Palmer College of Chiropractic held a fun and interactive National Public Health Week event on this year’s theme: "Designing Healthy Communities, Raising Healthy Kids." This afternoon of healthy food, booths and activities was conducted collaboratively with a local hospital program through the Trinity Regional Health System called the Trinity Enrichment Center. It included a Healthy Kids Health Fair, which was open to all persons in the Iowa and Illinois Quad-Cities community.
The health fair took place on the Palmer College campus and included various participating organizations focusing on family health, including the local health department and the University of Iowa College of Dentistry’s Pediatric Dental Association. The main purpose of the event was to provide education and information for parents and their children on a variety of health issues, and to raise awareness about health related services available to children and families in the Quad-Cities community.
The four-hour health fair began at noon with a yoga class for kids. Throughout the afternoon seminars on parenting, chiropractic, and injury prevention were offered, including a talk by Lisa Killinger, DC, APHA-CHC past Section chair.
Participants at the fair also enjoyed several interactive activities and were able to take home gifts and educational materials from several organizations. The Scott County Health Department offered a hand washing station with a black light to help kids see the germs that improper washing leaves behind, and Palmer College students and faculty offered a backpack safety station, spinal screenings and posture stations. Students from the Pediatric Dental Association offered free toothbrushes and toothpaste, and even put on a puppet show to educate children on proper dental care. Toys-R-Us sponsored a children’s bicycle give-away and had their mascot, Geoffrey, on hand for photos. One of the more exceptional activities of the day was the participation of Maximum Salon offering $5 haircuts with 100 percent of the proceeds being donated to the National Down Syndrome Society. Several people also participated in the “Locks of Love” program, donating their hair to make wigs for patients who need them.
A local NBC affiliate, KWQC-TV, promoted the event in advance by hosting organizer and new APHA-CHC member Julie Johnson on a local talk show. The Palmer NPHW events were also featured on the evening news, providing the Quad Cities community information about the importance of National Public Health Week.
The organizers of this year’s event at Palmer College of Chiropractic plan to continue with the effort on a yearly basis and feel that the promotion of public health issues is vital to our nation’s health.