University Health and Safety Day encourages wellness

 

Students did more than vote on Nov.6. Over 450 students and faculty members attended University Health and Safety Day, an annual homecoming event that brought out over 88 community partners as well as seven Florida A&M student organizations. The event was free, open to the public and provided free health screenings.

 Shekeena Rosier, a 23-year-old social work student from Sarasota, attended the event and was pleased with its services.

“I was supposed to go to the doctor next month, but I already know where I stand with my glucose and blood pressure, “Rosier said.

When event-goers signed in they were presented with a raffle ticket that was worth a free t-shirt and a month of free gym membership. The grand prizewinner won a laptop.

Among the student organizations, there was a grip strength station where they tested to see how strong of a grip you have.

Rosier was surprised with her results.

“I didn’t know I had that kind of strength, all this time I thought I was weak,” Rosier said.

The event had over 20 different types of screenings for alcohol, acupuncture pulse diagnosis, hearing, vision and HIV/AIDS.

Kerstin Fleming is the student chair advisor for the Health and Safety Fair and has been working on this event for the past month. Fleming encouraged students to get checked up early because a lot of things can be prevented if they are take care of early.

 “I think it’s very important because the students don’t have to do any work. The vendors come to us,” Fleming said.

Community partners such as Big Bend Cares, Tallahassee Regional Airport, Leon County Health Department and New Leaf Market were in attendance.

Jean Crozier, Community Outreach Coordinator for New Leaf Market, had a table set up to sample various organic fruits, berries and nuts.

“Your health is your wealth,” Crozier said. “Your own person is your most valuable resource.”

Crozier said that New Leaf Market tries to provide people with what they need to stay healthy. New Leaf Market offers complimentary educational programs in the evening on how to improve your health by making low-cost, healthy meals.

“If you don’t take care of it (your health), then your earning power goes down. Your quality of life and your level of happiness goes down,” Crozier said.