Faculty Handbook

Health information

You are encouraged, whether or not you visit the MSU Travel Clinic, to access the MSU Travel Clinic web site, travelclinic.msu.edu/ that has links to the best national and international health travel information; this information is monitored and changed on a daily basis according to public health information that continually changes as disease patterns and outbreaks evolve.  These linked web sites include the CDC web site, as well as information from other international health and security sites.  We encourage you to review the same information that we ask students to access, and to visit the travel clinic well ahead of departure if you will need prophylactic medications.  If you have reason to believe that there is a serious outbreak in the destination of your travels and need advice, please call the MSU Travel Clinic and ask to speak with one of the health care professionals there. 

You may choose to obtain a first aid kit or take CPR before departure if you are going to be traveling far away from available medical care. CPR training can be obtained from the Red Cross or the American Heart Association.  First aid kits are available from local pharmacies.   Keep the receipt and OSA will reimburse you at the time of your reconciliation.

When assisting a student with minor first aid, do not have contact with their blood.  If possible, have the student clean and dress their own wound.  Since this may be impractical, make sure your first aid kit has gloves and zip-lock bags for disposal so you can assist students.  You are expected to carry supplies but should not feel responsible for first aid.

You are not authorized to offer health care advice prior to leaving, or to agree to provide or administer medication to students in your group.  If you would like advice or information about dealing with particular medical issues in your group, either ahead of traveling or while you are on the program, you may contact health care professionals at the MSU Travel Clinic, or may call OSA and they will contact these colleagues.  If you should have a medical emergency while traveling with your group, you should first assist the student in seeking immediate medical care, and then call the Emergency Assistance line (517-353-3784) to be connected to either OSA or a physician from the Office of University Physician.

Students and program leaders traveling with pre-existing medical conditions and needing to take medications into some countries will need a letter from a physician describing the condition and the prescription medication necessary, including the generic names of the drugs.  Students are advised to check ahead of time whether or not pain or narcotic medications are illegal in the countries they plan to visit.  All medications should be kept in the original prescription bottles.

If students in your group are to be housed with local families or in a residence system, please inform the families or housing supervisor that they are required to notify the on-site coordinating personnel and MSU of any  emergency involving a student.  You should also inform both the students and the housing personnel about the HTH Insurance, Evacuation, Repatriation, and Assistance Program.

Remember that if you need to talk with someone about medical concerns, call the MSU Emergency Assistance line (517-353-3784).  And again, please refrain from giving medical advice, unless you have a license to do so!