Students are constantly reminded about the flu. Although swine flu is all over the media, many students don't seem too worried about it. However, the American College Health Association recorded 13,434 cases of the flu and two students have had flu related deaths.
Students don't seem worried. Dr. James Turner claims that there is plenty of oppurtunity to spread infections and germs because students "tend to socialize in large groups, frats, bars, sharing the drinking glasses, smoking material. They're in real close contact, densely packed into parties which are all breeding grounds for infections."
I think the overall problem is, many students such as myself, can't distinguish the difference between a cold, the flu and H1N1 (swine flu). Many students use the H1N1 virus as an excuse for missing class, depsite the fact that they aren't sick. This semester, many teachers and professors allowed students to only miss three days of classes or they'll assume the student has either dropped the class or fail them. Although no one on our campus has seriously been affected by H1N1, other students will continue going to class, sick or not... because for most college students- education isn't free.
So as posted in the article, "The reminders are everywhere: Wash your hands. Use hand sanitizers. Stay away from class if you're sick."
article: http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/09/22/h1n1.flu.college.students/index.html
I read an article the other day very similar to this. College students are putting themselves at risk because of things as simple as using the same shot glasses or not washing their hands. I think most of it has to do with the whole "it wont happen to me" ideas of a younger person but with all the deaths occuring we, young people, have to be more careful!
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