AUBURN - Henry and Linda D'Amato wanted to get their cholesterol levels checked, and they didn't have to look any farther than their own hospital for a free screening.
On Saturday, Auburn Memorial Hospital held its annual Heart Expo, at which there were free cholesterol, glucose, blood pressure and pulmonary function tests and numerous exhibits to educate the public about maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
“Our goal is to educate the public about healthy heart living and give the public a whole lot of free screenings,” said Beverly Miller, director of community relations for the hospital.
Miller said that lines for the cholesterol screening started to form an hour before the test was to open.
“We hope to raise awareness about living a healthy life,” she said. “Part of the hospital's mission is to help people keep healthy. We're not only here to see people when they are sick or hurt. What we also see as part of our mission is educating the public so they can stay healthy.”
And the expo certainly achieved that for Val and Gary McIlvain, of Auburn, and their daughters Morgan, 10, and Felicia, 6.
Morgan, who jumped rope at the expo with the Seward Jump Rope Team, said she saw a test tube filled with fat from one doughnut, and that seeing that has made her - and her mother - rethink their diet.
“I don't think I'll ever eat another doughnut again,” Val said.
Area restaurants, farms and grocery stores like Applebees, Daut's, Connie's Deli, Daut's, Hillcrest Dairy, Owens Orchard and Wegmans provided examples of alternative low fat and low cholesterol foods.
The carnival games and tours of a TLC ambulance, a Mercy Flight helicopter and fire engines kept children busy outside and under supervision so the adults could explore the more grownup material inside.
Though Miller doesn't have an exact count, she said the expo has grown every year in popularity. Saturday's expo brought in the most people she has seen during her eight years with the hospital.
“It's become a community event,” she said.
Henry D'Amato saw the expo as a great way for the community to see the value of AMH, a hospital that has had financial woes in the past couple of years.
“It gets the public aware of this hospital,” he said. “It has had financial problems. The more exposure and more people you have, the more people will know it's a great asset to the community.”
It is the education about maintaining a healthy lifestyle, a healthy heart, that got Linda D'Amato through the door.
Staff writer Alyssa Sunkin can be reached at alyssa.sunkin@lee.net or 253-5311 ext. 239
“Our goal is to educate the public about healthy heart living and give the public a whole lot of free screenings,” said Beverly Miller, director of community relations for the hospital.
Miller said that lines for the cholesterol screening started to form an hour before the test was to open.
“We hope to raise awareness about living a healthy life,” she said. “Part of the hospital's mission is to help people keep healthy. We're not only here to see people when they are sick or hurt. What we also see as part of our mission is educating the public so they can stay healthy.”
And the expo certainly achieved that for Val and Gary McIlvain, of Auburn, and their daughters Morgan, 10, and Felicia, 6.
Morgan, who jumped rope at the expo with the Seward Jump Rope Team, said she saw a test tube filled with fat from one doughnut, and that seeing that has made her - and her mother - rethink their diet.
“I don't think I'll ever eat another doughnut again,” Val said.
Area restaurants, farms and grocery stores like Applebees, Daut's, Connie's Deli, Daut's, Hillcrest Dairy, Owens Orchard and Wegmans provided examples of alternative low fat and low cholesterol foods.
The carnival games and tours of a TLC ambulance, a Mercy Flight helicopter and fire engines kept children busy outside and under supervision so the adults could explore the more grownup material inside.
Though Miller doesn't have an exact count, she said the expo has grown every year in popularity. Saturday's expo brought in the most people she has seen during her eight years with the hospital.
“It's become a community event,” she said.
Henry D'Amato saw the expo as a great way for the community to see the value of AMH, a hospital that has had financial woes in the past couple of years.
“It gets the public aware of this hospital,” he said. “It has had financial problems. The more exposure and more people you have, the more people will know it's a great asset to the community.”
It is the education about maintaining a healthy lifestyle, a healthy heart, that got Linda D'Amato through the door.
Staff writer Alyssa Sunkin can be reached at alyssa.sunkin@lee.net or 253-5311 ext. 239
Citizen
Hot Jobs
New! Off the Menu
The Citizens' Say
Post your comment - click hereThere are No comments posted.