Have you checked out Student Health 101 lately? If not, you’re missing out! Student Health 101 has information just for USF students, and will keep you current on health and wellness information. You will find great articles that will help you stay on the path to academic success and its FREE!

In health,

Wellness Education Staff

813-974-4936

This is when I ask myself:  “What could possibly be so important that this person needs to be on the phone or texting, putting not only theirs, but everyone on the road lives at risk?” Using a phone while driving impairs you as much as if your BAC were a .08, and this is when a person is using either a hand held or hands free cell phone. This would get you a DUI if you were drinking alcohol, so why is it that talking or texting while driving is still legal here in Florida?

Currently, 8 states have banned the use of handheld phones and 31 states prohibit texting while driving. Florida doesn’t fall under any of these categories.  However, I have heard that many officers are now noting distracted driving in their police reports when there is an accident. Perhaps Florida is on the road to prohibiting cell phone use while driving as well (I hope so).

Using a cell phone isn’t the only form of distracted driving. A person can be distracted from food and drink, passengers in the vehicle, changing the radio station, navigating a GPS, watching a video or reading (this includes maps), and of course doing hair and makeup.  There are three types of distraction:  visual distraction, manual distraction, and cognitive distraction. One of the reasons texting is so dangerous is because it involves all 3 of these distractions.

Many people think that talking on the phone is not a big deal while they are driving, especially if they are using a hands free phone. However, I know personally, those times I have been talking on the phone while driving, I don’t remember half of my trip, but I do remember my conversation. This shows me that my mind really wasn’t on the road but rather focused on my conversation. As with most types of accidents or health issues, people don’t ever think about the dangers of distracted driving until something happens to them or someone they know.

One in 18 teens lose their life every day due to distracted driving, this is a very scary statistic. So I ask you this, do you think it’s worth it to send that text, make that call, put on that makeup, or read that book while you are driving? (Yes!  People do actually read while driving, check out this video for proof) Make the community you live in a safer one for both yourself and other members – put down the phone, food, and make-up and stop distracted driving.

Statistics collected from Governors Highway Safety Association

Melissa Mesman

REACH Peer Educator – Wellness Education and Promotion

(813) 974-4936

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Dehydration

Have you ever felt like you were in the Sahara Desert without anything to drink? Or have you been so thirsty that your own saliva wasn’t doing the job? The recent cases of heat-related deaths started some conversations amongst me and my fellow peers so I decided to do a little research about dehydration.  Since we live in Florida and face high temperatures and humidity especially now during the summer months, I felt it would be beneficial to share.

What is dehydration?

According to Pub Med Health, dehydration is when you are in need of water to replenish the body.  In other words, you are not taking in enough water to keep up with how much water your body has lost.

How do our bodies lose water?

Actually there are many ways this can happen.  The most common include:

• Humidifying and breathing air
• Sweating
• Bowel movements (especially diarrhea), urination, and vomiting

What are some of the symptoms of dehydration?

Mild to moderate symptoms include:

• Thirst
• Cotton mouth
• Decreased urination
• Headache
• Dizziness or lightheadedness

Although mild to moderate dehydration can usually be reversed by drinking more fluids, when in doubt, get medical help!   Severe symptoms require immediate medical care and include extreme thirst, confusion, and lack of sweating, little or no urination, low blood pressure, rapid heartbeat and breathing. Don’t forget – 9-1-1 can be called using any phone while on campus.

Prevention

It’s probably obvious but the way to prevent dehydration is to drink enough fluids.  The general rule of thumb is to take in 8 glasses a day.  Granted, it’s easy to be caught up in going to and from work, classes, and meetings, and finding yourself not drinking anything until you sit down to eat. However, what I do is always try to grab a bottle of water when I leave home and carry it with me throughout the day.  You can also carry an ecofriendly water bottle and fill up when you see a water fountain.  Some water fountains on campus even have a meter that tells you how many water bottles you have kept out of a landfill.

One other note – the Mayo Clinic also mentions to eat foods high in water.  One more reason to eat your fruits and veggies!

In most cases, thirst can be your guide but if you’re exercising, don’t wait for thirst to keep up with fluid intake.  Also, under certain circumstances, you may need to take in more fluids than usual, for example when you are sick, in hot, humid or cold weather, and in high altitudes.

So prevent yourself from getting dehydrated – go grab a water bottle (reusable preferred), fill it up with some water, and keep sipping and refilling it throughout the day.  See you in the restroom!

Resources

Dehydration

PubMedHealth

Mayo Clinic

Dehydration

In health,

Ruth Thomas

Reach Peer Educator
Wellness Education and Promotion

813-974-4936

• When: Friday, June 24, 2011 from 1:30-5:00 PM by appointment only!
• Where: Student Health Services clinic.

• What: Free confidential pregnancy and STI testing including: HIV screening (same day results), chlamydia, and gonorrhea. No needles will be used!

If you are interested in any of the free tests being offered, they are by pre-scheduled appointment only. To pre-schedule your appointment, you must use submit your contact information via this site. Submitting your information is not a guarantee that you will get an appointment. You will be contacted by YES during the week of testing with an appointment time.

Call YES at 813-417-7233 if you have any questions about the services offered. You will not be able to schedule an appointment over the phone. Contact Wellness Education and Promotion at 813-974-4936 for any other questions.

Remember, low cost STI testing is always available at Student Health Services for all students of any age. Call 813-974-2331 for an appointment. Click here for more off-campus free or low-cost testing locations.

We strongly encourage you to subscribe to our blog so that you will be notified immediately of future testing dates. This will give you the best chance to take advantage of the free testing offered through Wellness Education and Promotion.

Myesha Johnson

REACH Peer Educator

Wellness Education and Promotion

813-974-4936

Visit us on Facebook and become and fan!

Now that you know men are more likely to die from lightning, read below to find out how you can be smarter when it comes to thunderstorms and not become another statistic to be placed in the TBT.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________

Do you run inside at the first sound of thunder or when you see a bright crack of lightning? I do! Growing up in Florida, I know how bad thunderstorms can be within our sunshine state. I am afraid that tourists that visit our state or nonresidents that move here for work or school do not understand how scary Florida lightning truly can be.  According to FloridaDisaster.org, “Florida is the capital of lightning strikes in the United States, and even though lightning occurs frequently across the state, the area stretching across central Florida from Tampa to Titusville receives more lightning strikes than any other location in the state.”  Why is this important to USF students? Because our campus is located right here in Tampa, duh!

No lightning, only thunder = Safe… NOT!!!

Many people believe that if there is only thunder, but no visible sign of lightning, then he or she is safe. However, thunder cannot exist without lightning. “A typical lightning bolt is only one inch wide; however, it can reach two to ten miles in distance. When lightning strikes, it will heat the air rapidly to 50,000 degrees Fahrenheit.  The air then expands, resulting in the explosive sound we know as thunder.”

So what to do if you are stuck between buildings on campus and need to know how far away the lightning is?

A person can figure out how far away lightning is by counting the number seconds it takes to hear the sound of thunder after seeing a strike of lightning. It takes about 5 seconds for sound to travel a mile. Therefore, if it takes you five seconds to hear thunder after seeing a bolt of lightning, then the lightning was a mile away. According to FloridaDisaster.org, “If it takes less than one second, then you were almost struck by lightning and should seek shelter immediately!”

I especially advise students to use the 30-30 Rule presented by www.lightningsafety.noaa.gov:

The 30-30 Rule: Use the 30-30 Rule to determine the threat of lightning in your area.

30 Seconds: Count the seconds between seeing lightning and hearing thunder. If this time is less than 30 seconds, lightning is still a potential threat. Seek shelter immediately.

30 Minutes: After hearing the last sounds of thunder, wait 30 minutes before leaving shelter. Many lightning deaths occur after the storm passes. Stay in a safe area until you are sure the threat has passed.

What are the sirens going off on campus during bad storms or warning me of a gunman on campus?

The sirens are part of USF’s Emergency Notification System (ENS), which was created to help enforce safety and protect students on campus. A special part of the ENS is the MoBull Messenger, which is a free text message service (although standard text messaging rate may apply) that warns students of possible dangers occurring on campus and how to seek safety. If you are a student interested in receiving MoBull Messenger, please visit their website: http://www.mobull.usf.edu/index.htm. I greatly recommend it!

Also, check out the USF’s Division of Public Safety’s Emergency Preparedness Guide for more great safety tips, especially during this year’s hurricane season.

Before closing it is important to note that “lightning results in an average of 10 fatalities and 40 injuries each year in the state of Florida. Many of the survivors suffer severe, lifelong injuries and related disabilities,” so please be safe this summer!

Resources:

http://www.floridadisaster.org/kids/documents/2008_guide.pdf

http://www.mobull.usf.edu/index.htm

http://www.lightningsafety.noaa.gov/

Lauren Gatto

REACH President – Wellness Education and Promotion

(813) 974-4936

Hurricane season officially begins on June 1 and continues through November 30. Now is the time to prepare and make your plans just in case we get a newly named unwelcomed “visitor.” I have some tips on getting you prepared as a USF student for hurricane season this year. No matter where you live, the more you do now to prepare, the less you will have to do in the event that a storm comes to town (kind of like preparing for the surprise quiz you have to deal with in your next class).

Things you can do ahead of time to prepare:

• Sign up for Mo Bull Messenger, USF’s emergency text messaging notification system. It’s free and easy to register!
• Check out the USF Hurricane Guide and the Hillsborough County Hurricane Guide.
• Figure out an evacuation plan. Think locally! You don’t need to leave the state, or travel hundreds of miles to get to a safe location. You can stay with friends, family, at a hotel, or as a last resort, in a local shelter. If you live in on-campus housing, you still need to have a plan because you may be ordered to evacuate. Pizzo Elementary School, located on the USF Tampa campus at the corner of Bull Run and Fowler Avenue, is a shelter option.
• There are special needs shelters available in Hillsborough County. However, you need to pre-register to use them. Click here for the application.
• Make a hurricane kit and stock it with things that you will need and that apply to you current living situation. Click here for a hurricane supply checklist.
• Have a 2 week supply of medications. The Bulls Country Pharmacy, located in the Marshall Student Center, can fill your prescriptions. For more information call 813-974-2071.
• Don’t forget about your pets! They are depending on you to take care of them. Click here for a list of pet supplies and there are shelters that accept pets.

Hopefully, we won’t have a hurricane or tropical storm come our way, but you’ll be prepared just in case. To stay updated about USF before, during, and after a storm, visit www.emergency.usf.edu or call 1-800-992-4231. USF continuously updates the website and phone line.

Resources

Hillsborough County Hurricane Guide

National Hurricane Survival Initiative

Ready America

USF Hurricane Guide

Myesha Johnson

REACH Peer Educator

Wellness Education and Promotion

813-974-4936

Visit us on Facebook and Like Us!

• When: Friday, June 10, 2011 from 1:30-5:30 PM by appointment only!
• Where: Student Health Services clinic.

• What: Free confidential pregnancy and STI testing including: HIV screening (same day results), chlamydia, and gonorrhea. No needles will be used!

If you are interested in any of the free tests being offered, they are by pre-scheduled appointment only. To pre-schedule your appointment, you must use submit your contact information via this site. Submitting your information is not a guarantee that you will get an appointment. You will be contacted by YES during the week of testing with an appointment time.

Call YES at 813-417-7233 if you have any questions about the services offered. You will not be able to schedule an appointment over the phone. Contact Wellness Education and Promotion at 813-974-4936 for any other questions.

Remember, low cost STI testing is always available at Student Health Services for all students of any age. Call 813-974-2331 for an appointment. Click here for more off-campus free or low-cost testing locations.

We strongly encourage you to subscribe to our blog so that you will be notified immediately of future testing dates. This will give you the best chance to take advantage of the free testing offered through Wellness Education and Promotion.

Myesha Johnson

REACH Peer Educator

Wellness Education and Promotion

813-974-4936

Visit us on Facebook and become and fan!

Courtesy of WebMD

Fun Fact: Did you know that 85% of men in the United States are circumcised?

We live in a hygiene obsessed society where almost everyone likes to keep their bodies clean. Unfortunately, we can fall into the trap of thinking that the harder we scrub and the harsher the soap, the cleaner we’ll be. This approach may be good for keeping your kitchen floor sparkling, but it’s not great for your skin, especially the sensitive skin of the genitals. Gentlemen, just because you can see your “plumbing” doesn’t mean you need to go crazy scrubbing to clean your penis. Ladies, don’t worry I’ve got you covered; click here to learn more about keeping your vagina clean.

What do I use to clean my penis?

You don’t need a special product to clean your penis.  In fact, just warm water can get the job done. If you choose to use soap, you can use the same soap you bathe the rest of your body with, but you need to rinse well. If you use a harsh soap, like one with a heavy scent,  you may want to consider using a milder one. All of your skin will thank you, not just your penis. Remember no matter what you use, be gentle when washing!

How do I keep my penis clean?

If you are circumcised, all you need to do is wash gently and rinse. If you are uncircumcised, you will need to pull the foreskin back from the head of the penis to clean it thoroughly. You should only pull your foreskin back as much as is comfortable, don’t force it. Rinse the glans or head of the penis and underneath the foreskin. If you use soap, rinse well, and then pull the foreskin back in place over the head of the penis.

Why should I keep my penis clean?

Cleaning under the foreskin regularly will prevent the build-up of smegma, a foul smelling cheese- like substance, on the penis. Both circumcised and uncircumcised men can develop smegma, however it will accumulate faster in uncircumcised men due to the foreskin. The presence of smegma is also a risk factor for penile cancer. Cancer of the penis is very rare, but by preventing the build-up of smegma, you can reduce your risk. Poor hygiene in uncircumcised men has also been linked to balanitis, which is inflammation of the penis.

Those are just some health reasons for keeping your penis clean. On a side note, your sex partner(s) will also appreciate your extra efforts if oral sex is a part of your extracurricular activities. Just ask yourself:  would you want to kiss someone that had poor oral hygiene? Would you want to put a body part in your mouth that had not been washed very well? You probably answered “no” to these questions, and if you asked your partner they’d probably feel the same way. Do your partner the courtesy of washing up on a regular basis, especially if you will be on the receiving end of oral sex. Even if you don’t engage in oral sex, you’ll smell nice.

Resources

Lucille Packard Children’s Hospital at Stanford

Care of the Uncircumcised Penis

National Library of Medicine

Cancer of the Penis

WebMD

Circumcision Basics

Penis Disorders

Myesha Johnson

REACH Peer Educator

Wellness Education and Promotion

813-974-4936

Visit us on Facebook and Like Us!