Mary Boards of Smiths Grove said she always learns something at the Health & Wellness Expo.
On Saturday, Boards learned the new method of administering CPR, which now involves only compressions, rather than a combination of mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and chest compressions.
“I feel confident that I can do that now,” Boards said.
The new CPR guidelines were put into place late last year, primarily because most experts felt it was most important to begin those compressions to start the heart pumping as soon as possible.
And The Medical Center and American Heart Association want to get the word out about those changes, according to Linda Rush, director of The Medical Center’s Health & Wellness Center.
On Saturday, participants got to see what should happen in the case of a heart attack from the time a 911 call is placed until the patient gets to the hospital.
“We want them to see what goes on inside an ambulance on the way to a hospital,” Rush said. “So many times, people will put someone in a car and rush them to the hospital ... but that’s not what is best for the patient.”
Rush said a lot of life-saving care is administered in the ambulance on the way to the hospital.
Boards said she always enjoys coming to the annual event, which is sponsored by The Medical Center and WBKO-TV, and Saturday was no exception.
For Peggy Meredith, owner of the local Curves franchise, it is a chance to get the word out about her business.
“I think there are a lot of people out there who don’t really know what we are about,” she said. “They think it’s just about weight loss, but really it’s a combination of weight loss and fitness.”
In two weeks, Curves will offer its several hundred members the chance to add Zumba to their fitness routines.
Meredith said Zumba’s Latin dance moves will be incorporated, in certain time slots, with the regular circuit workout. The combined routine will still be just 30 minutes long.
“It will be a good way to mix it up,” she said.
Speaking of mixing it up, Allison Millet, started her BG Backyard Bootcamp as an alternative to traditional fitness club settings. In good weather, Millet has the classes in her backyard.
On Saturday, she was demonstrating a class to spectators.
Jill Wilson was hoping to introduce more people to Pilates.
“We just use a mat,” so it’s not as expensive as studios that use equipment, Wilson said.
She charges $35 to $55 a month, depending on the frequency of sessions. Wilson offers her class at Starz Elite Dance Studio, at 830 Fairview Ave., and will have a class through Community Education beginning in March.
Jean Blair of Bowling Green was just finishing up with one of the free chair massages given out by Heartland Massage.
“I wish I could get massage regularly,” Blair said, noting she understands the wellness benefits that come from massage. “Getting the massage today, I can tell where I’ve really been hurting.”
The event was just for those vendors providing wellness and health care, it also was a chance for such agencies as the Barren River Area Development District to let seniors know about the aging services they offer, according to Director Michelle Hines.
The office also had someone on hand to help seniors sign up for extra help they can receive to pay for their Medicare Part D prescription benefits plans.
Rush said the expo this year was the largest by far, in terms of vendors. There were 75 signed up by the time the event opened. Attendance was slow to build Saturday because of the early snow and cold temperatures, but as the day moved on, the parking lot filled.
