Thursday, April 30, 2009

Swine Flu Update

New York City College of Technology continues to monitor available information regarding swine flu. Below you will find an update of the most recent developments to help you make informed decisions about your health.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that U.S. travelers avoid all nonessential travel to Mexico. Further information about travel restrictions to Mexico may be found at the following website: http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/

All New Yorkers should continue to follow the precautions listed below:

• Always cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze with a tissue, or cough into shoulder
or sleeve. Do not cough or sneeze into bare hands. Promptly throw tissue in trash.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water or alcohol-based cleaners, especially after
you cough or sneeze.
• Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
• If you get sick with a fever accompanied by a sore throat, stay home from work or school for
seven days and limit contact with others to avoid infecting them.


In the rare instance that someone in your home becomes ill with swine flu, the CDC has issued guidelines to help you stay well, care for your loved one, and avoid further transmission of the virus. You will find this information at the following website:
– http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/guidance_homecare.htm

It is important to note that the vast majority of the cases of swine flu that have appeared in the U.S. have been very mild. While the number of cases reported in New York has risen in the past two days, those cases have, thus far, been linked to known exposures. The overall confirmed swine flu case number is still very, very low.

Remain calm, stay alert to new information, and follow the common sense precautions detailed here and advised by the New York City Department of Health and the CDC.

For facts about influenza, and more information about swine flu, please visit the Department of Health and CDC websites. Some specific resources:

– Facts about flu from the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene:
– http://www.nyc.gov/html/doh/html/cd/cdinflu.shtml

– General information about swine flu from the CDC:
– http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/general_info.htm

New York State Department of Health has set up a 24-hour hotline to answer questions about swine flu: 800-808-1987.

The Student Wellness Center is available to answer questions about swine flu and any other health-related matters. The Center can be reached at (718) 260-5910 and is located in Pearl 104. We will post further information as it becomes available. Please continue to check the City Tech website for updated information.

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Swine Flu Information and Update

New York City College of Technology is monitoring incoming information about the swine flu, which has appeared in Mexico, in a number of U.S. states, and among a handful of New York City residents in Queens. We want to provide you with information about the swine flu, what we are doing to respond to this news and actions you can take to stay healthy.

The New York City Department of Health is working closely with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to monitor and coordinate response actions. We at City Tech are closely following recommendations from these agencies and will appropriately implement their recommendations.

According to the NYC Department of Health's website, patients experiencing severe symptoms, such as difficulty breathing, should seek medical treatment from a physician.
Otherwise, the Health Department recommends at-home care. The most effective way to lower the risk of transmission is for people with flu-like symptoms to stay home.

The New York City Department of Health's top official, Dr. Thomas Frieden, is urging New Yorkers not to go to a hospital if they have typical mild cold or flu symptoms.

All New Yorkers should follow the precautions listed below:

* Always cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze with a tissue, or cough into shoulder or sleeve. Do not cough or sneeze into bare hands. Promptly throw the tissue in the trash.

* Wash your hands often with soap and water or alcohol-based cleaners, especially after you cough or sneeze.

* Try to avoid close contact with sick people.

* If you get sick, stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to avoid infecting them.

Swine influenza cannot be transmitted from eating pork or pork products.
The symptoms of swine flu in people appear to be similar to the symptoms of seasonal human flu and include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Some people have reported diarrhea and vomiting associated with swine flu. Like seasonal flu, swine flu may cause a worsening of underlying chronic medical conditions. If you have medical conditions that make you more vulnerable to seasonal flu, and you experience flu-like symptoms, follow-up promptly with your physician.

It is important to note that the cases of swine flu that have appeared in the U.S. have been very mild: there have been no fatalities reported in the U.S., and only one hospitalization reported.

For facts about influenza, and more information about swine flu, please visit the Health Department and CDC websites. Some specific resources:

Facts about flu


General information about swine flu




New York State Department of Health has set up a 24-hour hotline to answer questions about swine flu: 800-808-1987.

The Student Wellness Center is available to answer questions about swine flu and any other health-related matters. The Center can be reached at (718) 260-5910 and is located in Pearl 104. We will post further information as it becomes available.
Please continue to check the City Tech website for updated information.

Take Care--
Holly Burmeister
Director, Student Wellness Center

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

The Post-Spring Break Reality Check

We all know what it's like to have a nice week off, see friends and family, and then get thrust back into school life with deadlines looming and the end of the semester speeding up to our front doors. Take a moment during this harsh reality check to prioritize the things you need to do over the coming weeks in preparation for the end of the semester.

Don't let all the stress build up, it would make that spring break chill wash away faster than the chalk on the sidewalk during all these spring showers we're getting. You can take a long walk, or go to one of the fitness classes that we offer here at City Tech to get some of that energy out of your system.

If you made a resolution to strengthen or tone your body or incorporate fitness into your daily life, there is no better a time than when you are stressed out. It might seem like more work, but actually studies show that taking time out of a busy schedule to bring exercise into your life not only reduces stress but strengthens your mental clarity.

Here are a few more tips to bust that stress:

Cut stress- cut the negative thoughts!

Stress really builds when you fill yourself with negative thoughts. If you keep telling yourself that you're "useless", "stupid" and have "never worked hard enough", pretty soon you'll start convincing yourself that these things are true- and so the stress compounds.

It's easier said than done, but to break this negative whirlwind you've got to curb yourself thinking these things about yourself. Try to see things positively, in terms of exciting projects or challenges. Reward yourself whenever you achieve something worthwhile. Catch yourself and stop yourself thinking negative thoughts or putting yourself down: positive self talk about how well you're doing will help you to achieve more.

Phone A Friend

This one's crucial! A problem shared is a problem halved; and simply sharing a worry with a friend can literally half your anxiety about it. Don't feel stupid about talking; it's likely that they're going through similar things and it may even be a relief for them to hear you mention it. Don't forget it cuts both ways too: a friend might also quite like to be listened too. And, it's all good: stress usually compiles when you're wrapped up in your own thoughts, so having your attention on somebody else for a while will help to shrink your own worries.