Courtesy Photo | Participants prepare to start the Craig Joint Theater Hospital 5K run/walk at the CJTH...... read more read more
BAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan – Over 300 U.S. and coalition forces joined the Staff Sgt. Heathe N. Craig Joint Theater Hospital for its first annual health fair March 25.
The day kicked off at the Clamshell Gym with a 5K fun run/walk and afterwards hospital staff members set up informational booths and medical stations to inform and encourage healthy living habits.
“We had one goal in mind, to encourage service members to live a healthy lifestyle while in the deployed environment,” said U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Gary Newman, event organizer, 72nd Preventive Medicine Detachment. According to Newman, this event was a great opportunity to showcase some of the many healthcare services offered at CJTH.
Although the event was spearheaded by the 72nd Preventive Medicine Det., all departments with the hospital joined together to make the event a success.
The nutritional medicine team provided fresh fruit, snacks, and cold water for the participants in the run and handed out informational material outlining healthy meal planning. The team promoted its Right Size Portion campaign that teaches soldiers how to make food choices conducive to healthy eating habits.
Airmen with the 455th Expeditionary Medical Operations Squadron performed over 20 blood platelet donor pre-screenings, more during the health fair than the Platelet Donor Center usually performs in an entire month. Blood platelets are used during the treatment of traumatic injuries to help stop blood loss. The screenings include gathering basic current medical information such as blood pressure, temperature and weight. Medics then draw blood to be sent to a laboratory where it is screened for hepatitis, HIV, and to determine blood type. Donors are then notified within two weeks if they qualify to be a platelet donor.
Soldiers from the 142nd Area Support Medical Company provided glucose testing to check blood sugar levels and also provided blood pressure checks. The medics provided participants information on high blood pressure, diabetes, hyperglycemia which is high blood sugar, and hypoglycemia which is low blood sugar.
Staff members from the pharmacy, physical therapy, outpatient services, combat stress control, dental clinic, laboratory services, public health, veterinarian services, chaplain services, Red Cross, University of Maryland, USO, AAFES, MWR, and AEROTEK Aviation all contributed to the CJTH health fair.
CJTH plans to host the 5K Fun Run/Walk and health fair again next spring.
| Date Taken: | 03.25.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 04.07.2012 02:54 |
| Story ID: | 86424 |
| Location: | AF |
| Web Views: | 109 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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