By Amanda Mlekush
About 50 BCHS students representing the departments of Nursing, Nutrition and Public Health recently shared healthy habits and safety information with 300 second graders from eight schools at the Watauga County Schools’ health fair on April 17.
According to School Nurse Brooke Kidwell, students learned about topics such as sun safety, personal self-care and resiliency, nutrition, exercise, handwashing, car safety and fire/disaster safety. The fair, which was held in partnership with UNC Health Appalachian, Watauga County Parks and Recreation and other community agencies, was held at the Watauga Recreation Center.
Public Health and Nutrition students shared information at educational booths while Nursing students led second-grade student groups and assisted with table topics. Graduate Nursing students Caitlyn Sparks and Emily Pereira developed and facilitated hygiene and medication safety stations.
“Our students loved interacting and teaching the second graders who attended the health fair,” said Sarah Martin, Nursing Clinical Instructor at Appalachian State University. “Our students were able to practice their teaching skills which is crucial for promoting community health in their future careers!”
In the county’s first health fair since the COVID-19 pandemic BCHS faculty members Kristen Morgan (Nursing) and Martin served on the planning team with Kidwell and other community representatives.
“The health fair was a great experience for the students. For those of us involved in planning, it was a wonderful reminder of what a special place Watauga County is, with a number of organizations that provide resources to improve the health and wellbeing of our neighbors,” said Kidwell.
Group of young people wearing Appalachian scrubs stand at a sun safety info booth
Nursing students shared info on sun safety with the second graders