Just the mention of swine flu can send the most reserved person running. Because of this, ignorance is not really a blissful characteristic to have.
Every person, especially students, should be knowledgeable about what the swine flu really is and how to take wise precautions.
For starters, humans cannot catch swine flu by eating pork. It is also not solely contagious by interacting with pigs.
The present strand of swine flu, also known as H1N1, is an influenza virus that can spread through human contact just like any other regular flu virus.
So why are people letting the fear of the swine flu dominate their daily lives? If those consumed by fear took the time to educate themselves properly on what is already known about it, there would be fewer reasons to fear the unfamiliar.
Because swine flu sufferers incur many of the same symptoms as those with the seasonal flu, it’s not hard to see why people can assume they have been infected with the H1N1 virus when they have not.
Sore throat, muscle pain, runny or stuffy nose, vomiting, diarrhea and other symptoms can occur in both sicknesses.
Students have enough to worry about without unnecessary panic of a flu, especially when they can take an active role to prevent.
Claudia Witcher, assistant director for the UCF Health Center, said if students have a temperature of more than 100, they should set an appointment to seek medical attention.
Health centers and hospitals have given information on creating plans of action regarding staff, facilities and medical supplies in case the issue worsens.
Florida Hospital’s Web site even uses Twitter to keep the public informed by delivering “fast and accurate news to the community.”
Thankfully, UCF Health Services appears to be following this trend of using the Internet to keep the UCF community informed. A link on its Web site takes viewers straight to an update page on the progression of the flu in Florida as well as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
With the click of a button, anyone can get information. Being informed on the swine flu and how it impacts people locally only gets easier.
Witcher also mentioned preventative aid available on campus as well as precautions students can take on their own. When it comes to situations such as these, Witcher stated that people should not feel powerless.
Hand sanitizers have been strategically placed in food areas on campus so students can use them after handling money and before eating their food. Could safety be any easier?
Not touching the eyes, nose and mouth is an important part of prevention. Many people can be seen wearing masks as a form of precaution, but is this enough?
Imagine this scenario. A person wears a mask while out in public, but still touches and interacts with contagious items. If the person goes home and removes the mask without washing his or her hands, germs can still be spread when the face is touched.
It is crucial to participate in proper handwashing before eating, after sneezing and especially after using the restroom.
Handwashing should be a common courtesy anyway. Would anyone really want to shake the hand of a person that had just left the restroom without using antibacterial soap and water?
According to Witcher, proper handwashing time would allow a person to sing “Happy Birthday” twice. This is a song that many learn as children, which only enforces the widely known saying, “Even a kid could do it.”
If adults, and most college students can’t even take the time to care for their safety and the safety of those around them, how will kids ever learn proper sanitation?
Make sure to turn off the faucet and open the door with a paper towel. There is no need to waste the precious time spent washing hands just to have the germs transferred back on by leaving the restroom.
Swine flu may be causing some fear, but people can still take important precautions against it. Government organizations, such as the CDC, and healthcare facilities have made staying informed easy for the general public.
It would be disadvantageous to not utilize these free resources in order to be educated on how the swine flu impacts citizens and our nation as a whole.
The key is to take small individual actions to be able to safely function within the university community and throughout daily life. So leave the mask at home, but don’t forget the sanitizer.
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