Health Fair points children toward good habits
By Sylvie Belmond belmond@theacorn.com

During a health fair at Flory Academy last week, adults gathered pamphlets from tables displaying information about various health-related programs available to local residents.

Children strolled from booth to booth to visit with organization representatives, martial arts teachers and youth sports groups that promote healthy lifestyles.

Youngsters were most attracted to the noise coming from the back of the schoolyard, where Moorpark Police DARE Officer Chris Love sounded the siren of his patrol vehicle. The officer smiled as kids peeked with interest into the interior of the car.

The health fair, organized by the Moorpark Unified School District and PTA Council, aimed to increase health awareness through education and prevention, said several PTA leaders.

"The PTA Council has been focused on children's health for the past three to four years," said Laura Loya, president of the organization.

Michelle Dearman, a council board member, said, "We want to help the community become aware of the many healthrelated programs, services and providers located in our surrounding community."

Local organizations, youth sports groups and businesses participated in the fair to advertise their programs.

Students who attend the Moorpark High School Health Science Academy helped with the event.

"Being healthy is eating right and exercising," said Danielle Johnson, a junior at MHS.

Crystal Martinez, an eighth-grader at Mesa Verde Middle School, also came to lend a hand because she wants younger children to understand the effects that drugs have on the body, she said.

"Being healthy means not smoking or doing drugs," said 11-year-old Tyler Dearman. The boy said he convinced his parents to stop smoking when he was 5.

"I put up no smoking signs in the garage where they used to smoke and would throw cigarettes away in the toilet because I didn't like it," he said.

In addition to staying away from drugs and alcohol, children also learned the importance of spending time outdoors exercising.

"Most kids are not physically active outside of school," said Cynthia Kahl, physical education and health teacher at Mesa Verde Middle School. Some have chores and responsibilities after school so they can't participate in youth sports, and others like to spend most of their time at the computer or watching TV, she said.

Alice Parra, community health worker for the Ventura County Public Health Department, attended the fair to give out information about lead poisoning.

"It's still a big problem," she said.

When a child is diagnosed with high levels of lead in his or her blood, public agency representatives go to the child's home to visit with parents and help locate the source.

Although in the past lead poisoning was mostly caused by exposure to lead paint in older homes, these days it also occurs when children play with toys that contain lead paint, Parra said. Many toys from China were recalled because of this problem, she said.

Some candies have also been found to contain the toxic metal, Parra added.