Have supplies on hand to treat a range of health issues that could come up. You don’t want to have a horrible headache and the student store is clear across campus. Have some basic supplies in your room to address minor health complications so you can provide relief quickly. Put the number of the health center into your phone and know where it is located on campus. Find out how insurance works there and get acquainted with the health center before you actually need it. 

1. Create a First Aid Kit – Have a small first aid kit with different sized band-aids, alcohol wipes, antibiotic ointment, tweezers. 

2. Medicines to Keep on Hand – Some sort of pain medicine (Tylenol, Motrin, Advil) cold medicine (Tylenol, Dayquil, Zicam), cough and throat lozenges (Halls, Ludens) antacid medicine (Tums, Alka Setlzer, Pepto Bismol), anti-itch (Cortizone, Calamine Lotion) and anything else they may need or take more often (allergy medicine, anti dirrehea)

3. Cold and Heat Pack – Two ice packs for the freezer for when something falls on your foot or you jam your finger. For a heating pad, I highly recommend one that goes into the microwave with natural fibers. We use one almost daily to treat aches, constipation, cramps or soreness. Heat makes blood flow to the affected area and brings relief. 

4. Read Dosage – This might be one of the first times you are giving yourself the medicine. Read the label first and follow what it says. If it says no more than 4 in 24 hours adhere to that. 

5. Tea Bags – A cup of tea will go a long way when you are not feeling well, are tired, stressed out and just run down. There is a tea for just about every situation or you can just have a chamomile on hand to help soothe and provide relief. Sometimes you just need to take deep breaths and slow down.