Cold and Flu Season: What to do When Your College Student Gets Sick

Parents of college students often feel helpless when their students are sick and away at college. And cold and flu season plus midterms equals stressed out, under-the-weather students. Besides reminding your student to rest enough and perhaps get a flu shot, consider the following items you can send in a package to care for your sick student:

Vitamins

Send Echinacea, vitamin C, zinc and other multi-vitamins to help ward off sickness and build up the immune system. Pick up any other cold- and flu-specific supplements you like to use, too.

Tea

Nothing soothes a sore throat better than a warm cup of tea. Look for chamomile or ginger tea to help your student sleep. For students living in the dorm, throw in a mug and a mug warmer to make it even easier to enjoy a cup of tea.

Basic Medicine

Chances are, you know remedies for specific maladies better than your student, who is sick for (possibly) the first time away from you. Include your preferred over-the-counter solutions for fevers, colds, coughs, sore throats, headaches and nausea.

Canned Soup and Ginger Ale

When you can’t cook your student a warm meal, shipping him a can of soup and bottle of ginger ale is the next best thing. Also include any other comfort foods that ship well.

Arrange Deliveries

Consider arranging for a local grocery store to delivery groceries or a restaurant to deliver a hot meal.

Comfort Items

Send a pair of fuzzy slippers, warm socks, a DVD set of your student’s favorite TV show or new pajamas.

Sleep Aids

If your student lives in the dorm or has noisy roommates, help him sleep better with some ear plugs or a sleep eye mask.

Sniffle Remedies

College students on a budget may sacrifice quality to save money, so send your student the good stuff:  ultra soft tissues with lotion or moisturizers. Also consider including a Neti pot.

Antibacterial Tools

Help your student stop the spread of germs by providing him with antibacterial wipes and hand gel, so he can clean his room or apartment and keep germs away throughout the season.

Doctor Information

If your student doesn’t already have a doctor in his college town, do some of the research for him. Make sure he has an insurance card, and find out what local doctors take his insurance and are accepting new clients. E-mail him the doctor’s contact information and a nearby pharmacy, so setting up an appointment is only a phone call away.