Section B · Page 4
The University Daily Kansan
Thursday, February 24, 2000
Students prepare bodies for spring break
Tyler Brookfield, Fairway senior, and Bryce Richardson, Prairie Village sophomore, work out at Robinson Center. Many students have begun exercising so that they can be in shape for spring break. Photo by Lucas Krump/ KANSAN
By Melissa Eisberg
Kansan correspondent
Students planning trips to warm destinations are getting ready to trade in scarves, gloves and peacoats for bikinis, shorts and sunscreen.
And some students are getting their fitness programs in full swing to give them added confidence when they hit the beach.
Popular fitness plans include KU Fit at Robinson Center, jogging along Jayhawk Boulevard and working out in the comfort of homes and residence hall rooms.
Instead of working out alone, many students are joining their friends for motivation to achieve their fitness goals.
Several residents of Gertrude Sellards Pearson-Corbin Hall have signed up for memberships at the Lawrence Athletic Club. One or two of them at a time go to work out for a few hours.
"Our whole hall just wanted to get toned and tanned bodies for this year's spring break," said Kristen Walters, Oklahoma City freshman. "Our motivation comes from each other and that we will look good when we hit the beach."
Residents of Delta Delta Delta sorority recently formed a walking club. Every Tuesday and Thursday evening after the dinner table has been cleared, they put on their walking shoes and hit a few miles of the streets.
"The walking club is another opportunity for girls in the house to get to know each other and at the same time doing something that is active and good for your health," said Emily Walz, Prairie Village freshman and creator of the club.
Many students are starting on their tans early and choosing diet plans to help improve their physiques.
While the recent diet trends, such as the protein diet, have been publicized widely, many students are opting for less restrictive diets and are trading late-night pizza and extra cookies for healthier snacks.
"Seeing the calorie and fat content of one slice of pizza makes you think twice before going for seconds," Kelly Johnson, St. Louis freshman, said.
Johnson said the campus dining facilities are helping out by including nutritional information cards at the food bar that include calorie and fat content for each entree.
Julie Green, Overland Park senior, tans to prepare for her spring break trip. Green tanned at Jamaica Tan at 2311 Wakarusa Dr. Photo by Aaron Lindberg/KANSAN
Sunburns, STDs can put a damper on vacation fun
Students should take precautions for safe travel
By Warisa Chulindra writer@kansan.com Kansan staff writer
These precautions are to ensure she'll be prepared if she gets sick in Puerto Rico and Barbados during spring break.
When Palvih Bhana, Lawrence junior, packs for her seven-day cruise, she will include bottled water and plenty of medication.
I'm taking the whole medicine kit," Bhana said. "Tylenol, cough drops, motion sickness pills. I don't want to take the chance of getting any disease or getting sick. It would be the worst thing."
Students aren't immune to illnesses during spring break, and they may even return from with more than they bargained—a sunburn, an illness or a sexually transmitted diseases.
Spring break is a time for students to relax, and for some students this means drinking.
"It's a time for people to go away, have fun and drink lots," said Julie Francis, health educator at Watkins Memorial Health Center. "People need to keep in mind so much happens when you consume a lot of alcohol."
The more alcohol people drink,
the more sexually active they were,
she said. If students have sex, they
should use condoms, Francis said.
When students drink, their judgment becomes impaired, she said. Students should beware of predatory drugs that could be slipped into their drinks. Rohyphol, also know as the rape drug, is legal in other countries including Mexico. Gamma-Hydroxybutyrate is another drug that has similar effects as Rohyphol, though not as severe. She advised students against drinking anything from a punch bowl and leaving their drinks unattended.
The most common sexually transmitted diseases KU students return from spring break with are genital warts and Chlamydia, Francis said. Chlamydia is caused by bacteria and can be contracted without people knowing because there are few symptoms, she said. Francis said the only sign is a painful, pussel discharge from the vagina or penis.
The beach isn't the only place for students run the risk of getting
STAYING HEALTHY
Use at least SPF 15 sunscreen, whether on the beach or on the slopes.
Drink responsibly. Watkins staff members say alcohol itself causes problems, and can lead to other risky behavior.
Practice safe sex. The most common diseases that KU students return from spring break with are genital warts and Chlamydia, Watkins staff members say.
Get vaccinated. Students travelling abroad may need extra shots, including hepatitis A typhoid and malaria, according to the Lawrence Douglas County Health Department.
sunburned. It also is important for students to use sunscreen if they go skiing.
"People don't think about the sun and how intense it is at high altitudes." Francis said.
Some students think if they go to tanning salons they are less likely to get sunburned. This is not true, she said.
"The tanner you get, the more damaged your skin becomes," Francis said.
She advised students to use sunscreen with a sun protection factor of at least 15 that protects against both ultra-violet A rays and ultraviolet B rays. Ultra-violet A rays penetrate the skin deeper, causing more wrinkles and an increased risk of cancer. Ultra-violet B rays are the type that cause sunburns.
Students traveling abroad should get vaccinations, said Barbara Schnitzer, director of nurses at the Lawrence Douglas County Health Department. What kind depends on the destination, though the most common are hepatitis A, typhoid and malaria.
Schnitker recommended students get vaccinations a few weeks before spring break to allow time for them to kick in.
For students who will be engaging in activities they may get cuts and bruises like rock climbing or backpacking, she suggested they get a tetanus shot. Schnitker also suggested getting a flu shot so students wouldn't get sick while they were on spring break.
It is important to remember some tropical and third world countries do not have high sanitation standards so food and water may be contaminated. Schnitker said. She encouraged students to exercise caution and drink bottled water or other bottled drinks.
We Buy, Sell & Trade USED
& NEW Sports Equipment
841-PLAY
1029 Massachusetts