HYBRID EVENT: You can participate in person at Orlando, Florida, USA or Virtually from your home or work.

9th Edition of Nursing World Conference

October 27-29, 2025

NWC 2025

Elementary school health carnival

Speaker at Nursing Conference - Alaina Hall
University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing, United States
Title : Elementary school health carnival

Abstract:

Children in West Philadelphia are disproportionately affected by illness and disease due to factors such as poverty, air pollution, poor nutrition, and racism (Carroll-Scott, et. al, 2017). Asthma, infections, and obesity specifically affect children in the West Philadelphia area (AAFA, 2024; National Center for Health Statistics, CDC, 2021; Pennsylvania Health Policy Coalition, 2021). In conjunction with the Philadelphia Netter center and Comegys elementary school, this project, led by five nurse practitioner students, was designed to address these disparities. Using design thinking, an after school health carnival was planned for the students and parents at Comegys elementary school. Following a meeting with the Comegys elementary school Netter Center Liaison, the group was asked to help plan an after school health carnival. To determine topics for the carnival, and activities, we talked with a group of children from the afterschool program. The children shared their interest in learning about how to stay healthy, how to prevent getting sick, and about specific health topics such as asthma and diabetes. The group then researched the health disparities affecting children in west Philadelphia and determined infections, asthma, and obesity to be primary concerns. Thus, our group ran three booths at the carnival. The first station was handwashing, and included a glo-germ activity. The second station was an asthma station that included a lung diagram to show how asthma makes it difficult to breathe, as well as a discussion on triggers and managing asthma exacerbations. Finally, there was a healthy lifestyles station that included samples of healthy snack examples, and the children engaged with us by drawing pictures of the healthy plate. We also conducted physical activity challenges and awarded certificates to those who pledged to follow a healthy lifestyle. The health carnival was a success and is planned to be replicated in the subsequent year.

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