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Announcements

Safe Spring Break Fair

Wednesday, March 12th

11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Williams Center

Annual Wellness Fair

Wednesday, March 19th

10:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.

Williams Center

How can I be safe while on Spring Break

1) Safety in numbers. Go out in groups and make sure that no one is ever left alone or behind.

2) Don't ever leave your drink out of sight. If you take your eyes off of it, discard it.

3) Wear sunscreen

4) Always keep emergency money in a separate place other than your purse or wallet.

5) Only accept drinks from a licensed bartender or drinks that you pour yourself. Do not accept drinks from strangers unless you watch it being poured. You put yourself at risk for receiving an altered beverage if you don't know the source of the drink.

6) Do not travel with illegal substances

7) Avoid casual intimate relationships with someone you just met and make sure that you practice safe sex.

8) Never leave an intoxicated friend.  If a friend is sick, don't leave them alone. If you feel sick, ask someone to look out for you.  If a member of your group passes out, turn them on their side to prevent choking and call 911 immediately.

9) Be careful following people you don't know back to hotel rooms, parties, homes, etc

10) Don't carry a lot of cash. Use credit/debit cards, or traveler's check. If theft occurs, report your card stolen immediately and have it canceled.

Travel Tips for Students

1) Take only what you will need.  Clean out your wallet and keep only a small amount of cash, ID, ATM card and credit cards.

2) If traveling abroad, check with the US Department of State for the required visa, ID or passport.

3) ATMs are often the easiest and the cheapest way to get money abroad.  Be sure to carry your card in a safe place.

4) Do not forget a week's worth of any prescription medication.

5) Leave a copy of your itinerary, passport, ID and list of wallet contents with someone you trust back home.

6) Make a list of ID numbers, contact information, travel information (flight and hotel) and credit card numbers and leave it with a trusted friend or relative. Call friends or family members to let them know that you have arrived and returned safely.

Personal Safety Tips

1) Always be aware of your location and how to get back to your hotel.

2) Take only what you absolutely need during the day.  The less baggage, the better.  Store valuable items in hotel safe.  Or don't bring them with you at all.

3) Never share personal information with a stranger, especially hotel information.

4) Never go anywhere alone and always make sure someone knows where you are going.

5) Never take offers for free rides or tours from anyone.

6) Keep money, passport and ID in a pouch that is not easily accessible, such as a neck pouch hanging inside you shirt or a waist belt inside your pants.

7) Be cautious of groups of kids, strangers offering to help with your bags and anyone that inadvertently bumps into you.

8) Keep carry-ons, purse and other baggage near you.  If you set baggage down, place it securely between your legs.

9) Place your purse strap over a shoulder crossing it over your upper torso.  Place wallets in front pockets; they are too easy to steal from back pockets.

10) If you are robbed, don't resist -- give up any money, jewelry, or other valuables.  You can always replace material things.  Call 911 as soon as you can.

Hotel Safety Tips

1) Always keep your door locked whether you are in your room or away from it.

2) Keep track of your hotel key and never lend it to a stranger.

3) Use your peephole before answering the door.

4) Never leave your valuables in sight: lock them in a suitcase or room safe.

5) Never go anywhere alone. If you are in an elevator with strangers, stand next to the alarm.

6) Be aware of the fire escape route.  Know the way out if needed.

7) Don't horseplay or climb on balconies.  Never sit on railings and always keep both feet on the floor at all times.  Falls from balconies, even those on lower floors, can be fatal.

Signs of Alcohol Poisoning

-Mental confusion, stupor, coma, or person cannot be roused.

-Vomiting

-Seizures

-Slow breathing (fewer than eight breaths per minute).

-Irregular breathing (10 seconds or more between breaths).

-Hypothermia (low body temperature), bluish skin color, paleness.

Don't be afraid to seek medical help for a friend who has been drinking. 

In the long run, you could be saving their life.

Spring Break - March 2008

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March - Safe Celebrating on St. Patrick's Day and Spring Break

This newsletter is dedicated to an enjoyable March.  Whether it be celebrating St. Patrick's day, Spring Break, or getting a little sun on our warmer days, it is important to safely enjoy yourself.  Here are some simple steps to take to keep yourself safe while out having fun.

DRINKING

We cannot discuss St. Patrick's Day nor can we discuss Spring Break without talking about alcohol. If you are of legal drinking age, it is important to think before you drink.......

Don't drink too much....

Statistics to make you think before you take another drink.....

Death: 1,700 college students between the ages of 18 and 24 die each year from alcohol-related unintentional injuries, including motor vehicle crashes.

Injury: 599,000 students between the ages of 18 and 24 each year are unintentionally injured under the influence of alcohol.

Assault: More then 696,000 students between the ages of 18 and 24 each year are assaulted by another student who has been drinking.

Sexual Abuse:  More than 97,000 students between the ages of 18 and 24 each year are victims of alcohol-related sexual assault or date rape.

Decide in advance what and how much you will drink.....

Most people don't know what counts as a standard drink, and therefore, don't realize how many standard drinks are in the containers in which these drinks are sold.

For beer, the approximate number of standard drinks in

12 oz can/bottle of beer  = 1 standard drink

16 oz can/bottle of beer = 1.3 standard drinks

22 oz can/bottle of beer  = 2 standard drinks

40 oz can/bottle of beer = 3.3 standard drinks

For malt liquor, the approximate number of standard drinks in

For table wine, the approximate number of standard drinks in

For 80-proof spirits or "hard liquor", the approximate number of standard drinks in

Know what can happen to you if you drink too much.......

Past the point of possible no return......

Excessive drinking can be hazardous to everyone's health!!! Some people laugh at the behavior of others who are drunk.  Some think that it's even funnier when they pass out.  As you are laughing about the drunk who has passed out in the corner, there a couple of things that you should know.

It is common for someone who has indulged in an excessive amount of  alcohol to vomit since the alcohol is an irritant.  Alcohol depresses nerves that control involuntary actions such as breathing and the ability to gag (which prevent choking).  Typically, one of the biggest concerns when someone vomits, and is unable to control their gag reflex to prevent choking, is aspiration of the vomit.  When vomit is aspirated, the lungs are flooded with foul material which blocks the ability for oxygen to get in and out.  If not treated, this could eventually lead to death . If a member of your group become intoxicated, never leave them alone.  If they pass out, make sure they sleep on their side to prevent choking, and if their level of consciousness is too low to get a response, call 911.

Common myths about sobering up include drinking black coffee, taking a cold bath or sleeping it off or walking it off.  These are just myths.  The only thing that reduces the affects of alcohol in your system is TIME. And time is something that you do not have enough of when you are suffering from alcohol poisoning.  

Signs of Alcohol Poisoning

-Mental confusion, stupor, coma, or person cannot be roused.

-Vomiting

-Seizures

-Slow breathing (fewer than eight breaths per minute).

-Irregular breathing (10 seconds or more between breaths).

-Hypothermia (low body temperature),

bluish skin color, paleness.

Don't be afraid to seek medical help for a friend who has been drinking. 

In the long run, you could be saving their life.

SUN, SAND, & SURF

That new bathing suit has you bearing more skin than ever and it is easy to spend hours partying with friends on the warm sand.  Before it's too late, you need to know that too much sun can not only damage and dry our skin over time, it can cause a nasty sunburn and possibly lead to skin cancer in your later years.  Prevention is important.   Here are some things that you can do:

Avoid sun exposure during the hottest hours of the sun's rays.

Protection from sun exposure is important all year round, not just during the summer months or while at the beach.  The hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. are the most hazardous for UV exposure.    This is just as important on cloudy and hazy days as on bright and sunny ones.  It is important to protect your skin. 

Avoid over exposure - limit your time in the sun

Ultraviolet (UV) rays are a part of sunlight that is an invisible form of radiation.  UV rays can penetrate and change the structure of skin cells.  Although getting some sun exposure can yield a few positive health benefits, excessive and unprotected exposure to the sun can result in premature aging and undesirable changes in skin texture.

Sun exposure has a cumulative effect over one's lifetime.  It is now thought that many skin cancers actually start from sun exposure or sun tanning in the teenage years.  The dark suntan that you enjoy now can actually contribute to your getting skin cancer in your later  years.

Apply sunscreen with SPF (Sun Protection Factor)

Sunscreens come in a variety of forms such as lotions, gels, and sprays.  Some are for specific purposes, such as the scalp, sensitive skin, and for use on babies.  But the important take home should be that regardless of the type of sunscreen you choose, be sure that you  use one that blocks both UVA and UVB rays and that it offers at least SPF 15.  Pay special attention to the face, nose, ears and shoulders.  Reapply sunscreen after swimming and sweating.

Wear sunglasses with UV (Ultraviolet) Protection

Oh, and don't forget your sunglasses.  Sunglasses protect your eyes from UV rays and reduce the risk of cataracts.  They also protect the tender skin around your eyes from sun exposure.   The standard sunglasses that protect against UVA and UVB rays offer the best protection.

Drink plenty of fluids

It is important to keep hydrated by drinking plenty of water, non-carbonated and non-alcoholic drinks, even if you do not feel thirsty.