LGH Clinics to Teach INS, Outs of Safe Play
By Susan E. Lindt
Lancaster General is offering two free clinics to help children and coaches learn the ins and outs of safe play.
Friday’s Staying in the Game is an interactive event for children and their parents. On Saturday, area trainers and coaches are invited to the day-long Coaches’ Clinic.
Sponsored by a host of community organizations and local orthopedic practices, Staying in the Game runs from 6 to 9 p.m. at Clipper Magazine Stadium and promotes healthy eating and a safe lifestyle.
“Our bread and butter is providing acute care, but if we’re going to do what we say we are, which is improve health in the community, then we need to do what we can to help people avoid coming to the hospital in the first place,” Stacey Youcis, Lancaster General Hospital vice president of operations, said.
Children and parents will travel to eight stations around the stadium that address various topics, including choosing healthy snacks and drinks, and safer play and movement.
“Learning the importance of a healthy lifestyle is critical to our children and the future of our community,” Youcis said. “Through these interactive and educational stations, kids and parents can have fun and learn practical information that can be part of their daily lives.”
Station topics will include a “Dance Dance Revolution”-type of game that teaches kids to pump up their cardio health; proper jumping and landing without injury; safe walking with your dog; healthy snacking; safe winter recreation; the Balance Challenge, where kids learn fun exercises and balancing their body core; and proper stretching.
Last year’s Staying in the Game attracted 250 children and parents. Youcis expects to get about the same this year, but parents should register children ahead of time by calling (800) 341-2121 or visit LancasterGeneral.org for more information. The first 150 children to attend the event will receive a free gift. And parents should bring cameras as children can dress up in a Barnstormers’ uniform and have their photos taken with Cylo in front of the Barnstormers’ backdrop. MRI Group of Lancaster will send children home with a photo magnet for their pictures.
Youcis said the event on the second-floor Skybox Level also includes free refreshments and door prizes.
From 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Saturday, local coaches and trainers can earn valuable continuing education units at this year’s Coaches’ Clinic, a popular topic-driven clinic that deals with issues chosen by attendees from previous clinics.
“We believe one of the best ways to get our message out is to partner with people in the community with like interests,” Youcis said. “(Informing) coaches and trainers is a way for us to reach literally thousands of kids we normally couldn’t reach.”
Not only can coaches get CPR and AED certification in this year’s clinic, they also can get practical help dealing with sticky subjects.
“It’s not just about health and avoiding injury. A lot of it is also psychosocial – how to deal with difficult parents, how to deal with eating disorders, especially in female athletes, and how to deal with positive competition in a healthy, nurturing way,” Youcis said.
Other topics include sportsmanship, coaching your own child, the effects of misusing energy drinks and avoiding ACL injuries. Past clinics drew up to 70 coaches in paid or volunteer positions. To attend, coaches must register for the clinic as soon as possible by calling (800) 341-2121. Questions should be directed to kishirke@LancasterGeneral.org. Coaches will leave the clinic with a CPR/AED certification wallet card, 3.5 contact hours of continuing- education units and a DVD of the entire clinic to share with others.
Originally published by Intelligencer Journal Staff.
(c) 2008 Intelligencer Journal. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.