; germs are spread this way.

• Know the signs and symptoms of the flu. A fever is a temperature taken with a thermometer that is equal to or greater than 100 degrees Fahrenheit or 38 degrees Celsius. Look for possible signs of fever: if the person feels very warm, has a flushed appearance, or is sweating or shivering.  

• Stay home if you have flu or flu-like illness for at least 24 hours after you no longer have a fever (100 degrees Fahrenheit or 38 degrees Celsius) or signs of a fever (have chills, feel very warm, have a flushed appearance, or are sweating). This should be determined without the use of fever-reducing medications (any medicine that contains ibuprofen or acetaminophen).  Please do not come to class. You MUST notify your instructor BEFORE your absence and a doctor’s note is preferred when possible

• Should you have a confirmed case of H1N1, please let the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, Jennie Vaughan, jvaughan@ivytech.edu or (812) 330-6007.

• Talk with your health care providers about whether you should be vaccinated for seasonal flu. For more information about priority groups for vaccination, visit www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/vaccination/acip.htm. H1N1.

We will notify you via Campus Connect of any additional changes to our institution’s strategy to prevent the spread of flu on our campus.