CRESTVIEW—Going on a bike ride to a friend’s house or playing at recess isn’t just fun for most children, it could be saving their lives.

Poor eating habits and inactive lifestyles are leading to obesity in children at an alarming rate. While Crestview and Okaloosa County are nearly on par with national trends, that doesn’t mean there’s no reason for concern.

Risks

“Children are having ‘adult’ problems like hypertension, diabetes or pre-diabetes, high cholesterol [and] sleep issues like sleep apnea and gallstones,” Dr. Keely Kubly of North Okaloosa Physician Group Pediatrics said. They face increased risks of heart disease, skeletal issues, low self-esteem and depression.

These issues are both life-threatening and costly. The Florida Department of Health expects medical costs related to childhood obesity and subsequent illnesses to amount to an estimated $34 billion over the next two decades.

And it’s affecting kids younger and younger.

Defining obesity

“A little under 20 percent of children are considered overweight or obese before they enter kindergarten,” Kubly said. Nearly 60 percent of children born today will be obese by the time they graduate high school, according to the FDOH.

Among current school-aged children in Okaloosa County, about one-third are considered obese, according to Community Health Improvement Section Chief at DOH-Okaloosa Amanda Colwell.

Obesity is determined by a trained medical professional but can be estimated by calculating one’s body mass index or BMI. Several online resources offer BMI calculators and only require the person enter their weight and height.

A healthy BMI is 18.5-24.9; obese would be considered a person with a BMI of 30 or higher. In children, a comparative BMI model factoring in age and sex is used to determine obesity, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

A child in the 95th percentile of BMI for kids of the same age and sex would be considered obese.

Causes and who’s most affected

“Families aren’t eating well and not being active,” Colwell said. Some bad habits parents might not even be aware of, such as 100 percent fruit beverages, she added. These drinks lack the fiber necessary to break down sugars and can be a factor in early-onset diabetes.

“Parents may need to travel farther distances for work, making sit down, family-centered meals difficult and making fast food a convenience,” Kubly added. “In some areas, access to recreation centers or youth sports may be limited, lack of paved roads for activities like bike riding or even distance to the nearest house may make it difficult for children to exercise.”

As age increases from 2 to 19 years old, the rate of obesity increases, according to the CDC. However, all age groups are still at a risk, Kubly said.

The most at-risk group are those of Hispanic descent, with those of Asian descent being the least at-risk, according to CDC data compiled from 2011-2014. Rates between males and females were nearly identical.

Prevention and implementation

“Substituting water for a few sugar-containing beverages throughout the day [and] increasing fruit and vegetable consumption” are great starts, Kubly said.

Children should also aim to have daily moderate-to-high physical activity and limit screen usage—whether that means television, cell phones, tablets or computers. All of these suggestions are also recommended by the CDC.

The DOH-Okaloosa started “Healthy Okaloosa 5210” in January 2014 to help combat childhood obesity. The initiative helps share the four healthy living habits suggested by the CDC:

• Eat five or more fruits per day.

• Limit recreational screen time to two or fewer hours per day.

• Be physically active at least one hour every day.

• Cut back on sugar-sweetened drinks and eliminate the use of or exposure to tobacco products.

To implement these practices DOH-Okaloosa works with schools, medical providers, childcare services and other community organizations. They host and organize special services such as cooking demonstrations, fun runs and games.

Some of the programs were developed by the department but others were crafted by schools—such as a 5210 tag game—and spread to other schools as a result, according to Colwell.

The department also pushes facilities to adopt health-friendly practices. One such policy example is not allowing staff at recreation centers to smoke and requiring them to change and wash their clothes if they do so outside of work. Another could be ensuring water is a beverage option instead of sugary sports drinks.

Becoming engaged and making a change

Making progressive changes to promote a healthy lifestyle can at times be easier said than done. Kubly recommends starting with attainable goals and adding more once they are accomplished.

“If you are constantly in the car and need to eat fast food, a goal of never eating fast food again is not realistic,” Kubly said. “However ordering a salad or substituting fries for a fruit or vegetable is.”

Healthy lifestyles for children can also be adopted by adults, Kubly added. And dietary and lifestyle choices made in childhood often follow people into their adulthood, she said.

The DOH-Okaloosa has also made addressing childhood obesity one of its top priorities.

“We wanted to start with the youngest population,” Colwell said when asked why childhood obesity was prioritized out of the dozens of health and environmental issues the department has found young people face.

Still, change can be difficult. The CDC recommends consulting with a doctor about the most appropriate way for each child to help combat obesity and the risks associated with it.

THE ISSUE: Childhood obesity affects about one-third of school-aged children in Okaloosa County.

LOCAL IMPACT: Obesity can lead to increased risks for diseases and other ailments both in the long and short term.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Children now having 'adult' problems

CRESTVIEW — Sign-on bonuses and on-site interviews are part of an upcoming job fair.

The Shoal Creek Rehabilitation Center fair is 9 a.m.to 2 p.m. April 28 at 500 Hospital Drive, Crestview.

Company employers will conduct interviews for Registered Nurses, Licensed Practical Nurses and Certified Nursing Assistants. They also offer a $2,000 sign-on bonus for LPNS and a $3,000 sign-on bonus for Registered Nurses.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview facility plans nurse job fair

Editor’s Note: This continues our Celebrate Community series on nonprofit  organizations that improve North Okaloosa County residents’ quality of life.

CRESTVIEW —The Baker Lions Club and Baker Area Ministerial Association’s partnership to provide dental services to area residents in need got underway in 2013.

Mary Ann Henley, project director for the Free Mobile Dental Clinic scheduled May 8-12, said her husband, Royce, learned that the mobile clinic was available and took steps to see the free service benefit North Okaloosa residents.

After that, "We asked the Baker Area Ministerial Association if they would like to co-sponsor this project with us,” she said. “That way they could reach out to the various churches and make them feel a part of the community, as well as get (residents') physical needs met.”

This year's clinic will provide fillings and extractions to residents who qualify and can attend a screening 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 5 at the Baker Area Recreation Center, 5503 U.S. Highway 4, Baker. Appointments will be scheduled the week of May 8-12.

Further criteria for the free service are that the person:

•Is age 6 or older

•Has a family at or below the 200 percent poverty guideline

•Has no dental insurance coverage

The best part of the free dental program, for Mary Ann Henley, is "to just have someone who arrives with a problem, and then we're able to see them leave and go on their way home with no pain."

To that end, 10 dentists, 10 dental assistants and nurses (two each day) will volunteer their professional services.

The nurses do medical screening on the patients, check for medications that dentists must be aware of, and give blood pressure checks, according to Mary Ann Henley.

"They're trained and they're able to provide that dental patient the very best care that he or she needs," she said.

And members of the Baker Lions Club, about 17 of them, will work throughout the week to ensure the clinic's success.

The group holds different fundraisers throughout the year to support community projects like the dental clinic and vision screenings.

"The Baker Lions try to reach out to our community, and this was just a major service project for us," Henley said.

Members of the Baker Area Ministerial Association will also assist during the event. That includes the Rev. Jim Vail of the First Baptist Church of Baker.

Vail said pastors would have lunches for the participating clinic professionals, as well as spiritual support for people attending the clinic.

"A lot of those people are hurting and we're there to help them not only with their teeth but also spiritually we can point them to Jesus Christ, and many times help them with those problems they are having in their life,” Vail said.

When asked what he gets from the endeavor, he said, "Jesus said in the Bible it's more blessed to give than to receive. It's really gratifying to help people in need and be able to give back to the community."

Baker Lions Club member Mary Ann Henley said the group has three vision programs.

EYESIGHT

•KidSight exams check for lazy eye and 17 other eye problems that can be detected for every preschooler and kindergartner in Okaloosa and Walton counties. Over 7,300 children have had examinations since 2011.

•They collect, clean and recycle eyeglasses and provide exams for area residents in need. Collection boxes are located in various stores and buildings in Crestview and Baker.

•Retinopathy screenings are available for diabetics, who have a high rate of problems with their retina

DONATIONS

They make donations to various organizations including Florida Guide Dogs for the Deaf; the Conklin Center for the Blind; Florida Lions Foundation for the Blind; the North Florida Lions Hearing Aid Bank; and Southeastern Guide Dogs, among others.

•The dental clinic served 98 patients last year.

•Dental care totaled about $35,000 last year.

More about the Baker Lions Club

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Dental clinic provides free care for those in need

CRESTVIEW — The Okaloosa County Mosquito Control Program began spot spraying this month. Within the next couple of weeks, the standard evening broadcast spray schedule will begin, weather permitting.

Here is the schedule.

MONDAYS 

• North Okaloosa: John Riley Barnhill Road to Escambia Farms, Vinson Ray Road, Beaver Creek to north Baker, U.S. Highway 90 East from Shoal River to County Line Road and north to Poverty Creek Road
• Crestview: Rattlesnake Bluff and Little Silver Road, Aplin Road south to Live Oak Church Road
• South County: Wynnehaven Beach, Florosa and Valparaiso
• Destin: Destin Bridge to Airport Road

TUESDAYS 

• North Okaloosa: East side of U.S. Highway 189 to U.S. Highway 602; Four Flags area, Baker and Holt south of U.S. 90.
• Crestview: Aplin Road north to U.S. 90; Old Bethel Road past Sioux Circle, Rattlesnake Bluff and Little Silver Road, Old Antioch Road to U.S. 90 west of State Road 85
• South County: Airport Road to Walton County line, Mary Esther/Fort Walton Beach and Bluewater Bay

WEDNESDAYS

• North Okaloosa: Holt north of U.S. 90, Baker west of Galliver Cutoff, Laurel Hill to county line, U.S. Highway 393 N., Steel Mill Road
• Crestview: Old Bethel Road to Airport Road, U.S. 90 from Fairchild Road to State 85, north to Airport Road
• South Okaloosa: Streets off Lewis Turner Boulevard to Carmel Drive, Rocky Bayou, Fort Walton Beach from Brooks Bridge to Memorial Parkway

THURSDAYS

• North Okaloosa: Poverty Creek Road, U.S. 393 to Campton, Baker from Galliver Cutoff to Old River Road
• Crestview: Lake Silver Road to Airport Road to Auburn area
• South Okaloosa: Shalimar, Ocean City, Mooney Road area and Niceville

See www.co.okaloosa.fl.us for the spray schedule, preventive tips and other related information.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Okaloosa mosquito control starts

It was disheartening to read that even with a double red flag, at least nine people had to be rescued from the gulf recently, and one person lost their life.

In that spirit, I believe it is important to review information on the importance of respecting our sometimes unforgiving gulf.

Swimmers getting caught in rip currents make up most lifeguard rescues. These tips from Florida Sea Grant and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Weather Service list what to do if you encounter a rip current.

ABOUT RIP CURRENTS 

Rip currents form when water flows away from the shore in a channeled current. They may form in a break in a sandbar near the shore, or where the current is diverted by a pier or jetty.

From the shore, you can look for these clues in the water:

•A channel of choppy water

•A difference in water color

•A line of foam, seaweed or debris moving out to sea

•A break in incoming wave patterns

Rip currents pull people away from shore, not underwater. Rip currents are not undertows or riptides.

HOW TO ESCAPE

•If you get caught in a rip current, don't panic! Stay calm and do not fight the current.

•Escape the current by swimming across it — parallel to the shore — until you are out of the current.

•When you get out of it, swim back to the shore at an angle away from the current.

•If you can't break out of the current, float or tread water until the current weakens. Then swim back to shore at an angle away from the rip current.

Rip currents are powerful enough to pull even experienced swimmers away from the shore. Do not try to swim straight back to the shore against the current.

RESCUING OTHERS

Many people have harmed themselves trying to rescue rip current victims. Follow these steps to help someone stuck in a rip current.

•Get help from a lifeguard.

•If a lifeguard is not present, yell instructions to the swimmer from the shore and call 9-1-1.

•If you are a swimmer caught in a rip current and need help, draw attention to yourself — face the shore and call or wave for help.

SAFE SWIMMING TIPS

You can swim safely this summer by keeping in mind some simple rules.

•Do not overestimate your swimming abilities. Be cautious at all times.

•Never swim alone.

•Swim near a lifeguard for maximum safety.

•Obey all instructions and warnings from lifeguards and signs.

•If in doubt, don't go out!

Laura Tiu is an agent at the University of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Extension office in Crestview.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: How to survive rip currents

FORT WALTON BEACH — An Okaloosa County park has potentially hazardous bathing water, the Florida Department of Health in Okaloosa County stated April 3.

Liza Jackson Park, Fort Walton Beach, failed tests based on EPA-recommended enterococci standards. Enteric bacteria's presence indicates fecal pollution from storm water runoff, pets and wildlife or human sewage.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: One Okaloosa park receives hazardous water advisory

CRESTVIEW — Tractor Supply Company in Crestview will host a backyard poultry information event.

Attendees can engage in a number of activities centered on learning how to care for and manage an at-home flock from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. April 8 at the store, 320 James Lee Blvd. W., Crestview.

"The popularity of raising backyard poultry has continued to grow year after year and it has a lot to do with the convenience of getting fresh eggs right from your own backyard," Rosalind Viall, manager, said. "Our goal is to ensure that anyone who's interested in raising a backyard flock has the resources and information needed to do so."

The company has all items needed to raise poultry, including starter kits, feeders, bedding, heat bulbs and lamps, coops, according to a store media release. And for the poultry enthusiast, an expanded selection of poultry products is available at TractorSupply.com.

In addition to the main event, attendees may enjoy a pet adoption section and poultry clinic. The Pins & Mutts Adoption group will be on site from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and Northwest Florida Great Dane Rescue will be there 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Call the store at 682-0945 for details.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Tractor Supply hosts poultry care event

CRESTVIEW — A Crestview resident is among University of Alabama students selected to present a research project at UA’s Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity Conference.

Shelby Critcher of Crestview on March 30 presented the project, "Variability of Electrical Impedance Measurements Collected from Human Forearm Using Multiple Electrode Configuration."

Students participating in the competition gain experience presenting and defending their research projects to a panel of judges in both oral and poster presentation forms, according to a conference media release.

They also become eligible for cash prizes, and form relationships with faculty mentors and fellow conference presenters.

Awards will be presented April 10 at the school stadium's south end zone.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview resident presents research at University of Alabama conference

CRESTVIEW — The North Okaloosa Community Emergency Response Team's basic certification training is scheduled. With certification, participants may help our area's first responders during the first 72 to 96 hours after a natural or man-made disaster.

CERT will provide free training for area residents ages 18 and up April 21-23 and April 28-30 at No special skills or experience are needed. Attendance at all six sessions and preregistration are required to become certified.

The first three sessions are 6-9 p.m. April 21, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 22, and 1-5 p.m. April 23 at Crestview Fire Department Station No. 1, 321 N. Woodruff Ave.  The last three sessions are 6-9 p.m. April 28, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 29, and 1-4 p.m. April 30 at the station.

Topics include first aid, disaster psychology, fire prevention and fire safety, disaster preparedness, disaster medical operations, light search and rescue, and terrorism.

Completion of the class does not create any obligation to become part of North Okaloosa CERT, but does qualify the student to be part of any Community Emergency Response Team in the country.

Go to https://okaloosaflcert.samariteam.com/Default.aspx to preregister and fill out the CERT application. Email NOkaloosacert@gmail.com for details.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Emergency response training available in Crestview

CRESTVIEW — Two Crestview residents remain hospitalized with multiple severe injuries after being struck by a vehicle shortly before 9:30 p.m. Wednesday night. Both were standing in the roadway of Ferdon Boulevard South.

Heather Gibbons, 29, and Erin Davis, 19, stopped their respective vehicles after noticing a dog lying in the northbound inside lane of Ferdon Boulevard (State Road 85) at the intersection of Robinson Avenue.

A northbound vehicle, driven by a 17-year-old Crestview resident, struck the women as they examined the dog in the dark intersection.

Because LifeFlight was not operating due to weather conditions, the women were transported to Fort Walton Beach Medical Center by Okaloosa County EMS ambulance.

Gibbons is listed in serious condition and Davis is listed in critical condition.

The Crestview Police Department is continuing to investigate the accident.

Two other pedestrians have been struck by vehicles on S.R. 85 recently in Crestview, including a man who was killed on the morning of March 12 near the intersection of Griffith Avenue. The accident remains under investigation by the Crestview Police Department.

Three days earlier, a women was struck by a truck that left the roadway and hit her while she waited to cross at the intersection of Redstone Avenue near Publix. She was released from North Okaloosa Medical Center the day after the accident.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: 2 pedestrians seriously injured in Wednesday night accident