If a student has a cold or headache, instead of heading to the drug store and spending extra cash on medicine, they can head to the Oasis or McKinley Health Resource Center.

The Oasis at the Illini Union and McKinley Health Resource Center provide students with an assortment of free packages filled with health products.

“All supplies come from the McKinley center as they are the ones who started the program,” said Hope Mayne, a second year graduate assistant. Mayne is responsible for the distribution of health kits at the Oasis.

There are seven different categories of kits that may fit a variety of student needs. The first four categories include reliever (for colds), healer (for wounds), comforter (for anti-fungal) and informer (for pregnancy tests).

Some examples of items included in the packages are ibuprofen or Tylenol, cough syrup or decongestant, cough drops and anti-fungal gels. Students may only obtain products from these categories twice per semester.

The other three categories include protector (condoms), defender (latex barriers) and add-ons (gels and lubricants). Products in these three categories may only be obtained every two weeks.

“We put a limit to how much students can pick up because we don’t want to encourage unhealthy habits by letting them take more ibuprofen than they need,” Mayne said.

In order to receive these items, a student needs to go to the Oasis or McKinley and swipe his or her i-card to sign in.

Any student can receive what they need as long as it is according to the appropriate time limit, Mayne said.

“All types of students tend to visit the (Oasis at the) Union on a regular basis Monday through Saturday,” Mayne said. “Students should really take advantage of this because it is more convenient for them, especially because they are already paying for it. It also encourages a healthier lifestyle.”

The packs provide instructions to inform students on how to properly use and take what is included. It also includes a McKinley book and a Dial-A-Nurse number in case there are questions, Mayne said.

“I think it’s a really great idea,” said Tricia Parenti, freshman in FAA. “If I ever run out of what I need, I know I can just go pick it up for free.”

Most students should be aware of these kits and their existence because they are informed about them at orientation, Mayne said.

“If students are already paying for these items, they might as well take advantage of them because it doesn’t make sense to buy them at the store,” said Mike Uhlarik, freshman in FAA. “And students are going to have sex, so they might as well provide protection for them.”

Uhlarik said he was aware there were free condoms at the Union, but had no idea there were other free items that he could use like medicine.

The health packages that McKinley and the Oasis offer students are a convenient way to save money and stay healthy.

Band-Aids

Defender

Protector

Informer

Reliever

Comforter

Add Ons