As incoming freshman prepare to live on their own for the first time, they need to remember to pack a little common sense, said Kathy Braunlich, spokeswoman for Olin Health Center.
Proper diet, exercise and sleep are still important when students leave home, Braunlich said.
"Students need to remember some of the things their mom told them," Braunlich said. "It is important for keeping the immune system strong and warding off illness."
If students do get sick, there are resources available on and around campus.
The Olin Health Center is an on-campus health facility that offers general and urgent care. It also offers physical therapy, a pharmacy, a dental clinic, radiology, gynecology and a laboratory.
Students receive three free visits each academic school year, Braunlich said. The visits are subsidized by the university, so extra charges such as lab work or tests would be an extra cost to the student, she said.
For everything Olin can't handle, Lansing's Sparrow Hospital, 1215 E. Michigan Ave. in Lansing can, said John Lux, spokesman for the health system.
Students need to be as prepared as possible for emergencies by contacting their insurance providers and finding out what the company will cover while the student is at school, Braunlich said.
"Some may only pay for minor emergency services, some may pay for quite a bit," Braunlich said. "(Students) should have their own copy of their insurance card in case they need health-care services."
The most common health issue usually comes in the form of a cold or flu that can run rampant in the winter months when people stay inside close quarters, said Glynda Moorer, staff physician and director of Olin Health Center.
There are some supplies to keep on hand in preparation for illnesses that can be passed around in crowded residence halls, Moorer said.
Students should bring a thermometer with them and keep basic pain relievers like Tylenol, medications that include fever reducers and cold and flu preparations like Advil Cold & Sinus. They should also have a first-aid kit with bandages in it, just in case, Moorer said.
