21st Medical Group fall outreach

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. – Senior Airman Brandy Williams, 21st Medical Group, takes a turn using a drunk-driving simulator Oct. 31 at the 21st MDG Fall Outreach. Airmen and their families took part in spooky and educational festivities at the third annual outreach hosted by the 21st MDG, where kids took part in activities including face-painting, learning about germs using a black light and burning energy in a bounce house while parents had access to a number of booths setup by local organizations, all with the goal of promoting healthy living. (U.S. Air Force photo/Michael Golembesky)

21st Medical Group fall outreach

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. – Airmen and their families took part in spooky and educational festivities at the third annual Fall Outreach hosted by the 21st Medical Group Oct. 31. Participants took part in activities including face-painting, learning about germs using a black light and burning energy in the bouncy house while parents had access to a number of booths setup by local organizations, all with the goal of promoting healthy living. (U.S. Air Force photo/Michael Golembesky)

21st Medical Group supplies spooky fun, healthy info

Published Nov. 6, 2013
By Michael Golembesky
21st Space Wing Public Affairs staff writer

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- It was party time Oct. 31 with a kids bouncy house, live music, scary costumes and plenty of free information about healthy living.

It was a beautiful and sunny autumn day as service members and their families took part in the fun and educational festivities put on by 21st Medical Group during the third annual Fall Outreach, a combination of community outreach and health promotion.

"It is a fun way to promote information about healthy living, ways to take care of themselves, to help prevent illness like heart disease, diabetes and obesity and improve their overall quality of life," said Lt. Col. Tamra Johnson, 21st Medical Group healthcare integrator.

Games and activities ranged from pumpkin painting to a drunk-driving exercise to raise awareness about impacts of alcohol on the body.

"We have drunk goggles and are letting the older kids wear them to see what it is like to drive drunk, to help with prevention outreach," Johnson said.

Volunteers could put on a set of goggles, which created dizziness and disorientation, while they tried to navigate a pedal car through a course outlined with orange cones.

"My heart is racing a little, even though it was simulated. I still felt really nervous about doing it," said Senior Airman Brandy Williams, 21st MDG. "I thought that I did well, but I was hitting cones left and right. That's really scary. I think it is a really great tool."

Beside the games and activities, the event included representatives from a number of local organizations that provided information on a wide variety of health-related issues.

"We have booths setup from the (Armed Forces) YMCA, dental representatives, family advocacy groups, disease management, United Healthcare and the Family Readiness Center," Johnson said.

For more information about 21st MDG services, go to http://www.peterson.af.mil/library/medicalgroup/.