Safety & Health Week focuses on nutrition, exercise

Posted June 24, 2010
By Brittany Brown
Norfolk District Public Affairs

06/24/2010 - NORFOLK, Va. — The sixth annual Safety & Health Week, held June 14 – 18, featured activities including an interactive nutrition presentation, blood drive, lunch time walk, first aid training class and health fair.

The kickoff event Monday, June 14 featured a presentation from Edwina Forrest and Valerie Lewis, both registered dieticians employed by the Office of Food Services for Virginia Beach City Public Schools. Forrest supervises 21 of the city's 82 food service operations and Lewis acts as nutrition and training coordinator. During the kickoff event, attendees learned how to read ingredient labels to make nutritious food choices and they also had the opportunity to sample healthier foods such as trail mix and baked snacks.

Following Monday's kick-off presentation, employees were invited to donate blood aboard the American Red Cross mobile. Safety Week Committee member Nora Batten reports that the employees exceeded the goal of collecting 25 pints, as 28 pints were collected.

In tune with the focus on nutrition and exercise, district commander Col. Andrew Backus led a half-hour lunch time walk along the Atlantic City Elizabeth River Trail Tuesday, June 15.

Also on June 15, Herb Maher, City of Virginia Beach safety specialist, provided two four-hour long first aid classes. Family members and friends of the district were also invited to attend the classes to learn first aid, CPR and automated external defibrillator procedures.

"Always remember it's better to do something than nothing," Maher stressed to a roomful of inquisitive and attentive participants who were very active during the hands-on portion of the class.

Each participant received a card, valid for two years, certifying their completion of the National Safety Council CPR course.

Wednesday's events included a health fair hosted by the Fort Norfolk Chapter of Federally Employed Women (FEW). Medical professionals from Ghent Chiropractic, Optima Health and Sentara Healthcare were on hand June 17 to provide free health screenings and counseling related to blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes risk, body mass index, tobacco cessation and chiropractic therapy.

"Every time FEW hosts a health fair, we attract a larger and larger number of employees that take advantage of the opportunity to speak to health care professionals and get confidential screenings. We are definitely happy that people are recognizing the importance of their health," said Melinda Worrell, president of the Fort Norfolk Chapter of FEW.

In a memorandum to the district, Col. Backus asked all employees to take the time to closely reflect on how they can improve personal safety and health within their offices, work environments, homes and leisure activities.

"Safety is everyone's responsibility. We have to live safety, we have to think safety, we have to practice safety, and we have to keep safety on our minds day in and day out," said Backus.