Focus on teen health

Published 11:47 am Tuesday, June 2, 2015

OSU Extension agent Shanna Northway holds down the blender lid as Grant Union seventh-grader Austin Catron tries the smoothie bike at the Teen Health Fair.

JOHN DAY – From bike-powered green smoothies to stretching muscles to prevent sports injuries, Grant County students learned a variety of health tips at the May 29 Teen Health Fair held at Grant Union Junior-Senior High School.

Students from Grant Union, Prairie City and Long Creek in grades 7-12 participated in the event.

The Grant County Health Department sponsored the event with partners from Blue Mountain Hospital, Strawberry Wilderness Community Clinic, Advantage Dental, Grant County District Attorney’s Office, Heart of Grant County and others.

Nurse Lindsay Maghan, coordinator of the new school-based health center located at the school, organized the event.

She said students learned about healthy eating and exercises and the dangers of drinking too many energy drinks as well as good dental hygiene and the risks associated with chewing tobacco.

The DA’s office and Heart staff spoke with older students in grades 9-12 about the importance of showing respect in dating and warned of the consequences of sexting.

Maghan said she and the staff at the health center realized there was a health fair for adults and a health and safety fair for elementary students, but nothing for teens.

“We wanted to give them (teens) an opportunity to explore health in their community,” Maghan said.

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