10 Healthy Dorm Room Must-Haves
No matter when the semester starts, for millions of American families, their kids will be entering a new world of responsibility as undergraduate students. This is a big transition to prepare for.
As you rush to put together everything your son or daughter will need to live comfortably in a new place, it's important to remember their health, too. Your health savings account (HSA) can tackle many of the necessities your young scholar will need to stay healthy each semester!
Start the semester off right with these picks:
No one wants to wake up for an 8 a.m. class with a headache or stuffed sinuses. Apply an eye mask to reduce these. An eye therapy mask can be placed in a freezer or microwave to reduce facial inflammation and even combat nasal congestion.
Saline wipes are extremely handy in the event of a sudden cold or flu. They also conveniently fit into a backpack or purse for on-the-go relief. Pro-tip: Space is a premium in dorm life—ditch the tissue boxes for something much more effective.
Does your son or daughter wear contacts? Contact lens solution is a necessity for the daily wear and care of contact lenses. This product, as well as contact lens accessories and even eyeglass accessories, are HSA eligible and will come in handy for years to come.
4) Thermometer
A simple digital thermometer is a helpful tool to monitor symptoms during a cold or flu. Your college student can use this anytime an illness strikes to continually check his/her condition.
An over-the-counter (OTC) pain reliever will come in handy for the everyday aches and pains, headaches, and other forms of discomfort your college student may experience throughout the year. Pro-tip: Students can keep a bottle at their desk and in their backpack so they can tackle headaches during long study sessions.
Every dorm room should have a basic first aid kit so your son or daughter can respond quickly in the event of an injury with bandages, wound dressing, and everything else needed to care for cuts, burns, and scrapes.
7) Cold packs
Whether your child is dealing with a bump, bruise, or workout-related soreness, cold packs are extremely helpful in controlling inflammation and combating pain.
8) Sleep aids
Getting a good night's rest in college is a necessity, but it can also be difficult with the endless amount of distractions around. OTC sleep aids are helpful products that are non habit-forming to give students the extra boost they need to achieve a restful night's sleep.
9) SPF lip balm
As long as lip balm is formulated with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or above, it is eligible for HSA reimbursement. This is an easy way to avoid chapped lips and help your child prevent sun damage. Pro-tip: Whether your child is a student athlete or part of a recreational league, joint and muscle support will help them stay on their game.
10) Kinesiology tape
Is your son or daughter constantly active? If so, there's a good chance that a muscle pull or strain will happen along the way. Kinesiology tape is one of the easiest means of immobilizing an injured body part to help them get back in shape quickly.
