March 3, 2011

Editorial: Healthy Kids Outreach Program
The News Review, March 3, 2011

Good health habits should be taught early in life

Encouraging a healthy lifestyle must begin at a young age. That's the best time to establish habits that can last for a lifetime.

Those who adopt healthy habits, whether it's exercising, choosing the right foods or getting plenty of sleep, often live longer, healthier and more satisfying lives. Life is such a gift that it's a shame not to make the most of it.

Not every child knows instinctively how to adopt healthy habits, so it's helpful for them to have some guidance. Many children will be taught by their family members, but others could use the expertise of a professional.

That's happening in seven Douglas County school districts, thanks to the Mercy Foundation's Healthy Kids Outreach program. Nurses employed by the program travel to rural county schools to provide health education to students. Their lessons don't rely much on textbooks, but rather on hands-on activities for children.

In a recent lesson at Canyonville Elementary School, nurse Trina Gwaltney got children moving in their classrooms by encouraging them to mimic the motions they would make if they were playing basketball. Their pretend dribbling, shooting and shuffling their feet got their hearts beating faster, just as she had planned.

Not only was she encouraging them to exercise, but she was also teaching them about keeping their hearts healthy.

Other nurses have taught the importance of thorough hand washing.
They squirt glow-in-the-dark soap on students' hands and after the students have washed, they place their hands under a black light. The light reveals the germs that weren't removed, and therefore, could be transferred to other students and possibly make them sick.

Other lessons cover personal and dental hygiene, character development and nutrition and the importance of trying new foods.

The program, launched in 2006 by Mercy Foundation and paid for by grants, also alerts families to free and low-cost health care in their communities and schools. It's estimated that about half of the children in rural county schools do not have health insurance.

By bringing health care to the schools, Healthy Kids Outreach helps families who may not have the money or transportation to take their children to doctors, dentists or other health care providers.

The Glide School District is the latest to receive the services of Healthy Kids Outreach. The program already serves Riddle, Days Creek, South Umpqua, Winston-Dillard, Sutherlin and Oakland school districts. The goal is to eventually expand the program to all districts in the county.

Emphasizing preventive health care through the Healthy Kids Outreach Program makes a lot of sense.

We'd like to see all Douglas County schoolchildren form good health habits that will lead to productive and happy lives. It will not only benefit them as individuals, but it could help decrease health care costs throughout our community.

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