- Chair – Tracey Nyczai (Bison Athletic Therapy Centre)
- Assistant to the Chair – Amanda Devion (Bison Active Living)
- Melinda Sasek (Bison Sports)
- Christine Majury (Joe Doupe)
- Glenn Deering (IST)
The Faculty Pandemic Planning Committee (FKRM PPC) would ask that should any of your staff become ill and H1N1 is suspected or confirmed, that you let us know as soon as possible. It should be reported to your immediate supervisor who should then inform the chair of the FKRM PPC (Tracey Nyczai at nyczaitl@cc.umanitoba.ca). The Chair will then ensure the Dean and the Emergency Management Coordinator are informed. Staff and students are also encouraged to report absence due to illness via the Self Reporting Channel within Jump. Students/Staff just need to log in and click the "I am Sick" button on the home page. This allows the university to track flu-related absences.
Information for faculty and instructors:
- Instructor Information (PDF)
Many people have questions about how we as a faculty should be addressing H1N1 concerns. The primary question is “What should we be doing?” – especially when the media announces a case of H1N1 or we hear of someone close to home having it. The most important things are prevention and care measures. Many of these measures have been communicated to you already from a variety of sources. Listed below are a few additional things you can do as well as the most common steps to take:
PREVENTION:
- Eat properly (including foods rich in Vitamin C), stay hydrated, exercise regularly and get a good night’s sleep
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, mouth
- Wash your hands regularly or use hand sanitizer if soap and water not available (especially after coughing or sneezing)
- Clean equipment you (and/or others) use regularly (eg. Exercise equipment, computer keyboard and mouse, telephone keypad and receiver, doorknobs, light switches etc).
- Gargle with warm salt water twice a day
- Rinse nostrils with warm salt water solution daily (using a Neti Pot)
- Cough into a tissue or into your upper sleeve (do not reuse the tissue)
CARE:
- Stay home and get plenty of rest
- Gargle with warm salt water if you have a sore throat
- Use a cool mist humidifier for a stuffy nose
- Water, juices, clear broths and soups will help replace the loss of fluids
- Warm fluids may help loosen up mucus in your throat and lungs
- Continue to follow prevention guidelines above
SYMPTOMS:
The flu symptoms include fever over 38°C, cough and any one or more of the following:
- sore throat, sore neck
- joint/muscle aches
- weakness/severe fatigue
Children may also feel sick to their stomach, vomit or have diarrhea. Fever may not be prominent in patients under five or 65 and older.
SEE A PHYSICIAN IF:
- Symptoms become worse or severe (early intervention, 24-48 hours may be very important)
- Breathing is difficult or painful
- Shortness of breath
- Coughing up blood
- Increased wheezing
- Fever for 3-4 days without getting better
- Feeling better then suddenly having a high fever or becoming sick again
- Extreme sleepiness, are difficult to wake up
- Being disoriented/drowsy or confused
- Experience severe weakness
- Are dehydrated or have not urinated in 12 hours
At this time, there is nothing additional you need to do. The FKRM Pandemic Planning Committee is working closely with the Emergency Management Coordinator for the University to monitor the H1N1 situation and keep the Faculty informed.
DO WE NEED HAND SANITIZERS?
The University’s guidelines on this is to use soap and water wherever possible as this is the best way to clean your hands. If an area does not have access to soap and water, they will consider installing a manual hand sanitizer dispenser. A hand sanitizer dispenser is being requested for the 2nd floor Frank Kennedy building as there is no soap and water access on that level. If you feel there is an area that needs a dispenser, please contact the FKRM Pandemic Planning Committee as listed above. For more information on the University’s hand sanitizer policy, please go to their Pandemic link at www.umanitoba.ca/pandemic. (Under “Information for University Employees, Hand Sanitizer Guideline)
SHOULD I GET VACCINATED?
The decision to get the H1N1 vaccination is a personal choice. The Winnipeg Regional Health Authority is offering free H1N1 influenza immunization clinics for students, faculty and staff of the University of Manitoba. No appointment is necessary. It is taking place on the Fort Garry Campus. For more information, click on the link on the right hand side of the University’s Pandemic page (www.umanitoba.ca/pandemic).
For more information as outlined below, please go to the University’s Pandemic link at www.umanitoba.ca/pandemic
*General information (i.e. frequently asked questions, guidelines, fact sheets, list of symptoms, protection measures, self care guides, etc.):
*The University of Manitoba pandemic preparedness information
*Information for University employees
*Information for University students