Cold & Flu

By: Alyssa Carlson | Intern

September: The month where the leaves start changing color and pumpkin spice everything hits the shelves. However, even though fall is such a beloved season, it is also the time where the flu makes its grand debut. Some might think of the flu as just a bad cold, but according to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), the flu is far more dangerous than a bad cold. It's a disease of the lungs, and it can lead to pneumonia. Each year about 114,000 people in the U.S. are hospitalized and about 20,000 people die because of the flu. Here at EIU, we offer current and retired faculty, staff, and students FREE flu shots. EIU offers flu shots because as College students, we live in close quarters with our roommates, share bathrooms, and participate in social activities that make us more prone to catching the flu. Since college students are prone to getting the flu we all need to practice a healthy lifestyle. Some tips for flu prevention include: washing your hands regularly, avoid close contact with another person who has symptoms, stay home when you are sick, cover your cough, get a full night’s sleep, stay hydrated, and lastly, visit the doctor’s office if you are running a fever. By getting vaccinated for the flu, you are practicing a healthier lifestyle and being less of a risk to other students on campus.

Be sure to visit Health Service if you have the following symptoms:

• Fever 100 degrees F or higher
• Cough
• Sore Throat
• Runny or stuffy nose
• Severe body aches
• Headaches
• Chills
• Severe fatigue

Mark your calendars!! 

ü  Date: Wednesday, October 14^th

ü  Time: 9AM-4PM

ü  Where: MLK Student Union


UPDATE as of 10/15: We gave out a total of 723 Flu Shots to students, faculty, staff, and retirees!

    MYTH or FACT?

 1.      The shot can give you the flu.

MYTH. Flu vaccines are made from killed influenza viruses. These viruses cannot give you the flu.

       2.      The side effects are worse than the flu.

MYTH. The worst side effect you're likely to get is a sore arm.  The risk of a rare allergic reaction is far less than the risk of severe complications from influenza.

HERC Services

HERC Services

By: Sam Young | Intern

At the Health Education Resource Center, your health is our mission. The HERC strives to
prevent and reduce health risks and illnesses that interfere with academic performance, learning, student retention, & personal growth opportunities. The Health Education Resource Center serves as a resource for students, faculty, and staff by providing programs, campaigns, interventions, and one-on-one consultations regarding health-related topics. The HERC offers health programming in the areas of alcohol, tobacco and other drug prevention and education, flu and cold prevention and education, nutritional analysis and education, and sexual health education, in addition to many other health-related topics. Most services are FREE to students! The HERC is a branch of Health Services and part of the totalEIU initiative.

Alcohol & Substance Abuse

Alcohol prevention, intervention, and recovery work is completed through this office. The HERC offers a Collegiate Recovery Community, on campus, for EIU students. Please visit the website for additional information, www.eiu.edu/herc/CRC.php

There are multiple programs that focus on risk factors and prevention associated with substance abuse. The programs educate students on the effects of alcohol and drugs, along with possible perceptions. Additionally the HERC implements and manages the required online training for all incoming and first time students, called AlcoholEdu.

Tobacco
EIU is a tobacco-free campus! The Health Education Resource Center provides education and intervention strategies on tobacco use. Freedom From Smoking clinics are available on campus to students, faculty, and staff at a low cost. To learn more or to sign up, visit www.eiu.edu/herc. Registration is required.

Sleep
Schedule an appointment today to discuss your current sleep habits! The HERC staff can provide tips and information to enhance the quality and quantity of sleep. Also offered are presentations that focus on healthy sleep habits. Through these presentations, students learn about healthy behaviors to ensure proper sleep habits.

Nutrition

The HERC offers a three-part nutritional assessment conducted by the Nutrition Promotion Coordinator. Using current intake, general information is provided about your eating patterns to improve nutrition and overall lifestyle. There is also a Registered Dietitian on staff to work with students with nutrition-related health conditions as well as weight management concerns.

Sexual Health
Students can choose to meet one-on-one with the Sexual Health Educator to discuss ways to reduce risky sexual behaviors or complete the online sexual health assessment. All consultations are confidential and free to students.

Peer Health Education

Students have the opportunity to make a change on campus by becoming a Peer Health Educator. Through Peer Health Education, students are trained through the national BACCHUS network to educate the campus on health-related topics. These topics include, but are not limited to: alcohol, tobacco, cold and flu, sexual health, nutrition, stress, and sleep. Through Peer Health Educators, students gain leadership skills, teamwork building and have an opportunity to build their resumes. But most importantly, Peer Health Educators promote a healthy EIU! For more information or to get involved, e-mail herc-peered@eiu.edu or call 217-581-7786.

Programs

Some of the programs and presentations offered include:

• What is Consent?
• Snoozing Like a Panther

• EIU StepsUp!
• Kognito                                    

• AlcoholEdu
• Collegiate Recovery Community

•  Healthy Cooking 101
• EIU Moves

• Rubber Lovers
• Freedom From Smoking
For more information, to schedule a consultation, or to register for a program, please call (217) 581-7786, email herc@eiu.edu, or visit www.eiu.edu/herc.

Peer Education

Peer Health Education

Alyssa Carlson | Intern

Helping, Educating, Advocating, and Learning Through Health
Eastern Illinois University’s Peer Education Program is where students are able to lead their colleagues in making positive, lifestyle choices. How awesome would it be for a college student to be able to make a difference in their community and have their voice heard? EIU’s peer education program, “Provides an opportunity for students to promote positive lifestyle choices among fellow students as well as sharpen, practice, and develop professional skills.” They raise awareness, the learning of knowledge, and change of behavior concerning health- related topics. Learning professional and business skills in college really helped me become a better student, presenter, and professional. These types of skills are not only crucial to have for school, but to have in the real world. Training and development can play a huge role in any type of environment, whether they are teaching a classmate on how to work a computer or even teaching them to do certain tasks in the office. What is special about this program though is that health-related topics are incorporated into decision making every day. Students will learn about topics such as flu awareness, bystander intervention, sleep and stress management, safety tips for trips, and alcohol awareness. When the students themselves promote and implement their ideas about each topic they will eventually become a pro and be able to spread awareness about the topic to their peers!

Programs may be presented to:

• residence halls
• fraternities and sororities
• interested student organizations
• organizations within the community (school system, youth groups, etc 

Join Today!

Reasons to become a peer educator:

• Be happier and healthier
• Become certified in peer education
• Build a resume through leadership opportunities
• Become a role model
• Gain confidence, leadership skills, and presentation experience
• Gain experience with motivational interviewing and team building scenarios
• SAVE LIVES of your fellow peers

 

Take the time to join this great student organization that really strengthens your skills and inhibits you to become a role model for students on campus and throughout the community. If you or someone you know is interested in becoming a Peer Health Educator click here to fill out an application form. You may also contact the Student Engagement and Leadership Coordinator via e-mail at herc-peered@eiu.edu or call (217) 581-7786.