Health Hazards on Campus

Sneaky Health Hazards on Campus

Lauren Joffe

Just because spring is around the corner, it doesn’t mean you’re in the clear when it comes to getting sick. Here, we’ll talk about some smart strategies to keep in mind the next time you, say, mindlessly walk barefoot through that locker room.

Flu ... Ew

With an epidemic outbreak of H1N1 last winter and the current onset of seasonal flu, avoiding a serious case of fevers and chills really isn’t difficult if you remember some easy steps. Sure, you’ve heard the typical “wash your hands” and “get enough sleep” mantras, but here are some other ways to stay healthy:

Regularly sanitize your gear

Students spend such a large portion of time using tech gadgets -- both personal and shared -- that regularly sanitizing keyboards, cell phones, computer mice, etc., can help you avoid contracting the flu. For those living in dorms, it’s common for roommates and friends to borrow your technology -- so just because it’s yours, it doesn’t mean it’s, well, virus-free.

Keep toothbrushes at a safe distance

The American Dental Association recommends changing toothbrushes every three months to avoid viruses and bacteria. To avoid catching the flu from your roommates, store your toothbrushes at a distance from one another. To further avoid toothbrush contamination between three-month increments, stick the bristles in a glass (half water and half hydrogen peroxide), stir the toothbrush around for a few minutes to rid it of threatening germs, and then store it with the bristles facing upward to stop bacteria from multiplying between brushing.

Put out that cig

Aside from cancers, emphysema, yellow teeth and myriad other health consequences caused by smoking, here is yet another reason to squash that habit: According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), smokers are more likely than non-smokers to contract influenza because it reduces resistance to infection. So stop lighting up ... and stop taking drags from friends.

Don’t Laugh at Staph

Many people think staph infections are isolated to hospital settings, but a relatively new strain of community-acquired staph is being found on campuses. MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) is an antibiotic-resistant form of staph that occurs when bacteria gets under the skin. And when an abrasion or dry skin causes the skin to crack, an infection that resembles a pimple, boil or rash arises. With these easy health tips, you can steer clear of an ugly run-in with a staph infection:

Wash your hands

Sure, you’re accustomed to washing your hands to avoid the common cold and even the flu, but washing hands regularly also helps ward off staph-related bacteria, which can live on surfaces for hours. Even the sneakiest of places (ahem ... dirty clothes from your dorm’s laundry facility) can spur an outbreak, which means cleansing throughout the day can save you from a nasty, unwanted infection.

Shave responsibly

Whether we’re shaving our legs or ’staches, we’ve all had the occasional razor-nick. Shaving is one of the more risky daily grooming activities that puts students at risk of staph-related infection. From knees to chins, any area where the skin breaks from razor contact creates an open wound that bacteria can creep into, causing illness.

Sanitize exercise equipment

As mentioned, staph-related bacteria can live on surfaces for hours. When using your university’s gym facilities, it’s important to sanitize the equipment both before and after use. Before running on a treadmill or picking up free weights, use the gym’s antibacterial cloths to wipe down areas you will come in contact with. Locker rooms and gyms are especially susceptible to housing bacteria, so ensure your health and the health of your peers by sanitizing whenever possible. If your gym offers free towel use, make sure the towel is clean, or play it safe and bring your own. And walking through the locker room? Let’s just say flip-flops are a must!

Steer Clear of STIs

Sexually transmitted infections are becoming more present on campuses. HPV is currently the most common of STIs, with 60 percent of college women slated to contract it within their four years of school, according to the CDC. Other common STIs include chlamydia, gonorrhea, hepatitis, herpes and syphilis. And with 45.5 percent of sexually active students having never been tested for STIs, it is of the utmost importance that students engaging in sexual activity take precaution.

Female birth control won’t do the trick

Even if you or your partner is on the pill or uses another form of female contraception, this will not prevent the contraction of any of the abovementioned infections. No matter how you slice it, aside from abstinence, male condoms are the most effective means through which sexually active students can avoid STIs.

Test before sex

Many STIs, like HPV and herpes, do not always present symptoms, which is why it’s crucial for both partners to get tested before engaging in sexual activity. The CDC recommends that women younger than 25 get tested for STIs once a year. Guys should also get tested regularly. If you are in a monogamous, committed relationship, both partners should get tested before engaging in sex without a condom.

Research vaccinations

Twenty million Americans are currently infected with HPV, which means students (both male and female) should take advantage of recently released HPV vaccinations that prevent multiple strains of the infection. Gardasil prevents women from four of the 30 strains of HPV. When combined with a condom, the vaccine drastically reduces a woman’s chances of contracting the infection. For guys, the FDA-approved Gardasil for males ages 9 through 26 helps reduce 90 percent of genital warts cases. Even those who are already sexually active and have been exposed to certain strains of HPV can benefit from Gardasil. So get on it!

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