In preparation for annual Department of Transportation (DOT) yearly physicals, Harlem’s Horizon Motor Coach and Augusta University’s Colleges of Nursing and Dentistry partnered on Thursday, March 2, to provide free health screenings and information for truck drivers.
Every year, in order to continue working, drivers must meet the DOT’s strict health requirements. To ease employees’ anxieties about this upcoming physical exam, Horizon and AU worked together to individually pre-screen and examine all attendees, so each has time to address any health concerns that might affect their success.
Educators and directors from the university said nursing and dentistry students in their respective programs also benefited from the event, because it allowed them to receive hands-on learning and training while helping others within the community.
“This is actually a community-wide health fair,” said Pamela Cromer, a professor at the College of Nursing. “Our students need the experience of doing those exams … and it alerts drivers of things they need to take care of, because if they don’t pass the DOT physical, they don’t have a job.”
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These free screenings mimicked DOT exams and included: blood pressure checks, vision, dental, cholesterol, diabetes checks and more. Employees were also able to participate in other educational sessions, such as CPR basics, and received individual consultations for health concerns during the day.
Community Impact Director of the American Heart Association Jennifer Toole said the health needs within the local area are enormous, and events such as the partnership with the university is a significant step in the right direction.
“I think wellness in the workplace is huge, because we spend a lot of time at work and it’s critical for our home life,” she said. “We have a lot of health needs in the local area … hypertension is huge; anything we can do to promote heart-healthy practices is really important to implementing a healthy lifestyle.”
Horizon Motor Coach CEO Alvin Harris said the screenings were imperative to his employees, because of the inherent responsibility the job demands of each driver.
“The health of that driver is very important. Being on top of blood pressure, sugar intake and being physically fit is the way to make a better driver,” he said. “We’re making sure that the safety of the passengers we transport are in the hands of a driver that is healthy.”
Talking with various healthcare providers participating in the health fair, Harris said he knew a lot of great information was being shared with his employees as they interacted with different students and stations.
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Some of this information highlighted quick healthcare tips and tricks to prolong each driver’s long term health, and how to help safeguard their physical abilities on and off the roadways.
Cromer said physical and occupational therapists were present to educate motor coach operators on independent, simple exercises they can do to help with bodily stressors from the job.
“Notoriously, drivers have a lot of health problems, and we feel this [event] affords them the opportunity to recognize that,” she said. “A lot of the drivers travel long distances; so, when they stop for a period of time, they can do some movements and stretches, and minor exercises that will really promote that health.”
New this year, Cromer said testing for sleep apnea was also added, because of the severe symptoms and health risks it poses when left untreated.
Alumni from the College of Nursing and Co-Chair of the Augusta University Foundation Debbie Layman said she believed the screenings were a wonderful resource for the drivers as it acted as a less intimidating, practice test to solve possible underlying issues.
“Most of these individuals have healthcare, this is just an interim spot,” she said. “We also brought the dentist to them, since we know that not everyone likes to go. We have the occupational therapists here to work with them on exercises they can do for back, neck or shoulder health as they’re driving.”
Layman said she believed most people were afraid to go to the dentist and, as a result, often neglected that aspect of their health; this is vital to address since teeth cavities can easily turn to an infection that affects brain or heart function when not addressed properly.
“Dental health is often a predictor of your overall health,” she said. “People just don’t recognize it … but it can impact your health in so many ways; prevention is the key here.”
Professor and Department Chair of General Dentistry Kim Capehart said his students’ participation was an unexpected necessity for drivers, because teeth, which can easily be neglected, are connected to major organs in the body.
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“It also affects people mentally; if a person has damaged teeth and they don’t necessarily like the way they look, it takes away from their self-esteem and their confidence,” he said. “Teeth should always be screened as well.”
In addition to educating them about care, Capehart said they are also informing employees of easy, quick-fixes they can do in case they have tooth damage while traveling.
“They can go to the store and get certain types of materials for temporary fixes until they get home to see a professional,” he said. “Sometimes, if a crown just falls off, you can put it back for a little while using just toothpaste.”
Employee and older adult John Ford, who has a separate primary doctor, said he enjoyed the event because he knows the importance of being healthy at his age. He even shared that he even learned important, easy exercises to help ease his carpal tunnel – which developed from years of gripping a steering wheel.
“It’s always good to check and make sure what’s going on,” he said.
Like many other truck drivers, Ford said he also had experienced the anxiety of facing the DOT’s physicals several times before, and was grateful for AU’s part in helping alleviate that stress.
“We’re giving everyone a chance,” said Layman. “So, if there is a health issue brewing, they are going to be armed with the knowledge to safely and appropriately care for it.”
Liz Wright is a staff writer covering education, lifestyle and general assignments for The Augusta Press. Reach her at liz@theaugustapress.com
