Preventative Measures for Protecting Your Health During Flu
Maryland, UMBC University Health Services (UHS) is urging faculty and
staff to take preventive measures to protect their health and the health
of our colleagues. Cases of influenza are expected to increase
throughout the flu season. Because flu can spread by contact with people
who are ill, UMBC Health Services staff recommend that staff and
faculty take these precautions:
Get a flu shot. A limited number of flu shots are available at
University Health Services. UHS is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 -
5:00. Students, staff and faculty may walk in or make an appointment by
calling 410-455-2542.
UHS accepts most major health insurance plans. Patients should bring
their UMBC IDs and Health Insurance information to University Health
Services. Flu shots also are available at local pharmacies, clinics and
physician’s offices.
Wash hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
or use hand sanitizer frequently, especially after touching common
surfaces such as door handles. Cover your mouth when coughing or
sneezing with either a disposable tissue or a sleeve, and avoid touching
your face. Avoid contact with people who are sick. Get plenty of rest
to keep the immune system working at its best.
Monitor your health. Flu symptoms include fever with cough or sore
throat, and sometimes runny nose, body aches, headache, vomiting or
diarrhea.
What to do if sick with the flu:
Persons with flu symptoms should stay home. Ill individuals should
limit contact with others who are not sick. Those with flu-like symptoms
should not return to class or work until they no longer have a fever (a
temperature of less than 100.5 F) for at least 24 hours without the use
of fever-reducing medications.
Staff and faculty with the flu should utilize normal departmental
call-out procedures to report their illness. Appropriate medical
documentation may be required for absences involving multiple days. For
additional clarification regarding absences from work, faculty and
staff should contact the Human Resources Department.
Individuals should seek medical attention if they have acute symptoms
such as body aches, cough or a fever of more than 100.5. If a faculty
or staff member comes to UHS for medical care, they must bring their
health insurance cards with them; otherwise, they will be charged full
price for their visit. They should talk with a doctor about appropriate
medicine to treat flu or flu-like symptoms.
If an individual gets worse after being on the medication for three
or four days, they should come back to University Health Services or
their primary care provider to have their lungs rechecked to make sure
they have not developed a secondary infection. Those with chronic health
conditions, such as asthma, or complications should call their health
care provider or University Health Services at 410-455-2542.
Our goal is for our community to have a productive and healthy work
environment. There are many resources on campus available to support
you. Please don’t hesitate to contact Jennifer K. Lepus, Director of University Health Services, with questions or concerns at 410-455-3751 or jlepus@umbc.edu.
