The administration and staff at the Española Hospital want to do their part to make sure students at one area elementary school understand the importance of living a healthy lifestyle.
A team of 17 doctors, nurses and hospital administrators gathered at Chimayó Elementary School, Oct. 4, to give students tips to keep their minds and bodies healthy.
The students participated in physical activities, such as jump rope and hula hoop, to give them an example of things they can do to maintain good health.
Chimayó Head Teacher Janet Malcom said she was pleased the hospital’s staff chose the school because it was an excellent opportunity to mix work and play.
“I think it was a good thing, especially for the smaller kids,” she said. “It gave the kids a chance to jump rope and hula hoop. They had a great time.”
Hospital Administrator Brenda Romero said the overarching goal is to get students excited about physical activity and eating healthy.
“We have two active living stations,” she said. “We asked them to do some kind of running around or active activity (sic) for a minimum of an hour a day.”
Amy Wilson is the hospital’s Community-based program director. She said after speaking with the students, she concluded most of them had a good grasp on the types of activities that will get their heart rates elevated.
“I was impressed with the kids,” she said. “They were able to describe playing tag, swinging on the swings and climbing on the monkey bars as a way to get their hearts pounding.”
The staff also discussed steps students could take outside of school, to improve their chances of staying safe. However, Wilson said the students were already familiar with many of the topics the healthcare workers covered.
“We encouraged them to wear bike helmets,” she said. “Many of the students knew about the importance of wearing seat belts and sitting in the back seat, as the safest place for them in a car.”
The nurses and doctors also operated two information stations where they discussed the importance of a proper diet and how to avoid harmful substances like cigarettes.
“We teach them about healthy eating,” Romero said. “We are teaching them to say ‘No,’ if someone asks them to use something harmful.” After spending a day at the school, she concluded that the students’ parents, guardians and family members set good examples for them to follow.
“It was fun to hear what these kids already knew,” Wilson said. “They have a lot of positive role models in their lives, teaching them.
This is the sixth year hospital administrators sponsored the day of service activities. Last year, Alcalde Elementary School administrators hosted the event.