| Keeping
Our Campus Healthy
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Step 1: Get the flu vaccine if you
have not done so
Step 2: Wash your hands often
Step 3: Cover your mouth and nose
when sneezing or coughing |
With this year’s sporadic
winter weather, the Smith community is suffering its usual
rash of colds and influenza during flu season -- the runny
noses and scratchy coughs and sneezes that become the workplace
accompaniment during the frigid months.
Smith College takes several steps
to subvert the flu virus’ rampage through campus, including
administering 375 flu vaccines this year. Health Services
increased its supply of the flu vaccine in anticipation of
more need this year, and has an ample supply remaining, says
Les Jaffe, college physician and director of Health Services.
But staying healthy is in the
hands, literally, of individuals. Washing hands is proven
to be among the most effective methods of fighting debilitating
flu and cold viruses.
To assist that effort, the college
has installed hand sanitizers, each filled with dry disinfectant,
near the exits in some academic and administrative campus
buildings and just outside college dining rooms. Ideally,
before entering or leaving these locations, you should clean
your hands using the disinfectant sanitizer (because the soap
is dry, there is no need to wipe your hands).
Please notice also the fliers
around campus reminding you to wash your hands and to “Cover
Your Cough” -- that is, cover your mouth and nose when
coughing or sneezing to mitigate the spread of germs.
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