YRMC to Host its Celebrate Life Health Expo September 6-7
Think about your favorite teachers from your childhood. Did those teachers engage you and other students in lively discussions? Were hands-on activities or experiments part of their lessons?
Yavapai Regional Medical Center (YRMC) is embracing this active learning approach in a big way during its Celebrate Life Health Expo 2019. This year’s Expo will feature MEGA Bodyä and MEGA Heartä—the world’s only portable, inflatable, walk-through exhibits of the human body and the human heart. The Expo will also include a colossal colon, courtesy of Boston Scientific.
“Touring MEGA Body, MEGA Heart and the colossal colon is a fun and informative adventure for people of all ages,” said Ken Boush, YRMC’s Director of Marketing and Communications. “This is truly an extraordinary and rare opportunity that we’re thrilled to make available to our community during Celebrate Life Health Expo.”
Interactive tours of the larger-than-life inflatables and nearly 100 health and wellness exhibits are part of this year’s Expo. A free community service of YRMC, the Expo takes place:
Friday, September 6 and Saturday, September 7, 2019 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Findlay Toyota Center (3201 N. Main Street) in Prescott Valley.
Meet the MEGAs and More!
Tours of MEGA Body™, MEGA Heart™, and the colossal colon delve into how the body operates, potential health challenges, and how our lifestyle choices – diet, exercise, and not smoking – can help us stay healthy.
“Boston Scientific’s colossal colon is a good example of this,” Boush said. “It’s designed to share life-saving information to prevent diseases of the large intestine and digestive system.”
A Teeth-to-Torso Exploration: MEGA Body™
MEGA Body™ includes a teeth-to-torso exploration of the body that begins in the mouth, where visitors learn about cavities and oral hygiene. As people travel through MEGA Body™ – which is approximately fifty feet long by fifteen feet wide by twelve feet tall – they’ll learn about the human body’s bones, muscles, skin, and even ears. They’ll also journey to many organs, including the:
- Brain
- Esophagus
- Stomach
- Intestines
- Kidneys
- Heart
- Lungs
Get Pumped About MEGA Heart™
At 26 feet long by 15 feet wide by 13 feet tall, MEGA Heart™ has earned its name. Visitors to this big heart are in for a highly interactive educational experience designed to increase awareness of heart disease and share information on how to keep the heart healthy.
During the MEGA Heart™ adventure, visitors will see how a healthy heart functions, observe examples of various types of heart disease, and check out displays featuring some of the latest medical treatments for heart problems.
Here’s what people will see inside MEGA Heart™:
- Heart valves – The heart’s four valves control blood flow in and out of the heart.
- Endocarditis – An infection of the inner lining of your heart chambers and heart valves.
- Ventricular septal defect – A hole in the heart, which is a common heart defect that’s present at birth.
Visitors will also learn about heart attacks, irregular heart rhythms, and blood clots, as well as current ways to treat those conditions.
“Representatives from YRMC’s James Family Heart Center will join the Expo to highlight the Center’s state-of-the-art medical services and impressive facilities,” said Boush.
To continue the focus on heart awareness, the James Family Heart Center will premiere a video of a pig heart dissection that will run hourly throughout the Expo. Pig hearts – provided by a scientific supply company – are used to teach heart anatomy because they are nearly identical to the human heart.
Best. Exhibits. Ever.
In 2019, nearly 100 organizations committed to health, wellness and community good will participate in YRMC’s Expo.
“The Expo is a great opportunity for people to connect with like-minded organizations and individuals,” Boush explained. “If you enjoy hiking, biking, cooking, exercising, learning and more, you’ll thoroughly enjoy the Expo.”
Here are just a few examples of the experiences and opportunities available to Expo attendees:
- People and organizations dedicated to biking, hiking and other healthy lifestyles
- A “smoothie bike”—create a nutritious smoothie as you pedal for fitness
- Healthy nutrition tips and demonstrations (with samples)
- CPR basics and first aid tips from emergency experts
- Self-defense and chair yoga demonstrations
- Kids’ fitness routines and information about tennis for kids
- Professional face painters and photos with your favorite mascot, including YRMC’s Wellby the Yavabear
- Pre-diabetes self-assessments, lung function tests, blood pressure checks and compression sock fittings
- Chances to get into prize drawings for a Fitbit®, Target gift card, a gift basket with kids’ dental health items and more
Learn more about Celebrate Life Health Expo, see photos and view videos of MEGA Heart™ and MEGA Body™, and watch for Expo updates at YRMCHealthConnect.org/Celebrate-Life-Health-Expo.