2008 Woodie Awards
Prevention
Taking simple steps key to combating staph, other illnesses
Issue date: 11/12/07 Section: Editorial
- Page 1 of 1
We've heard it a thousand times during our lives
Our mothers taught us how to do it, our kindergarten teachers made us practice it and the doctors say it to us at every checkup.
Wash your hands, kids.
Health officials last week said the deadly form of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus has made its way to Central Michigan University's campus.
The fact that the staph infection is at CMU comes as no surprise. The fall season typically is the time when sicknesses start to hit. Besides that, college campuses are notorious breeding grounds for germs, infections and other viruses.
But even though there is no cause for major worry, awareness still is important.
And students have no excuse when it comes to doing their part to make sure it stays this way.
Preventing most illnesses - including staph - isn't brain surgery. It's about being smart.
No matter how much you love your roommate, don't share personal items. If you get cuts or abrasions, treat them immediately. After physical activity, take a shower and clean off athletic equipment properly.
These all are things that have been drilled into our heads from the time we were children.
And as simple as they seem, they can make a difference in this situation.
CMU has been far more lucky than some other places around the nation. No one has died from the infection, and only five cases of MRSA have been documented since July. Three other cases of staph haven't been connected to the MRSA recent outbreak.
However, this doesn't give people at CMU - whether it's a student, faculty member or administrator - a free pass to ignore what's in front of them.
This isn't something that requires an extra doctor visit or a painful vaccination shot.
All it takes to protect yourself against getting sick from staph is 15 seconds of soap and water.
Our mothers taught us how to do it, our kindergarten teachers made us practice it and the doctors say it to us at every checkup.
Wash your hands, kids.
Health officials last week said the deadly form of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus has made its way to Central Michigan University's campus.
The fact that the staph infection is at CMU comes as no surprise. The fall season typically is the time when sicknesses start to hit. Besides that, college campuses are notorious breeding grounds for germs, infections and other viruses.
But even though there is no cause for major worry, awareness still is important.
And students have no excuse when it comes to doing their part to make sure it stays this way.
Preventing most illnesses - including staph - isn't brain surgery. It's about being smart.
No matter how much you love your roommate, don't share personal items. If you get cuts or abrasions, treat them immediately. After physical activity, take a shower and clean off athletic equipment properly.
These all are things that have been drilled into our heads from the time we were children.
And as simple as they seem, they can make a difference in this situation.
CMU has been far more lucky than some other places around the nation. No one has died from the infection, and only five cases of MRSA have been documented since July. Three other cases of staph haven't been connected to the MRSA recent outbreak.
However, this doesn't give people at CMU - whether it's a student, faculty member or administrator - a free pass to ignore what's in front of them.
This isn't something that requires an extra doctor visit or a painful vaccination shot.
All it takes to protect yourself against getting sick from staph is 15 seconds of soap and water.
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