Exam dates and the Mustangs’ football scores aren’t the only things to keep tabs on at Western.
Student Emergency Response Team (SERT) is a student-run volunteer organization that responds to 911 emergencies on campus and provides emergency first aid, as demonstrated in this mock exercise held each year on campus. Applications are being accepted for SERT until September 15.
Your physical and mental health are also important – and there’s a wide range of services offered at the university to help students take a hands-on approach to staying healthy throughout the school year.
“Coming into school is a pretty huge adjustment for some people,” says Chris Walsh, last year’s health education and volunteer coordinator at Western.
To help with the transition, students should discover at the start of the year what types of health-related services are available on campus, from chiropractic clinics, to dental clinics, to campus recreation, Walsh says.
Then, they should make “a proactive plan to ensure that they still look after their healthy eating and sleep. Sometimes it’s easy to neglect those things,” he says.
Walsh helped run the Health Education Team, as part of Student Health Services (SHS), which holds health promotion activities across campus. About 70 student volunteers run the program every year. For more information on events or volunteering, contact SHS at 519-661-3030.
New last year, the group started a nutrition counselling initiative – run for 45 minutes to an hour every week. Basically, it’s a group devoted to discussing how to stay healthy.
“It’s designed to promote sleep, exercise and nutrition and their impacts on physical and mental health,” Walsh says. “As we reach out to more groups to promote it, it’s been getting good reviews.”
Western also has two nutritionists on campus – one through the University Students’ Council and one with housing – that can provide tips on healthy student living.
These kinds of resources can be helpful during exam time, when stress levels are often raised, Walsh says.
“Exams obviously bring added pressure,” he says, adding people should be careful when using any sort of stimulants, such as caffeine or prescription drugs. SHS can also provide information on techniques for coping with stress, whether during exams or not.
At the counselling centre, 11 part-time counsellors see about 50 people a day, says Shelagh Bantock, clinic director of Health Services. They’re available to help students cope with a range of issues, such as stress, anxiety, depression or emotional concerns.
Also, medical help is offered on campus through SHS, including immunization, testing and birth control information. The clinic gets about 350 visits per day, Bantock says.
For students looking to become more active in health promotion on campus, they can join the Student Emergency Response Team (SERT), a student-run volunteer organization that responds to 911 emergencies on campus and provides emergency first aid.
The team is on-call 24×7 during the academic year, providing care by carrying lifesaving equipment such as an AED, epinephrine (epipen), ventolin and much more. The team accepts applications to become a member only once a year, and they are due this year by Sept. 15 at noon.
The only requirement to apply to the team is a Standard First Aid and CPR ‘c’ certification, and if selected, SERT trains all of its volunteers up to the Emergency Medical Responder level of care.
SERT also administers safety awareness and education programs, including first aid and CPR courses. For more information visit: sert.uwo.ca.
SHS is located in Room 11 of the University Community Centre (lower level). It is open Monday to Thursday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Fridays from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and weekends from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. To book an appointment, visit or call the centre. Health information can also be found at shs.uwo.ca.