The following is a summary from a health seminar.
The health topics were presented to 2 separate adult groups via translator.
As a helpful resource, you may use the topics below with their corresponding symbolic gestures.
The gestures help to keep your audience engaged and involved. They also serve as a reminder of the key points you want them to remember.
Depending on the time allotted for your sharing time, you may elaborate further on these topics or address more topics.
BASIC HYGIENE (gesture: HAND WASHING)
Concept of microscopic bacteria – ubiquitous and normal yet harmful when proliferating in a vulnerable area
Hand washing with soap (emphasize need for soap) – demonstrate techniques
Cooking – handle meats separate from handling vegetables
May include examples of benefits of hand washing to prevent spread of both diarrhea and coughing illnesses
HEADACHE (gesture: DRINK FROM CUP)
Most common cause worldwide is due to dehydration
Accompanying symptoms are lightheadedness, muscle weakness and fatigue
Provide guidelines of the quantity of water / fluid per day (eg: 1-1.5L per day)
Too much water not advised either – 2 L max for average person
Spread water intake throughout the day
*Medication options: Paracetamol / Tylenol
EYE PROTECTION (gesture: SHADE EYES WITH HANDS)
For Cataract & Pterygium prevention
Sunglasses – educate about the need for complete blocking of UVA & UVB rays
Head covering – hat, visor, scarf (folded in layers)
*Treatment is only via laser surgery and so prevention in 3rd world very important
*No eye drops or pill available to treat these 2 conditions
COUGH (gesture: COVER COUGH WITH ARM OR SHIRT)
Share how each cough is a quick way to spread the microscopic bacteria – air droplets
So to avoid spreading your illness to your family and friends, cover your mouth in 1 of 3 ways:
- Cough into your elbow held up (avoid coughing into your hand to avoid contact spread)
- Cough into your shirt
- Cough away from others or downward
Causes of coughing are vast – allergy, irritants (pollution/smoke), asthma, infection, cancer,
Blood clumps with cough, fever, weight loss – may be Tuberculosis – see Dr and do CXR
Any cough not gone in 3-4 weeks should be seen by a doctor and do a CXR
NECK PAIN (gesture: POSTURE – CHEST OUT, CHIN DOWN)
Demonstrate poor posture
Point out muscles and how they attach to the occiput area
Demonstrate standing against a wall to help realign your head in relation to your neck (chest out, chin down)
Demonstrate stretching exercises for cervical and trapezius muscles
Point out muscles of neck and shoulders – where massage can be done
Must avoid hitting the bones of spine & scapula
Hold up cell phone while texting as an example on how to prevent neck pain
GASTRITIS (gesture: ZIP OVER LIPS AND SHOW 7 FINGERS)
Certain foods may cause stomach discomfort through various mechanisms, including increased acid production, so it may be best to avoid the following 7 groups of foods
- Tomato
- Citrus – orange, lime
- Spicy
- Mint
- Caffeine – coffee, black tea, chocolates
- Soda
- Alcohol
Avoid eating or drinking 3-4 hrs prior to laying supine
Wear loose clothing around the waist
Weight loss if you’re overweight
DIARRHEA (gesture: SIP FROM SPOON)
Key to diarrhea is to replenish fluid losses using clean water or chicken broth; avoid all food at first
Sipping 2 tablespoons at a time every 5 min is most important
May use salt/sugar/clean water combination
When to see a Dr
- Bloody diarrhea
- High fevers
- Severe abdominal pain
Do NOT take medications to try to stop diarrhea in these situations; best to allow the toxins flow out
Start solid foods in very small amounts when liquids are being tolerated well
If diarrhea restarts, then resume sipping
LOW BACK PAIN (gesture: SQUAT SLIGHTLY KEEPING BACK UPRIGHT)
Most common cause of LBP is improper body mechanics while lifting a heavy object
Worst is picking up from an angle
Also bad to bend over
Correct way is to squat down, keeping the back upright as much as possible
Also educate about strengthening the abdominal wall muscles or core muscles – suck in the umbilicus
Demonstrate how to do a sit up properly – lying on floor, knees bent, suck in umbilicus and reach hand to point just proximal to patella
Encourage holding in the umbilicus whenever twisting or lifting as core support to prevent further back injury
If any symptoms persist longer than 2-3 weeks, then go to the Doctor.
* – info to the healthcare provider or presenter
CONCLUSION: Suggestions for review
You may allow your translator to call out the various topics in both English and their language
Review all the topics in order of presentation to allow the audience to get the gestures correct
Review the gestures after each new topic starting from the first one each time for repetition; for example, after covering the eye protection topic, ask the audience to review the gestures for hygiene, then headaches then eye protection. Cover the next topic which would be cough then review the gestures again for hygiene, headaches, eye protection and then add gesture for cough… keep reviewing till all topics are covered.
Towards the end, you can go faster and even mix up the order to make it more challenging and fun
Review as a game – divide the audience up — left vs right side of the room, etc