Health & Wellness

The goal of the Heath Service Nurse is to assist students, families, and staff with health care needs and the prevention of health related illness or injury that would impede the learning process. A healthy environment builds a healthy student and provides the optimal setting for learning and achieving one’s maximum potential.

Nurse's Department Announcements

Cold vs. Flu and You

• The season is upon us! Because the common cold and flu share many symptoms, it can be difficult (or even impossible) to tell the difference. In general, the flu is worse than the common cold, and symptoms such as fever, body aches, extreme tiredness and dry cough are more common and intense. Colds are usually milder and more likely to have a runny, stuffy nose. Colds usually do not result in serious illness such as pneumonia, bacterial infections or hospitalization.

What should I do if I'm sick?

• Stay home for at least 24 hours after the fever is gone. (Your fever should be gone without the use of fever reducing medicine such as Tylenol). Stay away from others while you are feeling sick, continue to cover coughs and sneezes and the best defense is to wash your hands frequently! It is important to know that even if you don’t have a fever, you may have the flu and be contagious if you get flu symptoms.

To help stop the spread of germs:

• Cover your mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze and if a tissue is not handy use your upper sleeve or elbow to cover your mouth, NOT your hands!
• Place used tissues in a wastebasket
• Wash your hands for at least 20 seconds! If no soap and water available use alcohol-based hand rub.
• Avoid touching your mouth, eyes or nose. Germs are spread this way.
• Clean and disinfect surfaces and objects that may be contaminated with germs like the flu.