Sports-themed UCMC event helps teachers stay healthy

Ledger photo / SCOTT POWELL Upstate Carolina Medical Center employees distribute "goodie bags" to school teachers leaving the district's health fair at Gaffney High School. The hospital employees are dressed in referee uniforms to reflect this year's theme, which was sports. More than 700 Cherokee County teachers and school district employees spent Tuesday morning at a health fair organized by Upstate Carolina Medical Center (UCMC).

Physicians volunteered time from their practices to speak with school district employees about lab results from blood and glucose tests given to detect infections, blood anemia, high cholesterol and diabetes. The hospital provided results on optional mammograms and prostrate screenings that were done in early December.

Nearly 50 booths were set up in the Gaffney High School cafeteria from 7:30-11 a.m.

School employees could get their blood pressure checked, undergo a body fat measurement and receive information about nutrition, orthopedics and home health. The Cherokee YMCA and Your Best Body had booths featuring fitness programs.

Dr. Frank Phillips, Dr. Robert Kaemmerlen, Dr. Samuel Swad, Dr. Richard Cutchin, Dr. Steven Lewis and Dr. Hans Blaakman were among the doctors involved in this year's health fair.

The Cherokee County School District has 1,300 employees. It is the county's second-largest employer.

"This is the biggest health fair we do each year," said Alice Walker, risk management director for Upstate Carolina Medical Center.

"We provide a wide range of services at the health fair to provide the school district employees with a general awareness about their health," Walker continued.

Sports was the theme for this year's event.

Each school district employee was given a series of true/false questions to answer while visiting the different booths.

Teachers had to complete the quiz before they were allowed to go to the "end zone" and claim their prize in the school lobby.

Hospital employees dressed in umpire uniforms were waiting to distribute an assortment of health and sports items.

"Upstate Carolina Medical Center has been real good to us. We are very appreciative to the hospital for providing this service to our employees," school district personnel director Andy Jones said.

"The health fair has helped several of our employees through the early detection of diseases so they could receive treatment for serious health problems."