2014 Family Health & Safety Day set for Saturday, June 21 at University Hospitals Ahuja Medical Center

Free community wellness event will be preceded by 5k and one-mile Senior Fun Walk

Beachwood, Ohio – The 2014 Family Health & Safety Day at University Hospitals (UH) Ahuja Medical Center will be held on Saturday, June 21 from 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. The free event at the hospital, located at 3999 Richmond Road in Beachwood, encourages healthy lifestyles for all ages by providing wellness screenings, safety tips, fun activities and education in collaboration with the hospital’s clinicians and community partners.

“Three-quarters of chronic health conditions are attributable to four lifestyle issues – smoking; lack of physical activity; food quality and portion size; and stress,” says Roy Buchinsky, MD, Director of Wellness and Robert and Susan Hurwitz Master Clinician in Wellness, University Hospitals. “With UH Ahuja Medical Center’s Family Health & Safety Day, we are making adults and children aware of these and other issues and giving them tools to help improve their lives in fun, rewarding ways.”

Dr. Buchinsky will present educational “pearls of wellness” at the event and answer questions about health and safety concerns. Family Health & Safety Day will also feature:

*A complete array of free wellness screenings including blood pressure, cholesterol, glucose, bone density, skin cancer, hearing, vision, body mass index, prostate, vascular, memory, balance/flexibility, shoulder range of motion and stroke.

*Car seat safety assessments.

*Bike helmet fittings with free helmets to the first 500 children attending with a head circumference of 22 inches or less (approximately toddler to eight years old), while the supply lasts.

*Fitness and healthy cooking demonstrations.

*MedEvac helicopter/safety and emergency vehicle tours.

*Health and safety information booths.

*Specially themed music from the Radio Disney Road Crew.

*Family games and prizes.

*Clowns and balloon animals.

Clinicians from UH Ahuja Medical Center’s new UH Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital Pediatric Unit will be on hand to provide parents and families with details about the pediatric emergency and inpatient capabilities now available to them close to home, as well as summer and year-round health and safety information.

“Bike and water safety are two of the most important things to be mindful of in the spring and summer, and supervision is the key to both,” says Robyn Strosaker, MD, Medical Director, Pediatric Services, Rainbow at UH Ahuja Medical Center. “Both adults and kids should wear bike helmets every time they ride. To maximize water safety, children should be taught to swim and adults should never leave them unattended around any body of water.”

In addition, UH Ahuja Medical Center will hold a 5k Run and Walk for Wellness at 8 a.m. and a one-mile Senior Fun Walk at 9 a.m. Participants can register for the event of their choice on June 21 or in advance by visiting www.hmapromotions.net.

“This year, we are pleased to present a larger, expanded Family Health & Safety Day to the communities we serve,” says Susan V. Juris, President, UH Ahuja Medical Center. “This family event will be a fun, positive way to officially kick off summer.”