GCSU living great in 2008

     Healthy and sick alike turned out for the “Live Great in ‘08” Health Fair on Thursday, March 6. Held in Magnolia Ballroom, numerous organizations were present to offer information on their services. Students and faculty could have various tests done to receive advice on their bodies’ well-being.
     Professional medical help, nursing students, exercise science students and trainers were present to deliver accurate information on the attendees’ health. The health fair offered hearing tests, sight examinations, grip strength measurements and blood pressure level tests. Attendees could have their body composition evaluated, blood sugar and hemoglobin levels checked, knee assessments and much more. Almost all of the services were free. Freshman Heather Luyk had her knee assessed at the fair.
     “The health fair gives you access to certain medical assessments that you usually have to pay for. I have always had problems with my knee and I never really knew what was wrong. At the health fair, they told me my IT band was weak.    They even gave me tips on strengthening it,” Luyk said.
     Beginning early in the day, the volunteers were surprised at the great turn out. Both GCSU students and faculty utilized the services throughout the entire day.
     “I think the health fair went really well. I didn’t think there was gonna be this many people,” Andrew Marsh, a junior majoring in exercise science, said.
     For many upperclassmen students in the nursing and exercise science programs, the health fair was a great way to gain experience practicing their field of study. Jessica W. Bashor, a junior in the nursing program, explains how the health fair gave her beneficial experiences.
     “The fair has helped me a lot. I have taken so many people’s blood sugar today I feel like I could do it with my eyes closed,” Bashor said.
     Junior Beth Deen, an exercise science major, expressed similar sentiments.
     “(The health fair) was very organized and we got a lot of people to come up and ask us to do tests, which gives us a lot of experience. I did like ten skin fold exams,” Deen said.
     Overall, the health fair was advantageous for the volunteers as much as it was for the participants. Many students gained valuable practice performing numerous medical and physical tests.
     Also present at the fair, several organizations represented their businesses with information booths. Some of the organizations include Ameriprise, BB&T, AFLAC, Verizon, the Oconee Regional Medical Center Education, the Midsouth Credit Union, Sam’s Club, GCSU Weight Watchers, the American Lung Association and more.
     The “Live Great in ‘08” health fair brought attention to many students own bodily circumstances. Since the cold season has been passing by, it was an opportunity to raise consciousness.
     “I think the health fair brings up a lot of awareness. For example, a lot of females don’t know that having your blood sugar level low now could affect a lot when they are trying to get pregnant,” says Bashor.
     Deen said, “All the tests help people have the realization of where they’re at health wise. It causes them to ask, ‘Am I healthy? Do I need to work on things a little bit?’”
     Sponsored by Student Health Services, Human Resources, The Wellness Depot and Staff Council, the health fair gave GCSU students and faculty the chance to receive free medical attention.

Posted by Colonnade Archives on Mar 14 2008. Filed under News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry