Media Advisory: Free CPR training, sports physicals offered as part of wellness fair happening this weekend

BUFFALO, N.Y. – Community members can learn hands-only CPR, and parents of K-12 students who need sports physicals for the upcoming school year can get those taken care of this weekend as well. It’s all part of a free sports physicals and wellness fair being hosted in Buffalo’s Seneca Babcock neighborhood by University at Buffalo health sciences students and faculty.

The free sports physicals and wellness fair is scheduled for 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 5, in the Seneca Babcock Community Center, 1168 Seneca St., Buffalo (see map).

The event is being held jointly by the Lighthouse Free Medical Clinic at UB, a student-managed drop-in clinic that provides free, routine health care and preventive services to uninsured and underinsured patients across Buffalo, and the Seneca-Babcock Community Association.

For school physicals, a parent or guardian must accompany each child and they should bring their school’s physical form.

There will also be a wellness fair where participants can learn hands-only CPR for free — under the guidance of faculty from the athletic training program in UB’s School of Public Health and Health Professions — and receive a variety of health information.

About 45 students from the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, School of Public Health and Health Professions and School of Social Work will participate in the event, working under the supervision of UB faculty preceptors. Students from the School of Dental Medicine and the School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences will also be on hand to provide health information for kids.

“The free physical day is a station-based operation where the child’s health history, vital signs, height/weight, and physical exam will be recorded by various medical students and physicians,” says Patrick Crossen, a second-year medical student in the Jacobs School who also serves as Lighthouse’s research and grants coordinator.

Lighthouse Free Medical Clinic student managers will collect basic information from each child participating in school physicals, and each child will then be assigned a first-year medical student who will serve as a patient advocate, escorting the child between stations.

“During the child’s physical, families are encouraged to check out our wellness fair and learn about various health resources available in our community,” Crossen adds.

The event is part of a longstanding partnership UB faculty and students have developed with the Seneca-Babcock Community Association and the surrounding community.

In the spring, Rep. Brian Higgins joined UB officials in announcing nearly $1 million in federal funding awarded to the School of Public Health and Health Professions to support a mobile health unit that will provide much-needed access and services, not only to Seneca Babcock, but other medically underserved communities in Erie, Niagara and surrounding counties.

For Daniela Falcone, a second-year medical student in the Jacobs School, Saturday’s event provides an opportunity to give back to the community.

“I was born and raised in Buffalo, so giving back to the community is something that is very important to me,” Falcone says. “I strongly believe that all people should have access to good quality health care, regardless of where they live. We hope to make an impact with the sports physical day by helping to remove some barriers that would otherwise prevent kids from playing the sports they love.”

Vaccinations are not being provided at this clinic. For questions, call 716-222-0805.