Our Life in Their Hands?

In the last few weeks, it has been nigh on impossible to turn on the TV or try to browse Reddit without seeing multiple headlines about the possibility of Ebola spreading in the continental United States, its impact on travel or the still-rising death toll.It’s certainly a grim journalistic landscape; with most modern media outlets being thoroughly entrenched in the business of selling fear, it’s no wonder that the looming threat of Ebola has been all over the news. Those who have read World War Z or any number of other zombie survival stories might see an uncanny resemblance: fearmongering abounding on CNN, NBC and other news sources; a seemingly reasonable few asserting that we have nothing to worry about, and lastly, us, the mostly-uneducated rabble, looking for answers. Compared to the hospitals in Houston or New York, how well would Exeter conduct itself in dealing with Ebola permeating our little bubble?Many have been quick to condemn the Center for Disease Control and other such government institutions for not dealing with the disease as neatly as they would have liked. Infected nurses and doctors are messy; they are the professionals, and so when they are the ones making serious mistakes like flying on a plane or the subway while infected or failing to take off their hazmat suits safely, it can begin to feel like we’re all at risk.When those whose job it is to keep us safe are unable to deal with this new problem, where are we to turn? There is a fundamentally deep level of trust that we place in our doctors: and just as many have looked to the CDC and other such government institutions around the world to keep us informed and safe, we are brought full circle to the Phillips Exeter Health Services, who would be in a similar position here at home.Now, let me ask you, seriously: how do you feel about the health center being responsible for you in the event of some such dangerous outbreak? Not very good, I’d imagine; the health center is probably one of campuses most oft-complained of institutions. Go there with a broken leg, I’ve heard someone joke, and they’ll give you some ibuprofen. But not too many, be careful with that stuff!There’s a grain of truth there: the nurses at the health center are overburdened with students looking to fatigue or clamoring for over-the-counter painkillers that when it’s something serious, I wouldn’t be surprised if they can’t help but roll their eyes at first. In terms of preventative measures, however, there isn’t a lot those lovely ladies can do other than send out an email or two and ask us to get vaccinated during the flu season.The fact of the matter is that it’s all about non sibi, on and off of campus. Before we judge too harshly, we’d best remember that we’re all human and people make mistakes. We can’t fault the entire CDC or the entire staff of the hospital; in dealing with such a national crisis, it’s in our hands; it’s the individual people, you and me, who will be responsible for the outcome. As such, it pays to be thoughtful and responsible. This Ebola season, stay clean, stay safe and stay calm. We’ll get through it together.