Peterson educates during Public Health Week

21st MDG Public Health Week

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. – Airman 1st Class Derric Caskey, 21st Medical Support Squadron, participates in the Public Health Week milk drinking contest at the Peterson Clinic April 7. Caskey won the competition by finishing his bottle in less than five minutes. The contest was one of several events designed to raise awareness of public health. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Jared Marquis)

Published April 8, 2014
By Tech. Sgt. Jared Marquis
21st Space Wing Public Affairs

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- Members of the 21st Aerospace Medicine Squadron public health flight celebrated Public Health Week with games, guest appearances and educational information from April 7-11 at the Peterson Medical Clinic.

The goal of Public Health Week is to promote awareness about what services the public health profession provides, said Capt. Mark Olson, 21st AMDS public health flight commander.

Compared to other national recognition weeks, the public health flight stepped it up. The team used themes and related events for each day.

Monday began with "Be healthy from the start" and featured a milk drinking contest, where contestants had to drink milk from a baby bottle. Airman 1st Class Derric Caskey, 21st Medical Support Squadron was the winner with a time of nearly five minutes.

Other events included a watermelon-eating contest, a pin the heart competition, a bundle up race and a burpee competition. Each event was designed to raise awareness about some of the services provided by the public health flight, said Olson. The additional themes were Eat Well, Get Out Ahead, Don't Panic and Be the Healthiest Generation in One Nation.

"Our mission is to keep the population healthy, not just individuals," said Olson. "This includes preventing disease, disability and death."

Some of the areas public health focuses on are disease prevention, health promotion and education, active duty and Reserve readiness, food safety and workplace safety, said Olson.

It's all about awareness, said Olson. Some, even in the medical field, are unsure of what services public health provides, that is why it was important to make this week as big as possible.

For more information on public health, call 556-1225.