‘Cool Summer Breeze’

SSHS program keeps students safe and healthy

By Eloria Newell James, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Laurel Leader-Call

LAUREL — Safe Schools Healthy Students held the finale of its “Cool Summer Breeze” program Thursday at Sawmill Square Mall.

Johnnice Ulmer, mentoring coordinator for the Laurel and Lawrence County School districts’ initiative, said Safe Schools Healthy Students partnered with the Laurel Housing Authority for the four-part series.

“We had the Family Health Center here to do blood pressure checks and vision tests for the children,” Ulmer said. “One little girl had her blood pressure checked and was taken straight to the emergency room. She’s nine years old and her blood pressure was up.

“Her parents had no reason to believe she had high blood pressure,” she added. “This shows the importance of Safe Schools Healthy Students in making sure our children are safe and healthy. Some children have been told they need to see an ophthalmologist because they saw a problem.”

Others who participated in the event were Laurel Fire Department Battalion Chief Alfred Jordan, who taught the children about fire safety, and South Central Regional Medical Center who brought their “Be Your Best Self” drug trailer. The interactive exhibit teaches children about the dangers of tobacco, marijuana and alcohol use, using graphic photos and video of diseased heart, liver and lungs.

Lindsey Blackledge, project director for the Safe Schools Healthy Students initiative, thanked the hospital and EMServ Ambulance Service for their assistance during the day.

“The whole purpose is to provide support services for the children so they can be something in life and something in school,” Blackledge said. “We’ve had over 120 signed in from the Lawrence County and Laurel School District.”

Safe Schools Healthy Students is funded in part by the U.S. Department of Education and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services through a four-year grant.

Participants in the Safe Schools Healthy Students “Cool Summer Breeze” program learn about the dangers of alcohol, tobacco and marijuana in the “Be Your Best Self” drug trailer. The drug trailer was part of the group’s summer wrap-up which also included blood pressure and vision screenings and motivational speeches. Photo/David Owens