This letter was sent to parents and guardians Sept. 10.
Dear Parents and Guardians,
As the coordinator of Keuka College’s Emergency Response Team, I wanted to let you know that the College has been preparing emergency plans to address wide-ranging campus issues and health concerns regarding the H1N1 flu virus (also known as swine flu). Our emergency response team receives regular input from the local public health department and closely monitors the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommendations.
Fortunately, here at Keuka we have only seen one case of the flu and the student who has it has returned home to recover. We expect to see more cases on our campus this fall, consistent with what is happening in public communities. We have strongly encouraged all members of the Keuka community to take the standard precautions adopted during the flu season and to play an active role in our public health prevention efforts. We encourage you to have a discussion regarding infection control with your student.
In light of the new CDC guidelines, should your student show signs of the flu, he or she should phone our Health Center so the medical staff can determine if a return home is needed. If a return home is advised, either the student or Health Services will contact a parent to make preparations to transport their student home. Students should not drive themselves home. We invite your understanding and cooperation should we ask your student to return home. If a student is unable to go home at all or if there will be a significant period of time before a family can pick up their student, the ill student will be directed to stay in one of the designated areas of isolation on campus (Ball Cottage, Blyley apartments, the college guest house, or 409 Chestnut Street). The Health Center and residence life staff will coordinate the move to these facilities. College staff will arrange for regular checks on the student’s condition, meal delivery, and any housekeeping needs. Please note we have a limited number of beds in these designated isolation areas so it is very important a student try to go home for the recommended recovery period. Our goal is to minimize the spread of the disease as much as possible and ensure our students are in the most appropriate environment if they become ill with the flu.
Enclosed in this mailing, you will find an informational piece that outlines current information on the flu and the second outlines the protocol for students to follow if they appear to have flu-like symptoms. Additional information is available at http://blogs.keuka.edu/h1n1/.
Please note that we have initiated a College Information Line (315-279-5993) that will provide information in the event the Keuka Park campus or an ASAP site is closed. Also, a campus hotline (315-279-5999) has been established for students to call for medical guidance when the Health Center is closed.
Thank you for your efforts to keep all members of the Keuka College family in good health. Although we can’t eliminate the spread of this virus, our collective efforts can significantly minimize its reach and overall impact.
If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to contact me at cmarquis@keuka.edu or (315) 279-5629.
Sincerely,
Carolanne Marquis
Chief Operating Officer
Executive Vice President
