With a brand new year of College starting, millions of eager freshmen would have left the guidance of their parents for the first time, and started living in a college dorm. Essentially, they’re going to be going a tad bit wild as they learn their bearings, get comfortable with their new surroundings, meet new friends and make the adjustments for living away from home. With all of this in mind, are they going to be properly caring for themselves hygienically? While the freshman may be excited with their new found freedom, parents as well as the student should be aware of the potentially very dangerous health hazards commonly associated with living in a College Dorm.

Mold:
That little spot of mildew on the community shower curtain? Don’t even sweat it, that’s harmless. However, that spot of mold on the wall that has seemingly grew in size quite quickly is a potentially very dangerous mold infestation. Mold is also even more problematic for those with allergies, asthma and other respiratory difficulties. Mold thrives in warm, wet areas, so in the College dorm, a small-scale case can easily be dealt with by simply keeping bathrooms, clothes and cooking areas dry and clean. One should be concerned if there is large spots of mold on the ceiling, walls, or corners of the floor, or if the dorm has a “mildew” smell to it. In that case, it is advised to treat the mold as if it were a fire, get out of the room, and inform the appropriate authorities to take care of it.

Athlete’s Foot:
When using a communal shower and locker room, it is always advised to wear flip flops to prevent Athlete’s Foot. Like mold, the fungus that causes Athlete’s Foot thrives in wet and warm areas, and a student has no idea if the person before him may be carrying the fungus. Upon exiting the shower, be sure to dry between the toes to prevent fungal growth. By exercising these simple cautions, it is very unlikely that the student will contract Athlete’s Foot.

Sleep Deprivation:
Sleep Deprivation is experienced by 73% of college students occasionally throughout a semester, who are especially notorious for pulling “all-nighters” in order to cram for exams, finish projects, and put the finishing touches on reports. Frequent sleep disruptions such as this can really take a toll on a student, and are often attributed to lower GPAs. While almost everyone in a morning lecture hall can be found with a cup of coffee, it is important to note that overusing coffee and sugar as a remedy for lack of sleep is very unhealthy. To combat this, it is important for the student to try to keep a regular sleep and study pattern, avoid long naps, and abstain from exercise and caffeine several hours prior to bed.

Meningitis:
Living in a small Dorm room, which in my experience is often less than sanitary, is a great way for bacterial Meningitis to breed and spread. Meningitis is a very serious and potentially fatal infection that afflicts the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord. As a student myself that attends and dorms at a State University, I’ve found that now in 2009 before a student is even granted access to be inside of one of the Dormitories, they must first present documentation that they have received, and are still covered by a Meningitis Vaccine. It is safe to assume that semester by semester, more and more Universities will have this policy, therefore decreasing the risk that the student will contract this. Students can also protect themselves from Meningitis by exercising basic sanitary living habits such as: Frequently washing their hands, keeping shared surface areas wiped down and clean, and avoiding close contact with someone that is sick.

Mononucleosis:
Mononucleosis has a habit of running wild on College campuses. It is often contracted from “passionate kissing”, and unfortunately a student may not even realize they have it before it is too late, and risk spreading it unintentionally. Mononucleosis is quite treatable, although it will put the student out of commission and in bed for about a week's time for recovery, which as I’ve witnessed a few times, can cripple someone’s academic progress. From a current student’s prospective, if you are living in a dorm with someone that has this, in order to save your GPA I would advise not being in your room as much as possible. Carry all of your required materials with you so that you need only stop at your room once or twice between classes, and get your work done at the library. If you have friends that live in your building or down the hall that are kicking and healthy, ask to sleep on their floor for a few nights while your roommate recovers.
If you end up contracting Mononucleosis, I would advise keeping all doctor’s office and health records, as well as a Doctor’s note to present to Professors, and hopefully the damage from missing a week of classes will be minimalized.

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