Local News

Youth learn about health and careers

FOLLANSBEE -- Brooke County youth learned about staying healthy and careers in the health field at the Science Saturday event held Saturday at Hooverson Heights Primary School by the Alpha Delta Kappa educators sorority and Brooke County Reading Council.

"Healthy Bodies, Healthy Minds" was the theme for the voluntary program, which was attended by pupils in grades 3-6 from several Brooke County schools.

Rachel Reardon, a second grade teacher at Hooverson Heights, said it's the first time health has been the focus of the annual event, which was started in 2014 by fellow teacher Suzanne Davidson, now retired but still involved with it.

"It's a different aspect of science they might not think about as much," said Reardon, who coordinated this year's program with Sharon Cuomo, a leader of the reading council, a volunteer group that promotes reading and writing through various youth-oriented events.

Cuomo and physical education teacher Mary K. Stucin provided a warmup with jump roping exercises in the school's gym.

Other guests included David Delaney, a physical therapist at Weirton Medical Center, who explained how he uses exercise to help patients strengthen their muscles, usually because they have been injured or have a disease or condition that affects their mobility.

Delaney noted everyone can benefit from exercise, which also strengthens the heart and lungs, adding it can be fun.

A girl in the classroom agreed, saying she often uses a treadmill while watching television.

Aided by his young daughter, Lauren, Delaney revealed that in addition to being right or left handed, people usually are right or left footed or right or left eyed.

"It depends on which side of your brain is dominant," he said.

Delaney said he became interested in physical therapy as a youth while undergoing treatment himself for a dislocated shoulder.

"It's pretty fun. I enjoy my job," he said.

Michelle Cesa and Kristen Reardon, nutrition majors at West Virginia University, directed a game of bingo in which pupils placed markers with images of various foods onto a card with spaces for examples of specific food groups.

Cesa said because children are growing, they need lots of calories and it's OK for them to eat at various times of the day if they consume healthy snacks.

She said parents shouldn't fret if they don't eat as much at one meal, but they should ensure their children don't consume too many sweet or fattening foods.

"Proper nutrition prevents so many diseases and negative health conditions," Reardon said. She added parents can make vegetables more appealing by cooking them with other foods, such as in stir fry, and adding tasty spices.

She and Cesa are pursuing careers as sports nutritionists, noting the field combines their interest in sports and health.

The pupils also heard from Rilee Livolski, Maddie Moore, Breona Brown and Shelby Cronin, senior dental hygienists at West Liberty University, who showed them tools they use to clean teeth and types of x-rays that reveal cavities and other oral problems.

Livolski said dental hygiene students at WLU gain experience through dental cleanings that are available to the public for a small price.

She noted their work is overseen by experienced staff, including a dentist who can explain to a patient any serious dental problems discovered during a visit.

Livolski said she became interested in the field because she always enjoyed having her teeth cleaned as a youth.

Rachel Reardon said exposure to the healthcare professionals can lead youth to consider whether they would like to have such a job.

"They may think, 'I could do this one day,'" she said.

The youth received various freebies, from small first aid kits to toothpaste and brushes, from the presenters as well as apples supplied by Riesbeck's Food Stores.

(Scott can be contacted at wscott@heraldstaronline.com.)