FORT SILL, Okla. (March 27, 2014) -- Fort Sill's Health and Safety Expo is April 4. The event is part of the Healthy Base Initiative and Operation Live Well launched by the Department of Defense in 2013. Fort Sill was one of 14 DoD facilities that helped launch the HBI program last year. The program promotes a healthy and fit fighting force, as well as encouraging family members and civilians to develop healthy lifestyles through better nutrition and fitness.
This year's health expo is April 4, from 9 a.m to 3 p.m. at Prichard Field. The expo will relocate to Rinehart Fitness Center in case of inclement weather.
In addition to the healthy lifestyle emphasis, the event will include a safety expo and Special Olympics events.
"Many of the things we are doing this year are similar to last year's Operation Live Well event. One of the new event is the grilling demonstration, which are going to be great," said Capt. Jasmin Gregory, public health nurse at Reynolds Army Community Hospital. "We will have four big grills out there and people are going to learn how to grill their favorite fruits and vegetables, and what they can do with them to make them part of healthy meals."
On the health expo side, there will be a Zumbafest event where attendees can get up and move for fitness. Claudia Mejia, Garrison fitness director, will lead participants in a high-energy workout.
Children can play in several bounce houses to have fun and work of some of their energy. Students from Platt College in Lawton will be offering five-minute massages for adults who would like to unwind.
"RACH will have its own tent and will conduct Body Mass Index tests to determine how much body fat children and adults have, and what they need to do to become more fit. There will also be an infomation booth to explain the Secure Messaging and Relay Health systems, which allows RACH patients to directly email their health care providers, so they can discuss their health concerns. Also the nurses and providers can send messages to patients to remind them of appointments and check-ups, test results or changes related to their medications," she said. "There will be demonstrations to show the proper techniques for hand washing and sanitation.
"We will also have the farmer's market, sponsored by Liberty Fruits. The farmer's market was a big hit last year and we are excited to have them back to distribute fruits and vegetables to those who attend," Gregory said.
The HBI and Operation Live Well is also focusing on tobacco cessation and education. Tobacco use among military personnel, family members and retirees adds more than $3 billion to DoD health care costs due to lost duty days and increased illnesses, such as cancers, emphysema, bronchitis, high blood pressure and many other health concerns, according to Military OneSource Health and Wellness.
"The RACH tobacco prevention program, headed by public health nurse Kelda Hodges, will help educate people about the health dangers of tobacco usage. Also Comanche County's tobacco cessation program, and the Comanche County Memorial Hospital's cessation program will be represented," Gregory added.
The Safety Expo has many activities to educate kids and parents on how to be safe all year, but especially during summer. Displays and demonstrations will show how to be safe at home and avoid fires, boat and watercraft safety, avoid heat injury during the summer, as well as identity kits for child safety. Adults can learn about DUI prevention by riding in the Drug Abuse Resistance Education car and bikers can get advanced motorcycle training.
"On the health expo side, we're focusing on teaching folks how to grill healthy, and on the safety expo side they will teach people safe grilling techniques. So there's a parallel with those booths. You can be healthy, but you also need to know how to be safe when grilling. We will teach people to be proactive rather than reactive when it comes to health and safety," Gregory said.
Along with the health and safety events, Special Olympians Special will take the field when the torch arrives at Martha Songbird Park at 8:30 a.m., followed by the parade of athletes and opening ceremonies.
The competition includes running, walking, throwing, jumping and wheelchair events.
"This will be a great time to not only celebrate Special Olympics but also get good health and safety information that families can take with them and start including it in their lives. Often people are not aware of the health and fitness services we have here in the Fort Sill community, and so this a good opportunity to find out the things we have and begin [using] them," said Gregory.
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