Welcome to Millersville to the new students, and welcome back to returning upperclassman! As many of you walk the halls, sidewalks and other places around campus one must be on the lookout for germs. I’m not here to tell you that campus is gross, dirty and unsanitary or anything of that nature, however, germs, the nasty little things that they are, are quite inevitable.
Whether you live in a dorm, commute, or have an apartment or house off campus, you come in contact with millions of germs a day. The first few weeks of the fall semester, the body is vulnerable to bacteria and viruses while getting acclimated to the new environment. Here are a few tips on how to avoid germs and stay healthy on campus this semester.
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Wash your hands. According to the CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention) one should wash their hands often, including but not limited to: before, during and after food prep; before and after consuming food; after using the toilet, changing diapers or helping children who have used the toilet; after blowing your nose, sneezing, or coughing; after touching animals or animal waste; after touching garbage; and before and after treating a cut or wound. Make sure to wash for at least 20 seconds! Usually if you recite the alphabet twice you should be okay (feel free to switch up the language too if you like!). Washing hands is the most effective way to reduce the numbers of germs on them. If you don’t have access to a sink, feel free to use hand sanitizer… just make sure it’s at least 60% alcohol!
Get Enough Sleep. According to WebMD, too little sleep can cause memory problems, depression and even weakening of the immune system. Apparently, as college students, we are supposed to find time to pencil in 7-9 hours of sleep a night. Between taking 18 credits, needing 40 hours of observations in the athletic training room, and time I have to devote to the organizations I am involved with, trust me, I know it’s hard!
Be careful what you share. Sharing cups, utensils, lip balm and even swapping spit can transmit quite a few germs. One can contract meningitis, mononucleosis, common colds, strep throat, etc. Even the slightest common cold can throw off your entire week; between paying attention in lectures, sitting through long labs, and doing homework, there is no time for any sort of sickness.
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Eat your fruits and veggies. In order for your body to function properly, it needs to have the right amount of nutrients; a.k.a. vitamins, minerals, and all that other fun stuff that you should care more about but most fail to do so. Eat foods with iron, vitamin A, B, C, E and K, and zinc. What does all this mean? Basically eat green, leafy vegetables and eat oranges and other citrus fruits like grapefruits, tangerines and clementines (drinking their juice counts too!). Essentially make sure you get your daily recommended amounts of fruits and vegetables. Also, taking a daily multi-vitamin can help.
Practice good personal hygiene. Bathing daily gets rid of the debris that collect on the skin. Face it, everyone gets dirty, some more than others, but sweat and debris buildup can cause skin infections, pink eye and an all-around unpleasant smell and appearance. When germs are on the outside of the skin, you run the risk of them entering through openings, such as the mouth, nostrils and cuts.
In the event that you, or someone you know starts feeling under the weather, take action as soon as possible to prevent everyone in your hallway from getting sick. I mean it! My first semester at Millersville, half of the girls in my hallway got sick because one girl came down with something and it just spread.
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The Health Services building is located right off of George Street on McCollough Street in between Hash and Chryst. In order to be seen an appointment must be made, so make sure you call first. The staff knows what they are doing; I personally have been there a few times. Visits are free, and while there may be a small fee for some tests and medications, things like cough drops and Ibuprofen are free of charge. The number for Health Services is (717) 872-3250. They are open for the fall and spring semesters Monday-Thursday 8:00am-5:30pm and Friday 8:00am-3:30pm. Remember, they’re not open on weekends!
Sources:
http://www.cdc.gov/features/handwashing/
http://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/guide/sleep-requirements
http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=faq&dbid=24
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