While students are putting the finishing touches on their costumes for Halloween, those at the Health and Wellness Center are making sure that everyone has a safe holiday.
As part of Wellness Wednesdays, the Health and Wellness Center tabled outside of Starbucks in the Student Center to educate students on the importance of bystander intervention and the alcohol content within common drinks.
This week’s Halloween theme brought awareness to the alcohol content in drinks.
“We’re focusing on National Alcohol Awareness Week,” Carisha Moore, a graduate biomedical science student, said. “This one is called ‘Don’t Get Tricked’ and about bystander intervention. So really just learning more about what you can do to look out for your friends and figuring out what are risky kinds of alcohol.”
The table was lined with a beer can, a bottle of wine and red solo cups to illustrate how the physical amount of liquid doesn’t represent the strength of that type of alcohol.
Carisha Moore (left) and Tami Reilly (right) host Wellness Wednesdays weekly in the Student Center.
“Often times you think that a shot isn’t that much, so it’s not going to impact you that much,” Tami Reilly, director of fitness and wellness, said while at the table. “But you realize how much alcohol is in it and even things like getting a drink from someone you don’t know is risky behavior.”
Along with candy, those who stopped by the table also could pick up handouts with information on alcohol awareness. According to one of the sheets, a typical red solo cup can hold two standard-sized beers or filling it halfway with 80-proof liquor can be five standard drinks.
“These (handouts) remind us that if you’re going to drink, take care of yourself,” Reilly said. “Know what you’re drinking, know how much so you don’t get tricked. It happens to so many people. They’re not aware of what’s in their drink. Someone keeps refilling their cup and that’s when a problem happens.”
Each Wednesday, the Health and Wellness Center tables with a new theme with the goal to help students become more proactive about their health. In the past, they’ve hosted, “Take Back the Juuls” for students to hand in their vaping and nicotine products. The department plans to focus on de-stressing during exam week.
“We have a calendar that we put out at the start of the semester,” Reilly said. “And every week has a different theme related to wellness that can help students tune in to be more aware of their overall wellness.”