Hodgdon students learn about health fields

Hodgdon High School held its annual Health Fair in March at the school with a variety of professional health field speakers. Students rotated to either individual classrooms or the gymnasium to learn, view and talk about fields they showed an interest in.     “The health fair was well done,” said Hodgdon Principal Clark Rafford. “The kids really enjoyed the opportunity to have the activities.”
One group that Rafford particularly felt impacted his students were the East Grand Outdoor Education students under the direction of Dave Conley.
“It was especially nice to see the kids from East Grand present their program to our kids,” he said.
The Hodgdon students were able to learn about the outdoor education program, as well as interact with students their own age presenting the program.
Represented during the day-long Health Fair were: Houlton Regional Hospital, Jeanine Stewart Moran in human resources encouraged high school students to consider the health professions, while Ellen Bartlett, R.N. infection prevention nurse, focused on MRSA and basic disease prevention and  Barb Murray from the lab’s microbiology department had a wide display of petri dishes and microscopes for the students to view pathogens from door handles, table tops, pierced navels to a dog’s mouth. Naomi Mills and Michelle Rogers from respiratory therapy had a great display of a smoker’s lungs and all the body systems affected by longtime smoking, which drew a lot of “oohs” and “ahs” and Jamie Nightingale from radiology had X-rays  from  “head to toe.”
Linda Rowe shared her yoga skills, while Julie Racine, R.N. from KVHC drew a full day with her “Teen Depression” session. Brian Chapla from Community Health and Counseling had a session on “How’s your mental health and attitude.” Jack and Micah McCarthy shared views of “health issues” from tofu to the long-term effects of cell phone use, while Alisa Black kept her sessions informative and interactive with  “fitness through the ages.” Monique Stairs shared  information about helping someone who had been sexually assaulted and Leslie Gervais shared information about “Love and Violence should not be a couple.” Sue York and  four  young  mothers  represented  “Stepping Stones” and shared the reality of early parenthood and Health First also shared the “when, how and where” of accessing teen health care.
Houlton Police Officer Ezekial Collins opened a few eyes and ears with his Internet safety information.  Kelly Nightingale represented the office of Probation and Parole and also held a captive audience with her session on harassment, cell phone texting and lifetime consequences of breaking the law, and alcohol awareness and questions were offered  by “first-hand experience” of long-term recovering personnel in their session.
Other presenters were Patti Carson representing the Center for Disease Control with her session on tatoos, piercings and Lyme Disease prevention. Sam Walker from the Army Recruiting office kept his session attendees’ attention with his “Appearances Do Count” in regard to jobs, community service and everyday posture and grooming. Kathleen Paradis from ACAP gave first-hand interviewing and job seeking tips, job skills and appearances and  writing a resume, and Mr. and and Mrs. Jerry Levine kept their session “on their feet” with Tai-Chi.
The student’s post health fair evaluation had a triple tie with favorite gymnasium booths: Jolynn Stevens and her orange smoothies for “Breakfast on the go,” as well as Glen Targonski from Houlton Ambulance and Aroostook EMS with hands-on intubation stations, and last but not the least, was the Danforth Outdoor Education students with their instructor Dave Conley teaching hands-on compass reading, knot tying, canoe/kayak paddling and “rescue in the bag” for water rescue.
“A heart felt thank you to each and every community professional that made this Health Fair a success,” said Sandra Hare, school nurse.