H1N1 Information

A special thank you to the University of Alberta for agreeing to share their research and information with us.

Influenza and Community Living

In addition to the Mount Royal's H1N1 Information Page, Residence Services has, using information gathered from Alberta Health and Wellness and with the assistance of the University of Alberta Residence Services, developed the responses below as a resource for residents and their families regarding influenza planning within our residences.

Please contact us if you have additional questions that are not outlined below.  

Residence Influenza Questions

#1.  What do I do if I have influenza-like symptoms?

The measures below are provided by Alberta Health and Wellness as a guide to self-care if you are experiencing influenza-like symptoms:

• Identify a "Buddy" within your unit and one of the two of you should contact your Resident Advisor (RA) by e-mail or phone, rather than in person, to let them know that you are feeling ill and this will ensure Residence Services is aware of your situation.
• Stay home from work or school for seven days after your symptoms begin or until you are feeling well enough to resume normal activities, whichever is shorter.
• Clean hands frequently, especially after coughing, sneezing or blowing your nose.
• Wash your hands with soap and water, or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. When done correctly, this is the single most effective way to reduce the spread of infections.
• Cough and sneeze into your arm, not your hand.
• Do not touch your eyes, nose or mouth after shaking hands or touching hard surfaces like counters and door handles or other surfaces that may harbour influenza and other viruses.
• Keep common surfaces clean and disinfected.
• Stay at least two metres (six feet) away from people who are experiencing influenza-like symptoms. This is called social distancing and includes staying away from crowds when influenza is circulating in the community.
• Other steps to keep yourself healthy include:
  Healthy eating;
  Maintaining an active lifestyle; and
  Getting enough rest and sleep.
• For links to more information about self-care methods, please visit the Mount Royal's H1N1 Information Page.
• Alberta Health and Wellness advises that it is important to call a health care provider, including the EnCana Wellness Centre Health Services if symptoms persist for more than 7 days or are unusual in nature – please telephone your health centre FIRST to arrange your visit before you visit.
• E-mail friends or other students who are enrolled in the same classes as you are to arrange for note taking.  

#2. What do I do if someone in my community has influenza-like symptoms?
For information about the measures that should be used to avoid contracting influenza, please visit the Alberta Health and Wellness website and the Mount Royal's H1N1 Information Page. It is also important to notify your RA that there is someone in your community with influenza-like symptoms.  This will help the RA ensure that the proper care is provided to the individual.   

If someone is bringing a friend or "buddy" schoolwork, what precautions should be taken?
We strongly encourage social distancing from students exhibiting influenza-like symptoms. If you are bringing schoolwork or meals to an individual who is socially distancing him or herself, leave whatever you are bringing outside their bedroom door.

What are the cleaning procedures in residence?
Common residence areas are cleaned every day by our professionally trained staff, who devote additional energy to high touch surfaces. All residents have a responsibility to contribute to the cleanliness of their individual rooms/units.

What happens if full-time residence staff are ill?
Residence Services will do our best to remain open and provide full services to the students living in our community. If however, members of our department fall ill with influenza like symptoms they are encouraged to remain at home and as a result we may have to reduce services or, in the worst case, close our office. 

Does the residence community environment have a higher risk of infection?
The risk of contracting influenza within a residence community is no higher than the risk in any group gathering or public place.  Remember that your behaviour does affect your chances of contracting influenza so it is important that you don’t share belongings and do follow the steps outlined in questions #1 and #2 to stay healthy.

What should I not share with my friends? 
Do NOT share anything that comes into contact with your mucous membranes (eyes, nose, mouth). This would include items such as food, drink, drinking containers, lip balm/lipstick, toothbrush, pens and pencils (as someone may have had them in their mouth). Since the virus can survive on surfaces from a few hours to a few days, ensure that you are washing your hands regularly before and after you are touching any surfaces.

How can I cook in shared facilities and not become ill?

Guests

Family inquiries

What can I do as a parent to help my student if he or she is ill?
If you are a parent of a resident who is experiencing influenza-like symptoms, you can help your student in several ways:

• Encourage them to follow the health guidelines detailed in questions #1, #2 and #3. 
• Remind your student about Alberta Health and Wellness’s guidelines regarding healthy habits, eating, and personal hygiene and ensure that they are getting plenty of rest and staying hydrated.
• It is important to maintain regular contact with your student and monitor their health. 
• Ensure that, when medical attention is required, a student contacts their health care provider before they go to see the health care provider or visit a health care facility

What can I do as a parent to help my student if he or she is healthy?
As the parent of a student living in residence, you can encourage them to maintain healthy habits and practice good hygiene as outlined in questions #1 and #2 above.  It's also important to monitor the health of your student and encourage them to obtain the seasonal and H1N1 influenza vaccines, as recommended by Alberta Health and Wellness, when they become available this fall. 

Should my student stay in residence if others are ill?
This is a personal decision on the part of the student and family and there will be no requirement that ill students are asked to leave residence.

For information about the measures that should be used to avoid contracting influenza, please visit the Mount Royal's H1N1 Information Page and review questions #1 and #2 above.