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A Message from the President
on the H1N1 virus


Dear Students, Faculty and Staff,

As you may know, the flu can be spread easily from person to person. Therefore, we are taking steps to help prevent the spread of the flu at St. Johns River Community College as much possible, but we need your help to accomplish this.

We are working closely with our state and local health departments (Clay, Putnam and St. Johns counties) to monitor flu conditions and make decisions about the best steps to take concerning our institution. We will keep you updated with new information as it becomes available to us.

For now, we have taken the following measures to prevent or slow the spread of the flu and other easily communicable diseases:
  • Purchased protective antimicrobial materials to be distributed on request to all students, faculty and staff including:
    • barrier masks located in major first aid kits
    • hand sanitizer gel
    • disinfectant spray
    • disinfectant wipes
    • additional disinfecting materials as recommended by public health authorities
  • Installed wall mounted hand sanitizer dispensers (gel or automatic foam) in all buildings on all campuses in public and key traffic areas, for example at the entrance to each building.
  • Posted reminders to students, staff and the public to wash hands often and to cover sneezes.
  • Requested our custodial contractor to clean and disinfect surfaces such as countertops, door handles, public access phones, etc.
  • Requested day porters and in-house custodians to set a positive example by visibly disinfecting surfaces such as door handles, countertops, tables, etc. throughout the day.
Here are a few things you can do to help:
  • Practice good hand hygiene by washing your hands with soap and water, especially after coughing or sneezing. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective and are available on our campuses.
  • Practice respiratory etiquette by covering your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. If you don't have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your elbow or shoulder, not into your hands. Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth; germs are spread this way.
  • Know the signs and symptoms of the flu. A fever is a temperature taken with a thermometer that is equal to or greater than 100 degrees Fahrenheit or 38 degrees Celsius. Look for possible signs of fever: if the person feels very warm, has a flushed appearance or is sweating or shivering.
  • Stay home if you have the flu or a flu-like illness for at least 24 hours after you no longer have a fever (100 degrees Fahrenheit or 38 degrees Celsius) or signs of a fever (have chills, feel very warm, have a flushed appearance or are sweating). This should be determined without the use of fever-reducing medications (any medicine that contains ibuprofen or acetaminophen). Don't go to class or work.
  • Talk with your health care providers about whether you should be vaccinated for seasonal flu. Also, if you are at a higher risk for flu complications from 2009 H1N1 flu, you should consider getting the H1N1 vaccine when it becomes available. People at higher risk for 2009 H1N1 flu complications include pregnant women and people with chronic medical conditions (such as asthma, heart disease, or diabetes). For more information about priority groups for vaccination, visit www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/vaccination/acip.htm.
For the most up-to-date information on the flu, visit www.flu.gov, or call 1-800-CDC-INFO (232-4636).

We will notify you by e-mail, postings on the College Web site and Twitter of any additional changes to our institution's strategy to prevent the spread of the flu on our campus.

The health of all students, faculty and staff is of the highest importance to this institution. We will continue to closely monitor this situation and will provide you with additional information as it becomes available. Thank you for joining us in our effort to keep the College family healthy throughout the flu season.

Very Truly Yours,



Joe H. Pickens
President