Special Olympics Healthy Athletes 1. Objectives of Workshop 2 / Special Olympics Why are we here...

Special Olympics

Healthy Athletes

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Objectives of Workshop

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Why are we here today?

We are here today to:

• Learn about Athlete Leadership • Review the SO Mission• Discuss Healthy Choices • Learn about Healthy Athlete screenings• Have participants understand why it is important to

get screened for the issues involved• Make a plan to experience the screenings• Practice sharing this information with fellow athletes

and helping as peer ambassadors at Games and events

Athlete Leadership Programs

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Athlete Leadership Programs

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Athlete Leaders (including ALPs) Definition   An Athlete or Participant who serves in at least one Athlete Leadership role listed below:    

Athlete Leadership Examples:Athlete Leadership Examples:Athletes as Volunteers (games or events)Athletes as Coaches or Assistant CoachesAthletes as Sport OfficialsAthletes as Public Speakers (Global Messengers)Athletes on Boards, Committees or Input CouncilsAthletes assisting with Fund RaisingAthletes assisting with technology or other office workAthletes serving as peer mentors or team captainsAthletes attending regional or national meeting about ID

The Mission of Special Olympics

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The Mission of Special Olympics

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The mission of Special Olympics is to provide year-round sports training and

athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and

adults with intellectual disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage,

experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills, and friendship with their

families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community.

Healthy Athletes Screenings

Healthy Athletes Screenings

Dental Health

Healthy Promotion Sun Safety; Washing Hands; Strong Bones; Diet and

Exercise

Visual Health - Opening Eyes

Fit Feet

Fun Fitness

Auditory (Hearing) Health

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Special Smiles

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Special Smiles

The health of your mouth mirrors the condition of your body as a whole.

When your mouth is healthy, chances are your overall health is good, too.

If you have poor oral health, you may have other health problems.

We need our teeth so we can eat, chew and digest our food.

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Special Smiles

At home, practice good oral hygiene:

• Brush for two to three minutes, at least twice a day

• Floss daily

• Eat a healthy diet to provide the nutrients necessary (vitamins A and C, in particular)

• Avoid cigarettes and smokeless tobacco

• Schedule regular dental checkups

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Special SmilesAll About YOU!

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Rock that Smile!

Develop a rap using your Rock that Smile theme or slogan.

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Special SmilesAll About YOU!

Health Promotion

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Health PromotionSun Safety Messages

Overexposure to the sun’s rays damages skin and eyes

Prevent sun burns with healthy sun protection habits

Use sun screen at practice, events and whenever you are in the sun

Seek shade or cover up Wear a hat & sunglasses

Health PromotionDrinking water

Drink often and every day

Know where to get water at practices and events

Know when you need more water

If you are thirsty, you’ve waited too long

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A list of symptoms of not enough water

•Thirsty •Headache •Dizziness •Tired or weak feeling •Lack of energy •Grumpiness •Trouble concentrating •Nausea

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Health PromotionGerms

Health PromotionHand Washing

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When we come into contact with germs we can become infected simply by touching our eyes, nose, or mouth.

Good hand washing is the first line of defense against the spread of many illnesses, from the common cold to more serious illnesses

Health Promotion

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Glitter Hand Exercise

Health PromotionHand Washing

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When should you wash your hands?Before, during, and after preparing foodBefore eating foodBefore and after caring for someone who is sickBefore and after treating a cut or woundAfter using the toiletAfter blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezingAfter touching an animal, animal feed, or animal wasteAfter touching garbage

Health PromotionHand WashingHand Washing• Teach hand-washing without running

water?

• No problem — use a basin!

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Health PromotionStrong Bones

You have 206 bones in your body. Strong bones are important to be a Healthy

Athlete and do your best at Special Olympics events.

It’s hard to tell if you have strong bones or not with your eyes

That’s why there is a screen for bone strength.

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Health PromotionStrong Bones

Four Steps for Strong Bones

Exercise Eat 4 or more bone building things every dayDON’T SmokeTake a vitamin with Calcium and vitamin D

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Health PromotionHealthy Food

Divide Athletes into Groups

•You are responsible for deciding what athletes are going to eat at summer games/winter games.

•Design a healthy menu for the athletes.

•You need to have breakfast, lunch and dinner.

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Breakfast Menu

Health PromotionHealthy Food

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Lunch

Menu

Health PromotionHealthy Food

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Dinner/Supper

Menu

Health PromotionHealthy Food

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Health PromotionHealthy Food

What happens if we don’t eat healthy meals?

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Health PromotionWhat’s on Our Plate/in our Bowl?

Health PromotionMedical Release Form

1. Do you know what’s on your own Medical Release form. Do you understand what is on it?

2. Do you know what medications you are on?

3. Why is it important for you to know what medications you are taking and what they are for?

4. You may take medication that make it dangerous for you to be in the sun without protection

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Medication Name

Dosage Date Prescribed

Times per Day Why you need it

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Health PromotionMedical Release FormMedical Release Form

Opening Eyes

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Opening Eyes

Look around the room and

find one item that you like.

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Opening Eyes

An eye test can often pick up on eye diseases that can cause blindness which can be prevented.

It can also spot diseases such as diabetes and high blood pressure.

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Opening Eyes

• Provide for the vision and eye health needs of athletes

• Each participating athlete completes a comprehensive screening that takes about 45 minutes

• Athletes may require glasses, sunglasses or sport goggles

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Fit Feet

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Fit Feet

Screen athletes’ feet for any problems

Skin and nail problems

Check for proper shoes and socks

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Fit Feet

A Fit Feet screening takes approximately 10-15 minutes

After the screening, the clinicians will discuss the check up with the athletes, their coach, and a parent or sponsor

The athletes' will also receive their shoe size, any recommendations or referrals, and literature regarding common foot problems and foot care.

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Fit Feet Healthy TipsHealthy Tips

Wash your feet with soap and water

Dry your feet

Moisturize your feet

Keep your toe nails trimmed

Inspect your feet

Wear shoes or sandals to protect your feet

Wear clean socks

Wear the right shoe size (you should be able to wiggle your feet in your shoes)

FUN Fitness

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Fun Fitness

• Do you play a sport?

• Do you have to play a sport to get exercise?

• How can you get exercise if you don’t play a sport?

• If you think you’re not very good at a sport or it’s too hard for you, should you keep playing?

• Why or why not?

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Fun Fitness

Stand up and touch your toes

Swivel from side to side

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Fun Fitness

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• Regular exercise keeps weight under control

• Regular exercise builds strong bones

• Exercising 3 times a week, 30 minutes can help keep us in shape

Think of one way that you could get more exercise.

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Fun FitnessPhysical Therapy

Provides free screenings to measure athletes' flexibility, strength, balance, and aerobic fitness

Provides instruction to Athletes about how to stretch, strengthen and improve balance and fitness.

Train

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Healthy Hearing

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Have you ever wondered to yourself “why is hearing so important”?

Hearing helps us to work, socialize, interact, communicate and relax.

Hearing also keeps us safe and alert to the world around us.

Healthy Hearing

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Healthy Hearing

The purpose of Healthy Hearing Screening is to take care of our hearing.

•Screen the hearing of athletes and notify athletes and their coaches if follow-up care is needed

Getting Screened

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How many of you have gone through Healthy Athlete screenings?When? Where?

PEER Health Ambassador

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Healthy Athletes

1. What do you need to know about your own health?

2. How do you make sure you are staying healthy?

3. What can you do to help others around you to know about their health?

What are some things you can do to help other athletes know about and take care of their health?

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Healthy Athletes ScreeningsBehavior Yes / No

Smoking

Exercise 30 minutes 3 x a week or more

Use sunscreen

Wear a hat in the sun

Seek shade in the sun

Drink clean drinking water throughout the day

Eat balanced meals and healthy snacks

Get screenings done

Healthy Athletes Volunteer

Role Play

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Objectives of Workshop

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Did we…?• Learn about Athlete Leadership • Review the SO Mission• Discuss Healthy Choices• Learn about Healthy Athlete screenings• Have participants understand why it is

important to get screened for the issues involved.

• Practice sharing this information with fellow athletes

• Make a plan to experience the screenings

Thank you.

Now get out of this classroom and make sure you take care of yourself so you can

continue to be a strong and healthy Athlete Leader

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