Health & Wellness Fairs Throughout the year Good Samaritan sponsors health and wellness fairs at the hospital and attends local community events. At the fairs Good Sam provides brochures and incentives to the community, while promoting the services of the hospital. Staff is on hand to answer questions on different health issues, risk factors and referral information. By request, Good Sam provides free health care screenings such as blood pressure, glucose, cholesterol and glaucoma. For pediatric health and wellness fairs Good Samaritan travels to local elementary schools to encourage a healthier lifestyle. Usually held in a gym, students are free to visit the many tables and explore the facets of health care. Rehabilitation Services provides backpack and sports safety tips, while Nutrition promotes healthy eating habits. Some departments provide more than information, such as the Child Life staff who perform a “teddy bear clinic.” Another hands-on activity deals with germ prevention and is presented by the laboratory. These fairs are a great opportunity to raise awareness and teach children how to stay healthy. Return to Top Community Lectures Good Samaritan’s free community lectures are offered to better educate the community, raise awareness and to help understand risk factors, methods of diagnosis and treatments. Past lectures have been held on topics such as breast cancer, diabetes, nutrition, stroke, cardiology and glaucoma. Subjects are based on requests from the community, hospital physicians, staff and national health observances and recognition days. These lectures are routinely held at the hospital and continue to open the doors for the community to meet staff and learn about Good Samaritan’s services. Return to Top Stranger Safety Program
The primary goal of the Good Samaritan Stranger Safety Program is to teach children awareness skills relating to stranger safety. Connecting with young people at an early age in a manner that is both educational and entertaining, is one of the best ways to promote a safe and healthy lifestyle. To achieve this goal, Good Samaritan has collaborated with the “On Applebee Pond” program that uses puppetry developed by the Mercer County Behavioral Commission, Inc. The Stranger Safety Program was created in 2004 in conjunction with the Rose Brucia Educational Foundation. The Rose Brucia Educational Foundation was developed to enlighten young minds about avoidance techniques relating to stranger safety. A young member of the Brucia family was tragically abducted on February 1, 2004. Carly Brucia, age 11, was abducted in broad daylight. The program is devoted to educating young children about the dangers prevalent in society.
The Good Samaritan Stranger Safety Program provides appropriate educational material for children ages four through nine. Using puppets to promote stranger safety awareness, the program presents tips to help avoid harmful and dangerous situations. This comprehensive program focuses on better preparing children for successful resolution of expected or unexpected life situations. The Stranger Safety Program is an educational tool that provides a powerful weapon for parents and children. Good Samaritan Hospital offers this program free of charge to area school districts. Since 2004 it has been presented to more than 14,000 children and has traveled to 73 schools across Suffolk and Nassau County. The program reaches about 6,000 children annually. Return to Top “First Visit to the Hospital” Program This program was developed to introduce children with the functions of Good Samaritan and to reduce their fear of being in the hospital. A physician or nurse speaks about common hospital practices and how to stay healthy. They also demonstrate procedures for monitoring the heart, lungs and blood pressure. Replica admitting bracelets, surgical masks and caps are distributed to each child to familiarize them with common supplies used in a hospital. Physical therapy also participates, bringing child-size walkers, crutches and a balance ball. During the last 15 minutes snacks are served while coloring books and other handouts are distributed. This free program is typically held in the hospital and is open to all local pre-school and elementary schools. | 
