It’s that season again – and I don’t mean hurricanes. Flu season is generally from October through May; peaking in December. Given that the flu is easily spread by coughing, sneezing, and close contact, and what gets closer than dorm life and classrooms, your student may want to consider getting vaccinated. FAU makes it incredibly easy and it is free too.

FAU Student Health Services in Boca Raton keep changing, check for the current hours. Students can walk in for a flu shot or make an appointment by contacting the center at 561-297-3512 or FAU’s Student Health Services Student. Bring a valid student ID.

Another option to get a flu shot is at:

• CVS Minute Clinic – if you go on the CVS Minute Clinic website you can find the one closest to you as well as the wait time so you don’t have to sit around for too long. The vaccine can cost between $50 and $70, but chances are insurance will cover it.  Check first.
• Walgreens – there are quite a few near campuses. Walgreens website will help find the one closest and many are open 24 hours. There is no cost with most insurance. Appointments are not needed, but we recommend calling beforehand to find out what the wait time is.
• Publix Pharmacy – There are at least 2 that are not far from campus. Students will get a $10 gift card when they get their flu shot at any Publix Pharmacy.
• Walmart – Students can visit their local Walmart for flu shots. No out-of-pocket cost for flu shots with most insurance plans.

Wherever students go for a flu vaccine they should stay around about 15 minutes afterward to be sure they do not have any adverse reactions.

I generally am not one to rush right out and get the flu shot, but then again, I wash my hands constantly, don’t stay up way too late most nights, and don’t sit side-by-side in a classroom each day.  I have suggested to my kids over the years that they consider getting vaccinated, but generally, as most college students do, they choose not to. Some, like two of my three kids, just hate shots. Good news; some pharmacies carry FluMist, a nasal spray that works like a vaccine. In the end, they are college students, so there is not much we can say beyond that, but I assure you, if they got the flu, we are their first call.

Of course, there was the year that my daughter called crying because she felt like crap. She felt so sick, I even asked her if she needed me to drive up there, something out of character for me to do. There is little worse than being hours away from your students and not being able to take care of them. Here is our blog on being Sick at School.

Typical symptoms students can watch for at the onset of the flu as early detection can be beneficial are:

• Sudden onset of high fever
• Headache, muscle aches, and joint pain
• Dry cough
• Chills
• Sore throat
• Nasal congestion and runny nose
• Fatigue – which may last for a few weeks after the flu

If students do get the flu they should know that they can get a doctor’s note so they don’t feel compelled to drag themselves out of bed and trudge to classes. Professors not only appreciate the heads up but also are grateful that students don’t come and share their germs. The flu is highly contagious. Every school has different policies on this, but generally, students are covered with that doctor’s note.

As parents, we can hope they never get sick, but if they do, the next best thing might be to send a care package to help them feel better. Check out our blog on Care Packages.

Wishing all our Owls a healthy semester.

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It’s bound to happen.  At some point, the phone will ring and your mature, independent college student will cry “Mom, I’m sick!” Hopefully, their illness will be a result of their new-found independence that includes lack of sleep, exercise, stress, an unhealthy diet, and hygiene habits that don’t embrace enough hand-washing and can be cured quickly and easily.

I sent my daughters to school with a “things you may need that Mom thought of just in case” box. Inside was a thermometer; vitamins, the medicines that they used at home for symptoms of a cold; sinus infection; stomach ache, or other common ‘sick’ ailments. In my experience, my kids and I have had great results taking Source Naturals Wellness Formula. It has been a strong herbal defense supplement in fighting an illness that was recommended to me by a local natural health food store. Two a day for prevention but when you feel yourself coming down with something, you take 6 in the morning and 6 in the evening for two days. It has worked amazingly well for most everyone I have recommended it to.

Sometimes they need care beyond your box. Student Health Services is comprehensive providing both primary and some specialty care, including dentistry. If it is not a medical emergency or life-threatening circumstance, it is recommended that they go online to request an appointment. If it is a medical concern that needs attention that day, students can walk into the clinic anytime between 8 am and 6 pm. FAU also offers free flu shots to all students. If Student Health Services gives your student a prescription, they can fill it at the FAU Pharmacy, located in the Student Union. The Pharmacy also has a selection of over-the-counter products.

FAU has a hospital about five minutes away, Boca Raton Regional Hospital. There is also another hospital and 4 urgent care centers in the vicinity. Have your students fill out and drop off an Authorization to Release form when they begin college. It is up to them as to how much access they want to allow you. There is nothing worse than calling to find out how your sick or injured student is and being told the doctor is not authorized to talk with you.

If the health center on campus is inconvenient due to the hours or long wait times, there are alternatives. FAU recommends several off-campus walk-in clinics and emergency service locations. CVS has three Minute Clinics for minor illnesses. Have a discussion before dropping them off at college with an emergency plan. This should include having your student’s roommate or friend’s phone number, especially if they are accompanying them to the ER. I had my daughter add a phone contact titled ICE (In Case of Emergency) in the event she was unable to communicate. You can add that info whether you have an iPhone or Android. Have them enter their Medical ID information. This information allows medical personnel to access even on a locked phone and includes allergies, emergency contact information, and other crucial information.

Also, we recommend having your student get a flu shot. This past year, my daughter got really sick twice; once with the bad flu and once for a bad virus. It was difficult to get an appointment during flu season (it seems that most students and teachers all got hit with the flu). I would recommend your student getting the flu shot this year. Here are locations to get a flu shot.

Consider asking your family doctor for a recommendation of a general practitioner doctor in Boca. Yes, your fees pay for the student health center but her now having a Boca doctor will make getting an appointment a little easier. They are going to be at college for four years so establishing a relationship early may be worth it when the time comes that your student needs to be seen (although all bets are off when the flu season hits its peak). Be sure your student has a copy of their insurance card.

If you want to send something to make your student feel better, there are many options from chicken soup your student can pick up or have delivered. Check out our Care Package blog for local and national recommendations.

Remind your students to notify their professor if they will be legitimately missing class and unable to complete coursework. Including a doctor’s note is encouraged. FAU students who are seen by a doctor at the Student Health Services and who will not be able to attend class or take an exam, will not be able to get an excuse note. If a doctor’s note is required to have an absence excused, your student will have to go to an outside clinic. And finally, please make sure your student has filled out the legal forms should an emergency arise and you need to know what is going on.

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FAU is a large, growing campus, but Student Accessibility Services is there to create an inclusive educational environment for all students by way of academic accommodations, testing support, assistive technologies, and coaching.

My daughter has several friends and Sorority Sisters that require special accessibility accommodations for their disability; some for ADHD, some for medical issues. Across the board, they have said from the moment they stepped into the office and met with their SAS counselors, their nerves were put at ease. Together they made a plan and decided what services would best aid their success at Florida Atlantic University.

The first step for any student that will be requesting accommodations would be to visit the office of Student Accessibility Services located in the Student Union 133. Do not hesitate to reach out to them right away. SAS is open Monday through Thursday from 8 am to 6 pm. They are also open on Friday from 8 am to 5 pm. Their phone number is 561.297.3880 or TTY: 711 for the deaf, hard of hearing, or those with speech impairments.  If you prefer to communicate via email, you can fill out this form and they will contact you. (Note: Parents, do not call for them. They make it quite clear that college students need to advocate for themselves here.)

To register with Student Accessibility Services, students must apply and be accepted to Florida Atlantic University. The next step is to fill out the application for SAS; students will need their FAU Net ID to access the application. To submit the application, students will need to submit their high school or college transcript and any available documentation that indicates a history of a disability diagnosis. The final step is the Welcome Meeting. Students will meet with a SAS consultant to discuss which services will best suit the student’s needs.

You may apply for services at any time during the semester, however, Student Accessibility Services recommends applying prior to the start of the semester. Some services can require up to two weeks to arrange. I recommend each student meet with their professor early on to discuss their accommodations, regardless of the fact that each professor will be notified by the SAS. Putting a name and face on each personal situation helps.

The types of disabilities the SAS works with include, but are not limited to are:

• Autism Spectrum Disorder
• Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder • Deaf/Hard of Hearing
• Learning Disability
• Medical Impairment
• Physical/Mobility Impairment
• Psychological Disorder
• Speech Impairment
• Traumatic Brain Injury
•  Disabled Veterans
• Visual Impairment

SAS can assist students with housing accommodations to fit their specific needs. Emotional support animals are allowed with some restrictions. See the policy here.

Every student is quite obviously different; therefore their plan should be too. Encourage your student to begin the process early. Setting a plan in place and/or making sure their campus is fully accessible can most definitely ease the pressures of college as well as make a very large school feel smaller.

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