Emergency Guidelines for the Campus Community

H1N1 Influenza

December 18, 2009 letter to students on campus during winter recess

To: Students on campus during winter recess
From: University Health Services
Subject: Change in H1N1 flu resources for students during winter recess
Date: 12/18/09

Students remaining on campus during winter recess should be aware of the changes in available campus resources if you develop flu-like symptoms (i.e. fever greater than 100 degrees with cough and/or sore throat). Many University offices, including University Health Services, will operate on an abbreviated schedule Dec. 19 through Jan. 3, and it is important that students take a moment to read this e-mail for information about what to do if you become ill during winter recess.

University Health Services

UHS will operate on holiday hours, with 24-hour inpatient services closed during winter recess. As per the University's regular H1N1 flu guidelines, students experiencing flu-like symptoms should maintain their distance from other individuals and call University Health Services at (609) 258-3141 when UHS is open. Students experiencing flu-like symptoms when UHS is closed should call Public Safety at (609) 258-1000. Public Safety also will notify on-call University health and residential life staff so staff can check in remotely with ill students during winter recess.

Please see the UHS holiday schedule for more information about hours of operation: http://www.princeton.edu/uhs/pdfs/UHSHolidaycalendar09.pdf

Students with flu-like symptoms should immediately call 911 [or (609) 258-3333 if you are using a cell phone] if you start to experience any of the following symptoms, in addition to the basic flu symptoms: Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath; pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen; sudden dizziness; confusion; or severe or persistent vomiting.

Self-isolating in dorm rooms

Students diagnosed with the flu or flu-like illness should self-isolate in your dorm room (i.e. stay away from others and eat meals in your room) until you are no longer contagious. The guideline is to remain isolated during illness and for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone (fever should be gone without the use of a fever-reducing medicine).

Ill students who live within driving distance of the University should return home to self-isolate.

Dining Services

Ill students should avoid contact with others by eating meals in your room. Because residential dining halls will be closed during winter break, students remaining on campus should already have made arrangements to purchase your own food. Ill students should: arrange for a friend to pick up meals from one of the Dining Services retail eateries open during winter recess; arrange for a friend to pick up food from a local restaurant or grocery store; or have food delivered from a local restaurant.

University health and residential life staff will check in remotely with students who have identified that they are in self-isolation during winter recess to discuss if the students need assistance with residential/dining matters.

Dining Services winter recess hours:
http://www.princeton.edu/facilities/info/dining/hours/winter-recess-hours.pdf

Student Guide restaurant directory:
http://www.princeton.edu/studentguide/outsidethegates/restaurants/

CampusFood.com (students can order food online from local restaurants that deliver):
http://www.campusfood.com/

General guidelines

Ill students self-isolating in their dorm rooms should follow the tips in the UHS influenza self-care fact sheet:
http://web.princeton.edu/sites/emergency/swineflu/Self%20care%20Fact%20Sheet%20for%20ILI_070709.pdf.

For general information about campus services available during winter recess, visit:
http://www.princeton.edu/facilities/info/audiences/undergraduate/residence/breaks/winter/.

University offices and dining halls will resume normal operating hours on Monday, Jan. 4, when ill students should resume following the academic year H1N1 flu guidelines outlined on the University's H1N1 web page: http://web.princeton.edu/sites/emergency/swineflu/faq-student.html.

We hope all students enjoy a safe and healthy holiday season.

Last update: 21-Dec-2009 12:32 PM
Web page comments or errors: Robin Izzo.