CAMPUS FLU RESPONSE ACTION PLAN

In accordance with the "Action Steps for Institutions of Higher Education to Prevent the Spread of Flu" from the Centers for Disease Control, during current flu conditions, sick students, faculty, and staff will be advised to stay at home until at least 24 hours after they no longer have a fever (100 degrees Fahrenheit) 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.

Awareness

All students, faculty, staff, as well as families of children enrolled at the Child Development Center will be made aware of the H1N1 virus, symptoms, and precautions. Various methods of communication will be used for this purpose, including the following: posted information on the website containing applicable links, distribution of brochures and fliers, strategic placement of posters in areas across the main campus and off-site centers, and a video clip for viewing in all classes.

Preventive Measures

Following the recommendation from the Centers for Disease Control, York Technical College will instruct and encourage everyone to comply with the following actions:

• Hand sanitizing stations will be installed in common areas in all classroom and administrative buildings, approximately 5-10 stations per building. Posters will be placed in these areas and on the front and back of all restroom doors as reminders about hand hygiene and covering the mouth/nose when coughing or sneezing. Facial tissues will be available in division offices.

• Custodial personnel will increase efforts to clean surfaces (desks, keyboards, table/counter tops and door knobs) during the flu season. A hospital grade neutral disinfectant cleaner will be used that cleans and controls the hazard of cross-contamination from environmental surfaces. Additionally, disinfecting wipes for cleaning surfaces will be available in labs.

• Extra measures will be taken to ensure the Child Development Center continues to be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected on a daily basis. Classroom teachers will continue to follow DSS , DHEC, and NAYEC requirements for daily and appropriate cleaning of toys and materials. Children and families will continue to be required to wash their hands upon entering the classroom each morning. Throughout the day, teachers will assist children in maintaining proper hand hygiene and covering nose/mouth when sneezing or coughing. Teachers will carefully observe children throughout the day for potential signs of illness. Children with flu like symptoms will be isolated from the classroom as quickly as possible. Families will be contacted and required to pick up sick children within the hour. Pursuant to the policy of the Child Development Center, children may return after being fever free for 24 hours or with a physician’s note stating the child may return to group care.

Continuation of Service

York Technical College’s faculty and administration recognize that attendance in each and every class meeting is crucial to successful course completion and emphasize the importance of attendance to students. Ill students should inform their instructors by phone or e-mail as soon as possible that they are absent because of the flu. Likewise, students should contact their instructors as quickly as possible to arrange to make up missed assignments or exams.

Faculty members will work with students who have been absent from class due to the flu on a case-by-case basis. As applicable, instructors will interact with students via D2L. Others will be contacted by e-mail or phone so that information

is shared and students have the opportunity to complete assignments while they are absent and/or complete make-up sessions once they return to class.

Department managers will work with faculty to develop a specific plan for communicating with students in their programs in the most appropriate method and identify alternate means of communication should students not have access to computers in their homes. The plan will include strategies for establishing and maintaining communication with adjunct faculty; providing coverage for classes in the event of faculty’s illness; and making arrangements for students to make-up missed interactive components of courses, such as labs, clinical experiences, etc.

Cooperation with Public Health Officials

York Technical College will work closely with the local and state public health officials and will fully cooperate with recommendations to prevent the spread of flu. Should flu conditions become severe, York Technical College will follow the suggestions from the Centers for Disease Control which include exploring methods to increase social distances; allowing students, faculty, and staff at higher risk of complications to stay home; and extending the time sick students, faculty, and staff stay home. Should it become necessary, suspension of classes will be considered. As needed, make-up days will be scheduled.

The Child Development Center will comply with mandated reporting of Influenza-Like Illness to the SC DHEC Division of Acute Disease Epidemiology.

updated September 9, 2009