UCF 5th Guy YouTube Contest

On the first day of school, UCF Health Services is launching its back to school 5th Guy YouTube Contest. Visit ucf5thguy.com for more information.

Do you remember everything the 5th Guy taught you last semester? Prove it!

It's time to pick up that video camera and make a video that shows us that you remember what you learned last semester: to wash your hands often, cough into your arm or a tissue, and to stay home when you're sick (really sick, not fake sick). You can tell us whatever story you want with your video - it just needs to be 5th Guy related. Some ideas: you pretending to be the 5th Guy; you actually being the 1st, 2nd, 3rd or 4th Guy (i.e. show us the correct way to wash your hands); or you teaching friends how to keep themselves and others healthy by partaking in the correct behaviors.

Your video can be as creative as you would like, but it must be appropriate. We will be screening these before they are released for everyone to view, so don't think you can get away with anything naughty.

This contest is open to UCF Students, Faculty and Staff. The contest will run through January 31st. A winner will be selected by a panel of UCF Health Services administrators and members of the Student Health Advisory Committee.

Classes resume…a healthy spring to all!

After a few weeks off, students are returning to campus invigorated for the upcoming semester. Health Services wishes everyone returning to campus a healthy and happy new year.

Remember, we are here for YOU. Every tuition-paying student is able to visit a Health Center provider at absolutely no charge. We also have laboratory and x-ray services, immunizations, allergy shots, and more, available at an additional charge. Staff and faculty participating in UCF’s BlueCross BlueShield plan are also able to use Health Center services.

The UCF Pharmacy has opened a second location, Knight Aide, near the Towers and the new UCF Arena. Knight Aide is both a pharmacy and convenience store with everything you need on the run - beauty aids, snacks, over-the-counter medications and household items. The pharmacy portion of Knight-Aide is awaiting its final approval and should be opening later this month. And don’t forget, the UCF Pharmacy accepts almost all insurance plans!

The UCF Wellness Center has been busy at work all break working on special programming and events for you this semester. Make this semester the semester you get your CHAMP test! Every tuition-paying student is entitled to one free CHAMP each semester. And, don’t forget we have our walk-in dietitian available to answer questions you have about eating well, supplements, nutrition, and much more. Finally, don’t forget we offer massage therapy, ($40/hour for students, $50/hour for faculty and staff) and biofeedback stress management ($10/session). Finally, look out for information about the 21st Annual Wellness EXPO, scheduled for March 4!

Health Services Re-Launches “Healthy You” Blog

Health Services is proud to announce the re-launch of their very informative blog - Healthy You - which originally launched early in the Fall semester. Every Wednesday you can check out a new, and informative, article written by a member of our Wellness Center team, pharmacists, or one of our providers. Subjects will vary greatly so be sure to check back often! Also, check out the pool each week so we can get a better idea of how to best serve you!

UCF Health Services Has Begun Administering Flu Vaccines

Flu vaccines have begun being administered at UCF Health Services. The vaccines are available to students, faculty and staff by appointment only. The vaccine is $15 for students, $20 for faculty and staff. Appointments can be made by calling 407.823.3850. Click here for important information regarding the vaccine and vaccination process.

Confirmed case of meningococcal meningitis

The Orange County Public Health Department (OCPHD) has informed UCF Health Services officials that a senior in the UCF Nursing program -- who lives in a house off campus with family members -- has a confirmed diagnosis of meningococcal meningitis, a type of bacterial meningitis.

On behalf of the entire UCF community, our strongest hopes for a complete recovery go out to the student.

OCPHD has already identified and contacted the closest contacts considered at risk, all of whom have received the antibiotic CIPRO.

UCF Health Services staff has been working closely with OCPHD health officials to assist them in identifying those individuals who may have had exposure to the illness. The student is a senior in the UCF Nursing program, and Nursing students in the student’s classes (Adult Health on Mondays and Mental Health on Wednesdays) were informed of the situation Friday evening and advised to receive the antibiotic at UCF Health Services if they felt they were in close enough contact to be high risk.

Exposure that imparts risk for transmission involves close contact with an infected individual. Close contact is defined as persons who shared a household with the student or had direct contact with oral secretions (kissing, sharing a drink, sharing food from the same plate, sharing a cigarette or being coughed on from very close proximity).

Those persons who have had close exposure within the past seven days benefit from the use of preventative antibiotics.

Classic symptoms of meningitis include high fever, confusion and neck stiffness. Those symptoms can develop over several hours, or they may take one to two days. Other symptoms may include headache, nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to lights and seizures.

Persons with such symptoms should seek prompt medical attention.

Previous vaccination for meningitis does not necessarily protect persons from acquiring this illness (because the vaccine is not 100 percent effective in protecting against the various strains of bacterial meningitis). Vaccination would not be the appropriate intervention for those persons who have had close contact.

Anyone who has not had close contact and desires vaccination, or anyone who has other questions or concerns regarding meningococcal meningitis, can call the UCF Health Center during normal hours of operation at 407-823-2701.

UCF Health Services Hours of Operation, click here.

For more information on meningitis, click here.

UCF Health Services has kicked off their "5th Guy" campaign.

UCF Health Services kicked off their “5th Guy” hand washing campaign. The campaign, which was adapted from the Florida Department of Health’s 5th Guy campaign for flu pandemic preparedness, is sure to get campus-wide attention. Its main feature: the 5th Guy (a UCF student) toting a prop urinal around campus, coughing into his hand, and then trying to give unsuspecting students a high five.

Our UCF campaign is supported by a grant provided to Health Services for pandemic flu planning. The grant also allowed for a mass-vaccination trial run last year, purchase of emergency materials to be used if the threat of a pandemic becomes real, and over 20 antibacterial hand sanitizers placed in high-traffic areas throughout campus.

The campaign will also feature promotional items, print advertisements, monthly contests, and our special website, www.ucf5thguy.com.

The message: Wash hands often. Cough into arm or sleeve. Sick? Stay home.

These three behaviors are not only proper and polite, but are vital in preventing the spread of the common cold or flu, and will play a large role in the reducing the spread of an infectious disease outbreak, such as a flu pandemic. Everyone is asked to do their part…avoid the 5th Guy!