DEREKH FROUDE/Arizona Daily Wildcat Architecture sophomore Hidenori Iwagami makes an appointment with Alejandra Olvera to have his shoulder looked at the Campus Health Center yesterday afternoon. The center normally sees an influx in its number of patients after spring break, but this year visits are down.

Fewer students report illnesses and injuries to Campus Health

The number of students seeking medical attention after spring break has dropped this year, compared to the deluge of sick students the Campus Health Center has typically seen in the last 15 years, Campus Health officials said.

Lisette LeCorgne, coordinator for the acute care unit of the center, said that normally the first few days after spring break bring in up to 40 students suffering from problems like diarrhea, and burns from the sun and campfires.

She said lacerations from accidents and fighting, and broken bones from skiing were common cases as well.

As of yesterday afternoon, only 10 students visited campus health because of injuries and illnesses they suffered from spring break.

As of yesterday evening, Tini Overton, a nurse at University Medical Center, said no students had visited the hospital's emergency room due to injuries suffered from spring break.

LeCorgne credited the drop in the number of students seeking medical attention to the constant education on the risks of alcohol and traveling abroad that has bombarded the campus and the Internet.

Tara Harper, a Campus Health triage nurse, said the last few days of spring break were quiet as well. In the past, that had been a notorious time for students returning from Mexico needing medical attention.

Harper said many students who were treated in Mexico for injuries should still come into campus health for a second opinion.

She said many of the health services in Mexico - which Jeff Mahnken, travel adviser at STA Travel in the Student Union Memorial Center, said was the top spring break destination for University of Arizona students - can be hit and miss.

Doctors there may overlook problems that aren't obvious or prescribe unfamiliar medications, Harper said.

One student said his trip to Mexico was made safer by what he learned at school and from his own experiences.

"I didn't drink any of the water, eat any vegetables or meat and also wore a lot of sunscreen," said Erik Blais, a regional development sophomore.

The Health Promotions Department of the Campus Health Center also started a campaign this year that LeCorgne said was a key factor in the low turnout.

"Their advertising has really been a great help at educating students what and what not to do," she said.

Melissa McGee said the program used healthy students as an example for safety instead of the usual use of extreme incidents that students have endured.

"The difference is that we're now focusing on the students that stay healthy - that's the majority," McGee said.

Carolyn Collins, director of health promotion, said the year-old program also teaches administrators and parents how students can keep healthy when in party-atmospheres like spring break.

LeCorgne said that although the center's waiting room isn't filling up like in past years, a new computerized appointment scheduling system has helped reduce the wait.

LeCorgne said that as of last year, sick students who went to Campus Health would normally need to wait in line for hours.

But with the new system, most students can schedule an appointment the same day.

Although many students may choose to recover on their own from spring break illnesses, LeCorgne cautioned students that dehydration caused by diarrhea could land them in the hospital.

She said students who are suffering from vomiting, dizziness, fever and headache should seek medical attention.

Campus Health will see any UA student, even those without health insurance.

For more information on setting up an appointment with a nurse at Campus Health, call 621-9202.