MANSFIELD — Katy Ratliff knows the calming power a well-behaved dog can have. It’s a gift she shares frequently with others in her retirement years.
Ratliff was one of 30 vendors at Friday’s community health day, accompanied by her Border Collie, Boo, a certified therapy dog who was born on Halloween.
Richland Public Health held its first community health day Friday, creating a pop-up hub of resources on the lawn in front of its 555 Lexington Avenue location.
The free event brought together more than 30 organizations that catered to various facets physical, mental and emotional health.
“We figured that if people flock to food trucks that meet up in a parking lot, why not have all of our healthcare services get together and do the same sort of a thing?” said health commissioner Julie Chaya.
“It’s been a great turnout and we’re hoping to do this again in the years to come.”
Cleveland Clinic and OhioHealth both parked their mobile mammogram units in the parking lot, offering the potentially life-saving screening to around 40 people.
Nationwide Children’s Hospital brought their mobile clinic to provide vaccinations. Avita Health Systems partnered with RPH’s mobile clinic to provide vaccines and low-cost blood testing.
Meanwhile, employees from Third Street Family Health services were on hand to provide resources and information about safe sex. They also handed out safe sex kits and Narcan, a medication that can be used to reverse opioid overdoses.
Meri McCann demonstrated how to administer Narcan, also known as naloxone.
“If anybody’s administered a nasal spray, they can do this,” she said.
McCann said she always carries Narcan as part of the first aid kit in her purse.
“People who are suffering from substance use disorders, and they’re still human beings. They still deserve love and empathy. They deserve to live,” she said.
“I never know when I’m going to encounter someone who has overdosed. The whole goal is just to get it out into the community. It can be the difference between someone living and someone dying.”
Amid vaccinations and breast cancer screenings, Boo offered the kind of treatment you can’t bottle or prescribe.
“Just the act of petting a dog lowers your blood pressure and reduces stress,” Ratliff said. “I think it’s just the non-judgmental affection that the dogs provide that is really supportive to people in all kinds of situations.”
