Families are invited to “Spring into a Healthy Summer” this Saturday, June 2, with a day full of health-related activities throughout Polk County. Healthy eating, fresh air, exercise and a free health and information fair are designed to usher in summer 2012.
The day’s events have been planned by the volunteer members of Polk Fit, Fresh and Friendly (formerly Polk Wellness Coalition) and St. Luke’s Hospital. For more information, visit www.polkfitfreshandfriendly.org or www.SaintLukesHospital.com.
From 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. at St. Luke’s Hospital, families can take advantage of health screenings and fun educational activities, even jump around in the bounce house and squeal all the way down the inflatable slide. Kids of all ages will have an opportunity to see an ambulance and fire truck up close and speak with life safety officers from EMS, fire departments and the sheriff’s office. While younger children can learn about fire safety, parents can take advantage of Kids ID for their children’s safety.
The community is also welcome to take advantage of free health screenings, offered with assistance from nursing students from Isothermal Community College. Screenings available include blood pressure and glucose checks, height, weight, pulse oximetry and respiratory rate. Other health providers will offer vision, dental, hearing and BMI screenings. Information will be available on women’s health, nutrition and exercise, asthma, smoking cessation and infection prevention.
Take advantage of the opportunity to give blood as The Blood Connection mobile bus will be on site, and if no emergency prevents its arrival, the Regional One helicopter used in medical emergencies will be on display at St. Luke’s Hospital.
The free health and information fair will be Saturday, June 2, from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. at St. Luke’s Hospital, around back, toward the ER entrance. Parking is available in the hospital’s front parking lot and in the parking lot for the Physicians’ Medical Park.
Approximately 30 area community services and health-related agencies will be on hand to provide free information, educational opportunities, giveaways and healthy food options. Currently, agencies participating include St. Luke’s Hospital, St. Luke’s Hospital Respiratory Therapy Department, St. Luke’s Outpatient Rehabilitation Center and St. Luke’s Radiology Services, Season’s Homecare, Blue Ridge Community Health Services, Wood Creek Dental, Polk County Department of Social Services, Tryon Fine Arts Center, Hospice of the Carolina Foothills, Western Highlands, Rutherford/Polk/McDowell Health Department, Family Preservation Services, Steps to Hope, Polk County EMS, Columbus Fire Department, Collins Dental Center, Adawehi, Edney Eye Associates, Ageless Grace, Carolina Chiropractic Plus, Tryon Hearing Center, Deaf and Hard of Hearing Group, Polk County Transportation, White Oak Community, Tryon Estates, Thermal Belt Outreach, Autumn Care, the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, Costco and others.
Pacolet Area Conservancy invites families to take advantage of a hike on the Shuford Trail just behind St. Luke’s Hospital.
Other community agencies are expected to participate; health-related agencies and services are invited to exhibit at no charge by calling 828-894-2408.
Additional events planned for the day include hiking area trails, vouchers and cooking demonstrations at the Columbus Farmers Market, and a community cookout and free swim at Gibson Pool.
Call 828-894-2408 for more information.
– article submitted
by Kathy Woodham