As fall courses have already begun, Pat Walker Health Center want to remind our campus of some key well being and security suggestions concerning basic well being precautions, heat-related sicknesses, COVID-19 reminders and issues to bear in mind with Influenza (flu) season approaching. With the current E. coli outbreak within the space, it is also a great time to overview security precautions concerning E. Coli. 

GENERAL HEALTH PRECAUTION REMINDERS 

• If you’re sick, get medical help at PWHC, if wanted.  

• Stay residence, keep away from social gatherings and shared dwelling areas and put on a masks. 

• Treat signs with over-the-counter drugs. Consult together with your physician as wanted. 

• Students in on-campus housing who’re too in poor health to go to the eating corridor can request to make use of the sick tray course of, which allows a pal or a roommate to select up on their behalf. 

• Contact your instructors and/or supervisors by telephone or e mail to advise them of absence(s) as a result of sickness. 

HEAT-RELATED ILLNESS REMINDERS 

With record-breaking warmth indices final week, realizing slightly extra about widespread heat-related sicknesses, their signs and what to do in the event you expertise these signs is a should to forestall heat-related sicknesses. 

Heat exhaustion is a milder type of heat-related sickness that may develop after a number of days of publicity to excessive temperatures and insufficient or unbalanced substitute of fluids. Heat exhaustion can result in a warmth stroke, which is when your physique will get actually scorching and can’t cool itself down. Heat cramps, sunburn and warmth rashes are additionally heat-related sicknesses that may be prevented. 

To study extra concerning the warning indicators and signs of heat-related sicknesses, view the Centers for Disease Control’s infographic.  

COVID-19 REMINDERS 

COVID-19 isolation guidelines from the CDC haven’t modified, and testing and vaccine appointments stay obtainable on the PWHC. Furthermore, the COVID-19 web page is amongst a number of communicable disease pages on the well being middle’s web site that gives our group with details about signs, testing, isolation, vaccination and extra.  

In-person and telehealth appointments for the Primary Care Clinic could be made through the Patient Portal, by calling 479-575-4451, or there are restricted walk-in appointments obtainable as nicely. Patients wishing to schedule a TeleVisit have to be within the state of Arkansas on the time of their televisit to be eligible. 

COVID-19 Vaccine Information

The Pat Walker Health Center gives on-campus COVID-19 vaccine appointments for U of A college students, workers and spouses of scholars/workers. The well being middle gives the bivalent (booster) Pfizer-BioNtech vaccine. Currently the FDA has not accepted an up to date booster for COVID-19; the well being middle plans to supply the Pfizer booster vaccine when it turns into obtainable. Please examine the COVID-19 web page and Arkansas News for updates and additional vaccine information. To schedule an appointment, go to the Patient Portal or name 479-575-4451, choice 1. 

As a reminder for college students, Pat Walker Health Center doesn’t present class excuses. Because of federal well being care privateness rules, the well being middle can not launch protected well being data (together with dates and occasions providers carried out). A optimistic residence COVID-19 check does warrant class or work absence as a result of isolation tips, even with no class excuse from a supplier (which can’t be supplied). Students and school might discover it helpful to make use of the Absence from Class Form as a way to have acceptable communication about class absences. 

INFLUENZA (FLU) REMINDERS

One of the commonest sicknesses on school campuses is the seasonal influenza (flu) virus. Although preventable, the flu is a contagious respiratory sickness that may trigger gentle to extreme sickness, and at occasions can result in loss of life. 

The first and most vital step to forestall getting the flu is to get a flu vaccination annually. Pat Walker Health Center gives the flu vaccine injection on-site for the U of A group. You could make an appointment on the Patient Portal or by calling 479-575-4451. For extra details about the flu and the flu vaccine, go to the flu page on the well being middle’s web site.  

E. COLI PRECAUTION REMINDERS

The Arkansas Department of Health is investigating an E. coli outbreak in Northwest Arkansas. The latest updates on the outbreak embody an article within the Arkansas News from Monday, Aug 28, a video interview with the Arkansas Department of Health from Friday, Aug. 25, in addition to the preliminary notification to the campus group which incorporates signs to concentrate on and precautions to assist mitigate the unfold. For extra data, go to the E. coli page on the well being middle’s web site.