Concerned about your blood pressure or blood sugar? How about those pesky moles on your back? And isn't it time you got serious about exercise?
These and a host of other health concerns were addressed during the U.S. Army Test and Evaluation Command health fair Nov. 6.
A multitude of vendor displays greeted ATEC and Army Evaluation Center employees, many of whom started the day with a 5K fun run. Vendors included pharmacists, dieticians, and massage therapists, as well as financial counselors and health care providers.
There were new participants as well, attending to just about the whole body,covering everything from stress management and healthy eating habits alternate food choices.
Health counselors from Upper Chesapeake Health talked to employees about risk factors that could affect their overall health and ways to get back and stay in shape.
A registered dietician lectured about eating healthy for the holidays and employees loosened up during Xtend Barre sessions with certified instructor Tracy Robinson.
Attendees learned about plant-based life styles from DineKind Harford and alternate ways to kick the nicotine habit from Hypnotist Graham Phillips.
Kirk U.S. Army Health Clinic provided flu shots and nurses from Upper Chesapeake Health checked blood pressure and provided on-the-spot HbA1C (Diabetes) and Body Mass Index (BMI) screenings. Employees got immediate results and guidance and were instructed to follow up with their health care providers.
In addition, the Army Substance Abuse Program display, headed by Cindy Scott, displayed alcohol content with photos of popular mixed and bottled drinks displayed alongside their calorie and alcohol content. Scott said people were surprised by the high amount of calories per drink.
"This is in line with what we do every day; reach out to people to make sure they make safe decisions based on safe information," Scott said.
According to ATEC Health and Wellness coordinator Gale Sauer the overall goal of the event was to link community resources on and off-post with the ATEC/AEC workforce.
"I'm here to serve the workforce and to do that I need a positive networking relationship with community resources," Sauer said.
"The installation, ATEC and Harford County form a wonderful coalition doing positive things; all working for the same goal of elevating the health of the community."
She pointed out that one of the Master Gardeners from the University of Maryland extension service showed listeners how to grow a garden in a small space.
"He was just so full of advice and information," she said. "I think imaginations were spurred today and people got a sense of what they can do to work toward their own fitness."
Other displays included the Army Wellness Center where Director Chris Sorrels explained about the Army Performance Triad and how subscribing to its three principles of sleep, exercise and nutrition, can improve overall health.
There was also a screened off area for free skin cancer screenings where nurse Sandra Beam counseled listeners about skin cancer risks and prevention and gave tips on when and how often to
apply sun block.
"Prevention is easy as slip, slip, slap," said Beam. "Slip on a shirt, slip on a hat, slap on some sun block and sunglasses."
At a Post Traumatic Stress Disorder awareness display, employees helped themselves to 200 free t-shirts donated to the event by militaryone.org.
"People don't think of PTSD when they think about health but it's a vital part of healthcare to those who suffer from it," said ATEC 1st Sgt. Paul Cottrell.
ATEC's Judy Matthews answered questions at the Breast Cancer Awareness display. A 30-year cancer survivor, Matthews also volunteers at the Johns Hopkins Cancer Center and attends survivor retreats with other patients. She encouraged self exams, noting the majority of lumps are found by patients.
"I do all I can and then I realize I can always do more," Matthews said.
Sauer said ATEC's G-4 Directorate was named the Ready and Resilient Directorate for 2014 after 69 percent of its workforce showed up for the run and walk. She said that ATEC Commander, Maj. Gen. Peter Utley implemented monthly runs with military and civilian personnel.
"This was a big deal for directors," she said. "And everyone participated despite a steady rain. That kind of camaraderie and Espirit de Corps speaks for itself."
With ATEC since 2011, Sauer said she caught on to the organization's commitment to its workforce when she was a vendor here while working for Franklin Square Hospital. Next up for the unit will be the 2015 Slimdown Challenge, Sauer said, adding that she recently stood up a health promotion workgroup to help her with her many tasks.
She said she is looking forward to the support.
"The more feedback we get the more the more we can do. We have directors who encourage the workforce to participate in R2C activities so things are on track."
Sauer thanked KUSAHC chief of preventive medicine Capt. Joanna Moore for her assistance.
To take that first step toward fitness visit the AWC in Kirk U.S. Army Health Clinic or call Sorrells at 410-278-7211 or email maria.c.sorrells.ctr@mail.mil.
For more information about the Army's R2C program visit http://www. army.mil/readyandresilient/. For information about future R2C-focused events such as health fairs, financial planning, health counseling and more, contact Tiffany Grimes at tiffany.l.grimes.civ@mail.mil or call 443-861-7901.
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