Health Corps News

Interview with Kathryn P. at the Dental Sealant Program

BY LAURA PARISI

Laura: What is the Dental Sealant Program?

Kathryn: The Allegheny County Health Department Dental Sealant Program was started in 1997 in response to the alarmingly high number of children from low income families with untreated tooth decay. The program targets elementary schools in Allegheny County that have a 50% or greater reduced/free lunch eligibility, with the goal of serving 43 schools in the area. Currently, the program educates 1st and 2nd graders on their 1st permanent molars and seals them if they are erupted already. Approximately 1000 students are provided these services each year. The program is waiting for grant money that will allow them to do the same for 6th graders' 2nd permanent molars.

Laura: Why seal molars?

Kathryn: According to the Allegheny County Dental Sealant website, more than 80 percent of cavities in kids are on the tops of their molars, where brushing or flossing are not enough to keep cavities away. However, dentists have discovered that dental sealants are very effective in preventing cavities in molars.

Laura: What is a typical day like at the Dental Sealant Program?

Kathryn: A typical day consists of calling schools to schedule education sessions. Greer schedules the sealant days, and I coordinate with the Pitt Dental School Hygienist's schedule. Contacting the schools is sometimes difficult, and we will call the schools weekly for a few weeks consecutively.

On the education days, the Dental Sealant Program mascot, Maxi Molar, teaches students how to brush and floss, and what sealants are. The students are taught the value of eating fruits and vegetables, and then view a short video that restates everything they learned that day. The students receive pamphlets for their parents to read and a permission slip for the sealants.

On a sealant day, Greer and I can expect to help between 20 and 25 students to protect their molars. We organize the permission slips, and then either through the nurse or by directly going into the classrooms, we take three students at a time to see the dentist. We hand each student a pair of sunglasses to protect their eyes, their permission slip, dental record and take home letter. We track which molars were sealed or if they were unerupted/previously sealed, decay or other cavities or if an orthodontist should be consulted. All of this information is recorded on the dental record, on the take home letter, and in the Sealant Program's tracking log. If students have an urgent need, Greer and I immediately call the parent/guardian. Sometimes we act as the dentist's assistant, in which we help in handing the dentist the l-pop (pre-coat) and the high intensity light (which hardens the sealant), and hold cotton in the student's mouth to keep the molars dry from saliva. After the student's molars are sealed, Greer and I hand each student a sticker and a goodie bag filled with a toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, pencil, and coloring pages.

When Greer and I get back to the office, we have to compile the data from our school visit (yes permissions/no permissions/no response, # of students sealed/previously sealed/caries/urgent) into an excel spreadsheet, and student demographics. From the students sealed we pick a bike winner from each school. Finally, we write about our school experience for next year's member to review and understand how the school is run.

Laura: What do you most enjoy about your site?

Kathryn: I believe that the Dental Sealant Program provides a really interesting way to learn about children's dental health. I have seen urgent teeth that have almost been complete worn away from decay, and I never thought that I would have my hands in kids’ mouths. I have also learned a lot about Pittsburgh and its lower income neighborhoods. A lot of the students I see have never been to a dentist before and have poor dental hygiene. I like the fact that the free Dental Sealant program will prevent many of these kids from having cavities, fillings or other more complicated dental issues. I also enjoy working closely with Greer, and we are constantly bouncing ideas off of each other.

I have discovered that working with students can be both frustrating and rewarding. One time we asked a student to brush her teeth because she had just had breakfast, and she was very shy and kept turning her back to me, and I realized she didn't know how to brush her teeth, so my supervisor, Alice Kindling, taught her. Another student was so scared because he had fillings before and did not want to see the dentist, and this in turn made another girl upset and she freaked out and jumped up in the middle of us putting on her sealant - very dangerous. Kids get ideas into their heads and can't get them out and it travels to each student that is around. So it can be frustrating, but on the other hand some kids are great and easy to work with. One student even begged the main office to get sealants - he probably saw the others with stickers and a bag, but anyway we called his parent to get permission and he got sealants.

PHC at the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank

BY JENNI KAO

As part of the Pittsburgh Health Corps’ January 2008 service project, members took a part in repacking 9,880 pounds of food at the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank. In all, the Food Bank distributes 18 million pounds of food per year to agencies around the area. The Food Bank serves a vital role in the community, reaching 120,000 people every year by distributing to food pantries.

The Pittsburgh Food Bank is a LEED certified “Green” warehouse, which means that it has lower operating costs and increased asset value, reduces waste sent to landfills, conserves energy and water, reduces harmful greenhouse gas emissions, and demonstrates an owner's commitment to environmental stewardship and social responsibility. Following the LEED requirements, the Duquesne branch recycles all cans and papers, reuses packaging boxes, and distributes non-meat food waste to local farms.

Corps members were given a tour of the facilities, which include a warehouse where staff and volunteers inspect and re-package food, prepare orders for agencies, receive, deliver, pick-up, maintain a fleet of trucks and other vehicles, and do accounting and tracking. The work of the Food Bank also includes Food Stamp outreach, visiting and monitoring agencies, special events planning, development activities, nutrition education, operating a test kitchen, volunteer projects, and publications..

In addition to serving at the Repack Center, interested volunteers can also participate with Produce to the People, a distribution program that provides food and household items directly to individuals; Gleaning, where volunteers harvest excess fruits and vegetables at local farms; and the Farm Stand Prep, which makes fresh, affordable produce available in 12 low income neighborhoods. with limited access to grocery stores.

Pittsburgh Health Corps in the Community: Members Feed The Need for Service at Greater Pgh Food Bank, Toys for Tots

(Back Row from left) Jamiel, Luke, John, and Jessica

(Front Row from left) Erin, Jaime, Alex, Elizabeth, Sarah after inspecting, sorting, and packing loaves of bread, rolls, pitas, and bagels at the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank Dec. 1.

By LUKE SCHWARTZ

Each month, Pittsburgh Health Corps (PHC) members come together to do volunteer service projects. In December, we volunteered at the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank and the U.S. Marine Corps Toys for Tots Foundation.

On December 1, the PHC volunteered on the re-packing floor of the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank in the city of Duquesne. Much of the food that the Food Bank receives arrives in These agencies include food pantries, shelters, and soup kitchens throughout Southwestern Pennsylvania. PHC members inspected and sorted a shipment of bread, rolls and bagels. Volunteers at the Food Bank can choose a site to receive credit for the hours they spend volunteering. The PHC chose one of our member sites, the Squirrel Hill Kosher SuperPantry. As a result, the Pantry was able to supply their client families with household cleaning supplies in addition to their food supplies.

On December 13, the PHC volunteered at the U.S. Marine Corps Toys for Tots warehouse in downtown Pittsburgh, where we helped to fulfill their mission of providing toys for children in need.

Kids Wash, Wash, Wash Their Hands to a Familiar Tune

By JESSICA DUELL

What are the two types of germs? When should you wash your hands? What are some diseases caused by viruses or bacteria? Local elementary school students can tell you the answers and much more about germs and handwashing. To celebrate Handwashing Awareness Week December 3-9, 2006, I visited St. Bede School, Sacred Heart Elementary School, and Community Day School to teach the kids about the importance of handwashing.

Kids were excited when we started the presentation – mostly because they saw the TV/VCR and knew they would be watching a video! But first the students took a short pre-test. Then we discussed “What are germs?”. They learned that germs are everywhere, germs are so small that they cannot be seen, and bad germs can make people sick. Older students also learned that the two types of germs are bacteria and viruses, and they looked at pictures of the germs that cause colds, influenza, pneumonia, “pink eye,” strep throat, and chickenpox. The science teacher at St. Bede loved these pictures so much, she copied them and posted them around the classroom!

Next I showed a short video and discussed how germs are spread. Students learned that germs can be spread through the air and through blood contact, but are most often spread by touching – and the best way to prevent the spread of disease is through handwashing, either with soap and water or hand sanitizer. Kids had lots of good ideas about when they should wash their hands, especially after using the bathroom and before eating or cooking.

Once the kids knew why and when to wash their hands, they were ready to learn how to wash. Two or three “helpers” were chosen to receive Glo-Germ lotion, which glows under a blacklight. Some of the helpers reported that the Glo-Germ smelled like various weird things, including dead fish, but they still enthusiastically rubbed the Glo-Germ onto the front and backs of their hands. Each helper was given different instructions – to wash their hands without soap, to scrub with soap for 3 seconds, or to use proper technique. Everyone loved looking at the helpers’ hands under the blacklight before and after they washed. They were amazed at how “germy” the hands were before washing and saw that the person who washed with soap long enough – 15 to 20 seconds, or the time it takes to sing “Happy Birthday” twice – had the cleanest hands.

The presentation concluded with a post-test. Then every student received a sticker, brochure, and an activity sheet with a pledge to sign at the bottom that said “I pledge to wash my hands.”

A total of 436 kids participated in Handwashing Awareness Week presentations. Hopefully the students will continue to wash their hands more frequently and follow the steps for good handwashing. At least they had fun learning about it. The school nurse at Community Day said students gave it “two thumbs up.”

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