Health Fair features free screenings, information

By Rachel Ponder, APG NewsMarch 27, 2014

Health Fair features free screenings, information
(Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md. - More than 200 people attended the Resiliency Health Fair hosted by Kirk U.S. Army Health Clinic and the Community Health Promotion Council March 19 at the APG North (Aberdeen) recreation center.

The free event featured demonstrations from 45 on- and off-post vendors. Attendees discussed and learned about such health topics as asthma, hearing protection, diabetes, Lyme disease, car seat safety, tobacco cessation, stress management, and took advantage of free vision, blood pressure and spinal screenings and mini massages.

Robin Stokes-Smith from HealthLink, a division of the Community Outreach Department of the University of Maryland Upper Chesapeake Health, talked to attendees about car seat safety. HealthLink gives free monthly infant, child and booster car seat safety checks. For more information about free health screenings, visit www.uchs.org.

Cindy Scott from the Army Substance Abuse Program gave away free ?"Mr. Yuk" stickers in honor of "National Poison Prevention Week," which was the third week in March. Scott said the stickers are designed to warn children that an item can be dangerous if ingested, and should not be handled by children.

"This is a fun way to teach children about safety," she said. ?"It empowers them."

She recommends keeping the Maryland Poison Center number, 1-800-222-1222, by the phone.

Debbie Ostrowski, registered nurse and director of Upper Chesapeake Medical Center's Diabetes and Endocrine Center, with the assistance of Bethany Chase, a Stevenson University nursing student, gave attendees a Type 2 Diabetes risk assessment. Chase said her goal is to determine the main risk factors for the APG population for a school project. Ostrowski plans to share their findings with KUSAHC Public Health Nurse Sue Singh.

"Some risk factors like activity level and weight can be controlled, and some risk factors, like gender and age cannot be controlled," Chase said.

Dottie Ruff from the Harford County Health Department showed attendees the difference between a healthy lung and smoker's lung. The Harford County Health Department offers free tobacco cessation classes. Nicotine patches, lozenges or gum may be available at no cost to those who qualify. For more information call 410-612-1781.

APG Health Promotion Officer Wendy LaRoche from the U.S. Army Public Health Command, said having a variety of services and providers under one roof allows for participants to get the most out of their time.

"The vendors continue to amaze me, they are committed to improving the well-being of the population," she said. ?"I truly believe that the Health Fair is a stress reliever. Many attendees come into the health fair in groups of two or more. It?'s a place to walk around, look at the resources available, and feel at ease, as you seek information in a friendly atmosphere."

Senior Command CSM Kennis Dent agreed that the event provided valuable information.

"This is a good opportunity for attendees to think about their health and see what services are available to them in the community," Dent said. "The APG Command Group thanks the vendors and attendees for taking time out to be here."

Singh, who organized the health fair, thanked the vendors and the Freestate ChalleNGe Academy for helping the event run smoothly.

"The Freestate ChalleNGe Academy cadets were instrumental in assisting at the fair," Singh said. "They assisted the vendors by transporting their material and helping with setting up and tearing down when the fair was completed."

For more information about upcoming CHPC events, visit http://www.apg.army.mil/APGHome/sites/commander/CHPC/healthpromotion.cfm.

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