In conjunction with the Great American Smoke Out — an annual intervention event on the third Thursday of November by the American Cancer Society — the Health Science class at the Kosciusko-Attala Career Tech Center recently held a health fair with free blood pressure screenings and information about smoking in conjunction with Bluff Springs Paper Company for its employees.
“I just turned 50 and went for a regular checkup. Doctors found a blockage, and I got a stent put in. It just goes to show you how important these screenings are,” said Andrew Frank, president of Bluff Springs. “I felt fine and had no idea that I had anything wrong. I think our employees can really benefit from screening.”
According to Amy Price, instructor in the Health Science class, a few people were identified with high blood pressure in the screenings and were recommended to see their doctors. Several employees picked up information about quitting smoking and viewed a damaged lung. Most were surprised that it was from a person who had never smoked. The damage was from second-hand smoke.
After being screened, participants were encouraged to pick up a healthy snack from the refreshment table.
Students also informed them of the tobacco quitline number, 1-800-QUITNOW. The cost of patches and other assistance in quitting is often listed as a common reason people do not use the help to quit smoking. But the quit line will provide these items cost-free. Employees picked up turkeys with the quit line number on them to remind them that they would not have to quit “cold turkey.”
Also in attendance was Lynn McCafferty of the Mississippi Tobacco Free Coalition of Attala, Leake and Winston Counties.
“Approximately 40 million American adults still smoke, and tobacco use remains the single largest preventable cause of disease and premature death in the country,” she said.
The coalition’s goal is to create an awareness of the dangers of smoking and vaping and promote living healthy lifestyles through daily exercise, good eating habits, blood pressure and health screens along with being tobacco and nicotine free.
“Many thanks to Bluff Springs Paper Company and Amy Price’s Health Science class for helping provide valuable information to the employees of Bluff Springs Paper Company,” McCafferty said.
