One of the scariest things about being a young adult in college is not having your mom when you’re sick or injured. For many of us, Mom was the one to tell us which medication to take and how to treat our sprained ankle. How are you supposed to know how to do those things without her guidance? No worries Kenyon students—I’m here to help you out. I’ve got a few tips and tricks to help you out when you need injury help in a pinch, or when you can’t get to the Health Center before class.
I have a quick disclaimer though: Although I do have a couple of years of athletic training experience, I am not a medical professional. The information used in this article has been collected from sources believed to be reliable, and every precaution has been taken to ensure its accuracy. So, without further adieu, here’s a quick health sheet for the average Kenyon student.
So you think you have the Krud?
You wake up groggy and confused. Your throat is dry and sore, your head is pounding, and your nose is completely stuffed up. We all know the feeling; it’s the first signs that you have a cold. I don’t know about you, but whenever I was starting to feel sick at home, the first people who I went to were my parents. All they needed was a list of my symptoms, and they could tell me exactly which medications to take and when to take them. Although they may not be here in Gambier with us, there is something else that can be just as useful.
While perusing information on common cold and flu medications, I came across a website called iodine. Iodine was a website created to aid people as they learn about their health and healthcare options, and they have a lot of really interesting information on basically any medication you could find at your local drug store. They have also created a handy app that allows someone to find the best medication for them based on their cold and flu symptoms. It gives you multiple options along with all of their medical information. So, if you’re feeling sick, and you don’t know what medicine you should be taking, I would definitely recommend that you try it out!
So you twisted your ankle while walking down Middle Path?
Another question that a lot of people have is whether it’s better to ice and injury or to put heat on it. I know that right after you twist an ankle, it feels really great to apply some heat and relax, but you shouldn’t! In fact, with any acute injury, you should always apply ice in order to decrease blood flow and swelling. If you’re using an ice pack, you can apply it three to four times a day for about 15 to 30 minutes for maximum benefits. Use it until swelling is completely gone. Heat should only be used on chronic injuries or sore muscles and joint stiffness. It will promote blood flow, which will decrease pain and bruising. Typically, you can use a heat pack or a whirlpool bath at 94–100 degrees Fahrenheit for about 15 to 20 minutes. Both of these treatments can be effective for injuries because they directly affect blood flow. On the other hand, Icyhot and other commonly used hot and cold topical products may give you the sensation of heat or cold, but they don’t actually dilate or constrict the blood muscles. So although they may relieve pain, they will not help treat an injury.
So you fell down the stairs at Old K and cut open your knee?
Even though I’m sure after a night out all you want to do is go to bed, first you need to make sure you clean out your wound. As soon as an open wound appears and blood leaves your body, your risk of infection greatly increases. It’s pertinent that a cut or scrape is properly taken care of, especially right after it occurs. The proper steps to take when dealing with these injuries is to first stop the bleeding, then thoroughly clean the wound with soap and water, then apply a band aid. If you’re worried about getting a scar, it’s best to apply some triple antibiotic ointment and keep the wound moist and covered. Also, always looks out for swelling, redness, warmth around the wound, and drainage and pus. These can be signs of an infection, and it will need to be looked at by a doctor.
So you fell down the stairs at Old K and think you broke something?
First of all, you should definitely consider going to see a healthcare provider because you should get the body part x-rayed. However, if for whatever reason you can’t at the moment, you can make a quick splint. When using a splint, it’s important to keep the person’s limb in exactly the position in which they landed, because moving it could cause further injury. Also, to provide support, you should splint one joint above the area and one joint below the area, so if you think your friend broke their forearm; the splint should extend from the wrist to the elbow. That being said, virtually anything can be used as a splint; all you need is something that is sturdy and inflexible and something to tie it on with. For instance, one might use sticks, boards, books, rolled up newspapers, or even a spoon if the joint is small enough. All you need to do is line the rigid object up against the area of the suspect fracture and secure it using string, or t-shirts, or anything you can tie it on with. Voilà—instant splint!
These are just a few helpful health care tips to get you through in a pinch when you need it. If your symptoms are getting worse or you are unable to function during daily activities, you should definitely go to the Health Center. But, if you do need to treat an injury quickly, I encourage you to try out these tips! Enjoy, and have a safe and healthy year at Kenyon!
Image Credit: Tumblr, Kenyon.edu