The Department of Education has provided a list of current New York City public school closings and re-openings as well as a attendance data for all the public schools in the five boroughs. Click here for detailed information.
If your child attends a private or parochial school, please contact the school directly for specific information or to answer any questions.
Now is a terrific time to instill in your child the life-long habit of frequent and thorough handwashing. Click here for a downloadable poster that teaches handwashing to children. (And remember to wash your own hands as well).
Stay safe and healthy.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Monday, May 18, 2009
Swine Flu Update
As New York City College of Technology continues to monitor available information regarding H1N1—also known as swine flu--we wanted to provide you with an update of the most recent developments to help you make informed decisions about your health.
Recently, ten public schools in Queens and one in Brooklyn were closed for five days after the Department of Health documented unusually high and increasing levels of influenza-like illnesses amidst the student body and staff. Also, tragically, New York has documented its first fatality due to H1N1.
At this time, New York City College of Technology has received no reports of any documented cases of H1N1 from students, faculty, or staff. If you receive a diagnosis of H1N1, please alert Holly Burmeister, Director of the Student Wellness Center, as soon as possible. She can be reached at (718) 260-5914.
Symptoms of H1N1 include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Some people have reported diarrhea and vomiting as well. Any New Yorker experiencing severe symptoms, such as difficulty breathing, should seek health care and treatment.
If you are already on campus and are experiencing any of the symptoms listed above, please come to the Student Wellness Center for assessment. We are located in Pearl 104 and are open Monday through Thursday, 9am-5pm. If you are at home and experiencing any of the symptoms listed above, do not come to campus. Stay home until symptoms subside for at least 24 hrs.
The Health Department advises any New Yorker who has flu symptoms and also has an underlying health condition such as asthma, pregnancy, emphysema or other lung disease or diabetes; a compromised immune system or cancer; to seek medical treatment. In addition, if an individual with such a medical condition has household or other close contact with someone with influenza, they should see their doctor to determine whether preventive medicine is needed. For students, staff, and household members of affected students and staff at schools which have been closed, those who have an underlying medical condition as stated above should also see their doctors to discuss the need for preventive medicine.
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 experience any of the symptoms listed above, stay home from work or school until at least 24 hrs. after symptoms subside and limit contact with others to avoid infecting them.
In the rare instance that someone in your home becomes ill with H1N1, the CDC has issued guidelines to help you stay well, care for your loved one, and avoid further transmission of the virus. You may find this information at the following website: http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/guidance_homecare.htm
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 H1N1, please visit the Department of Health and CDC websites. Some specific resources:
Facts about H1N1 and school closing updates
http://www.nyc.gov/html/doh/html/home/home.shtml
General information about H1N1
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 H1N1: 800-808-1987.
The Student Wellness Center is available to answer questions about H1N1 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--
Student Wellness Center
Recently, ten public schools in Queens and one in Brooklyn were closed for five days after the Department of Health documented unusually high and increasing levels of influenza-like illnesses amidst the student body and staff. Also, tragically, New York has documented its first fatality due to H1N1.
At this time, New York City College of Technology has received no reports of any documented cases of H1N1 from students, faculty, or staff. If you receive a diagnosis of H1N1, please alert Holly Burmeister, Director of the Student Wellness Center, as soon as possible. She can be reached at (718) 260-5914.
Symptoms of H1N1 include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Some people have reported diarrhea and vomiting as well. Any New Yorker experiencing severe symptoms, such as difficulty breathing, should seek health care and treatment.
If you are already on campus and are experiencing any of the symptoms listed above, please come to the Student Wellness Center for assessment. We are located in Pearl 104 and are open Monday through Thursday, 9am-5pm. If you are at home and experiencing any of the symptoms listed above, do not come to campus. Stay home until symptoms subside for at least 24 hrs.
The Health Department advises any New Yorker who has flu symptoms and also has an underlying health condition such as asthma, pregnancy, emphysema or other lung disease or diabetes; a compromised immune system or cancer; to seek medical treatment. In addition, if an individual with such a medical condition has household or other close contact with someone with influenza, they should see their doctor to determine whether preventive medicine is needed. For students, staff, and household members of affected students and staff at schools which have been closed, those who have an underlying medical condition as stated above should also see their doctors to discuss the need for preventive medicine.
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 experience any of the symptoms listed above, stay home from work or school until at least 24 hrs. after symptoms subside and limit contact with others to avoid infecting them.
In the rare instance that someone in your home becomes ill with H1N1, the CDC has issued guidelines to help you stay well, care for your loved one, and avoid further transmission of the virus. You may find this information at the following website: http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/guidance_homecare.htm
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 H1N1, please visit the Department of Health and CDC websites. Some specific resources:
Facts about H1N1 and school closing updates
http://www.nyc.gov/html/doh/html/home/home.shtml
General information about H1N1
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 H1N1: 800-808-1987.
The Student Wellness Center is available to answer questions about H1N1 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--
Student Wellness Center
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
May is Bike Month!
Transportation Alternatives, a not-for-profit advocacy group that promotes bicycling, walking, and alternative transportation, offers the following information to help you safely and legally navigate the New York City on two wheels:
Rules of the Road
What’s the Law?So what exactly are the rules of the road for cyclists? In abbreviated form below are the basic laws that cyclists are obliged to obey. Cyclists must also follow all traffic signals and signs. This information is compiled from the N.Y.C. Traffic Rules (NYC) and from the N.Y. State Vehicle and Traffic Law (NYS). For folks who want to read further, copies of the Vehicle and Traffic Law are available to the public at the Dept. of Motor Vehicles for $1.
Rights and ResponsibilitiesYou must obey traffic laws. Every bicyclist and in-line skater has the same rights and is subject to the same duties as a driver of a vehicle, with certain exceptions. (NYS 1231)
Where to Ride
Ride in the bike lane if provided, except for safety, turns, etc. (NYC 4-12, p)
On a wide one-way roadway, ride on either side. (NYC 4-12, p)
Ride on the right side of the roadway, with above exceptions. (NYS 1234)
Where Not to Ride
Don’t ride on the sidewalk unless you are twelve years old or younger. (NYC 4-07, c)
If you ride on the sidewalk, your bike can be confiscated. (NYC Admin Code 19-176)
Don’t ride on expressways, highways, interstates or thruways unless authorized by signs. (NYC 4-12, o)
How to Ride / How Not to Ride
Don’t hitch your bike or cling to any other vehicle on the roadway. (No skitching.) (NYS 1233) Don’t ride more than two abreast. Ride single file when being
passed. (NYS 1234) -->
Use hand and arm signals to indicate turns and stops. (NYS 1237)
If you’re carrying packages, keep at least one hand on handlebar. (NYS 1235)
Don’t ride friends on the handlebars or seat. Carry only the number of persons for which your bike is designed. (NYS 1232)
Ride with your feet on the pedals. (NYS 1232)
Equipment
Don’t wear headphones or a walkman while riding. (NYS 375)
Use a white headlight and red taillight from dusk to dawn. (NYS 1236)
You must have a bell or other audible signal (not a whistle). (NYS 1236)
You must have working brakes. (NYS 1236)
You must have reflectors, reflective tires and/or other reflective devices. (NYS 1236)
Only bicyclists under 14 years old must wear a helmet. (NYS 1238)
Check out Transportation Alternatives' website for more biking information and Bike Month events. Also check out Ride the City--its a very cool mapping engine for safe bicycle routes in the five boroughs.
Happy and Safe biking!
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.
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
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
Monday, April 27, 2009
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.
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