Date: November 17, 2009
Contact: Carol Connelly, Director, Media & Communication Services, ext. 5267, cconnelly@pnc.edu

PNC Nursing Students Present Health Fair at Marquette HS

Westville – Registered nurses who are students in the Purdue University North Central Department of Nursing Bachelor's degree program will present a free health fair for the students of Marquette High School in Michigan City on Dec. 1 from 8 a.m. to noon.

The fair, Fun Factual Information making Every Single Teen Aware (F.F.I.E.S.T.A.) of Health, offers nursing students a clinical experience and an opportunity to learn about community outreach and meeting the health education needs of the adolescent population, under the clinical direction of Peggy Rose, PNC assistant professor of Nursing.

The fair will include interactive activities and displays that will provide information on health topics important to teens. Topics include: healthy choices, tobacco use, binge drinking, substance abuse, mental health, suicide, distracted and impaired driving, eating disorders and dating violence. Students will have the opportunity to browse exhibits, pick up information, ask questions and participate in learning activities and demonstrations.

The fair participants include:

American Cancer Society – will educate students on the negative effects of tobacco use.

Michigan City Police Department – will provide information on general safety and date rape.

Indiana State Police - will demonstrate the hazard of impaired driving while students wear “drunk goggles.”

PATH (Positive Approach to Teen Health), of Valparaiso - will present information on making healthy choices through abstinence from drugs, alcohol, relationship violence and sexual activity outside of marriage.

Ben Porter, sports performance trainer - will discuss sports injury prevention and demonstrate proper technique.

Jazzercise, of Michigan City - will have an interactive exercise demonstration.

Rachel Niemi, Chicago School of Psychology - will share information on mental health and suicide.

The lunch speaker will be Perry Minner, a Michigan City High School social worker, who will address binge drinking and substance abuse. He will also answer anonymous student questions on these topics.

Further information about this fair may be obtained by contacting Peggy Rose at (219)-785- 5706 .

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