Sentara hosts community wellness event
Published 9:49 pm Thursday, March 24, 2011
If you’re concerned about your allergies, your risk of diabetes or even whether your child’s car seat is installed properly, there’s an event for you on Saturday.
Sentara Healthcare is holding its “Spring into Life” event from 9 to 11:30 a.m. at Sentara BelleHarbour, 3920 Bridge Road. The event will feature health screenings, awareness presentations, children’s activities and more.
“We’re trying to do more focused on healthy lifestyle promotion,” said Robert Firestone, director of ambulatory and support services for Sentara. “It’s much more of a community day with general health awareness activities.”
The variety of health screenings will include allergy, body mass index, cholesterol, blood pressure, glucose, heel bone density (a test that checks for osteoporosis) and posture and balance.
A questionnaire-type screening for sleep disorders also will be available, Firestone said.
“This is a questionnaire they can take back to whomever their doctors may be and just review that information to see if they need to have a more in-depth look at their sleep patterns,” Firestone said.
Tables also will be set up with information about various services offered in the region — such as PACE, an adult daycare program. “Awareness stations” for everything from colorectal cancer to tobacco cessation will be on hand.
In addition, pharmacists from Bennett’s Creek Pharmacy will be on site to conduct “brown bag reviews.” Visitors are encouraged to bring all their medications, including vitamins and supplements, for review by a pharmacist.
“This will give them a chance to have their medications reviewed by a pharmacist, just to see if there may be any interactions,” Firestone said.
There also will be a healthy cooking demonstration and a “GermBusters” station that raises awareness of hand hygiene.
“It’s kind of a visual demonstration of before and after washing hands,” Firestone said. “The kids really seem to enjoy that one.”
The Suffolk Department of Fire and Rescue also will be conducting car seat safety checks to ensure children’s car seats are installed and functioning properly. If the weather cooperates, other activities in the parking lot will include a demonstration by the canine candy stripers and a take-off and landing of Nightingale, the regional air ambulance.
“That’s often a crowd-pleaser,” Firestone said.
Refreshments and children’s activities also will be available at the event.
“I think it will be a good time,” Firestone said.
For more information, call 983-0000.