College Countdown

    Medical Life Skills

 

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Tips and Tricks

More Details for When You are Leaving for or At College

What is a section called "Medical" doing in a site about college admissions? Because to get to the point that you are taking care of yourself at college, you have to know about your medical history and how to take care of yourself to stay well and what to do if you get sick.

The below Tips and Tricks cannot be learned and absorbed the two weeks before you go off to college. These are life lessons. The more you know about how your body works, how to stay healthy and how to treat medical issues, the better off you will be.

Tips and Tricks Discussion

    *    Know your own medical history & have it in writing somewhere:
                inoculations, dates of originals and boosters
                illnesses & injuries, childhood and major
                what medications, both prescriptions and OTC, you take
                names and telephone numbers of your doctors and dentist
                name and telephone of your home pharmacy

    *    Know your family's medical histories:
                for example: heart disease, diabetes, cancer

    *    If you get a cold, what do you normally take that works for you?

    *    Build a mini-pharmacy for your dorm room based on the above info.
            Also include first-aid supplies: bandages, antibiotic cream, etc.

    *    Eat well-balanced diet, drink water, get enough sleep and exercise.

    *    Don't share drinks -- if you do, you'll get sick somewhere along the line.

    *    Washing hands with soap and water and thoroughly drying is still one
            of the best ways to stay healthy during cold & flu season.

    *    The jury is still out about anti-bacterial lotions, etc. -- ask your own
            doctor, and if she says use it, then make sure you use prior to putting
            hands to face/mouth/food.

    *    If you're not feeling well and it's different or faster than you've had before,
            let someone know you're really not feeling well so someone will check
            on you.

    *    Remember there is no shame in going to the doctor/campus health center.
            What's bad is if you wait too long to go or no one knows you're that sick.

    *    Before each high school year and before you go off to college, you will need a
             physical. Especially at that "go off to college" doctor's visit, ask questions
             regarding your medial self-care. Questions to your doctor should include:
                    If I get the "influenza flu" do you want me to get Rx for anti-viral?
                    How long after onset of symptoms do I have for anti-viral Rx to work?

 

           

   
               

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 
 © 2005 [Wildwood Country Press]. All rights reserved.
 Revised: August 10, 2005 .

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