Prepare a Cold Care Kit Before it’s Too Late

Dear Wesleyingers,

I know, I know, you’re all excited about going back to school. Winter break is far too long and we’re all anxious to get back to the ubiquitous naked party that is Wesleyan, but while you’re packing up your birthday suit, why not prepare yourself a cold kit?

That’s right, the two or so weeks after every break, without fail, are probably the most germiest, grossest, yuckiest time ever to be a college student. Why? Because a huge chunk of the school gets to campus via plane, bus or train, and as you know, planes, buses and trains are veritable greenhouses for infectious disease (at least this is my theory).

I’m not really one of those people who gets insane about germs and antibacterial hand lotion and what not, but I know that upon returning from break, everyone gets really sick really fast and soon the labs are all filled with people sucking up phlegm and making disgusting hacking sounds and classes become unbearable as everyone starts hacking up the inner lining of their lungs.

Or everyone gets gastro and we all die.

So here’s the plan. Everyone makes a cold care kit! While the health center will provide you with their own version of a cold care kit (generic menthol cough drops, aspirin, etc), why not make your own kit and fill it with all the goodies you like?

Here are some of Xue’s recommendations for your kit:

• Emergen-C
• Ibuprofen*
• Benadryl*
• Tea (make sure you have some that’s decaffeinated)
• Cough drops*
• Sudafed*

In addition to those (especially Emergen-C, because I *swear* by it), I recommend arming yourself with:

• Tissues
• A small bottle of hand sanitizer
• Chloraseptic spray
• Ear plugs
• Sleep-aids (I recommend Simply Sleep)
• Cans of soup

You should keep these items in a separate box or drawer so you always know where everything is.

* indicates this item is available in generic form from the health center.