Play Hard Live Clean Continues to Promote Healthy Lifestyles

Garrett County’s Play Hard Live Clean (PHLC) Campaign completed a very active second year when schools closed for the summer. Participation varied by school, but overall participation showed an increase of 23%, jumping to 41% this year compared to 18% last year.

“This year’s PHLC theme was Training a Champion,” said Kendra McLaughlin, Director of Health Education and Outreach at the Garrett County Health Department. “Each school participated in some way. Elementary and middle school students who completed challenges including physical activity, healthy eating, and making other good lifestyle choices earned gold, silver, or bronze medals, depending on their level of participation. High school students earned points toward scholarships and prizes.”

“We would love to see teachers and parents get so excited about the PHLC program that they incorporate it into their classroom programs and family life,” said James Michaels, PHLC coordinator for the health department. “The PHLC concepts fit well into a healthy lifestyle for any age group and would make fun family activities.”

Elementary school student participation varied per school, and each school chose how and when they wanted to implement the PHLC program.

“I think it’s a very positive thing to get students to do physical activities,” said Connie Glotfelty, counselor at both Route 40 and Accident elementary schools, “especially because of all the screen time.”

Route 40 Elementary School had the highest participation rate of all Garrett County schools at 99%. The rest of the elementary school rates were Friendsville – 54%, Crellin – 45%, Yough Glades – 43%, Swan Meadow – 34%, Accident – 29%, Broad Ford – 25%, and Grantsville – 23%.

“We provided assemblies for the schools to get the students excited about PHLC and the chance to earn medals for participating in health activities,” said Michaels. “Each elementary school finished their program with an awards ceremony where medals were given to their participants. It was fun to attend some of these celebrations and see the excitement of the students and teachers!”

Middle school participation was 72% for Northern Middle School and 35% for Southern Middle School. Both middle schools launched their campaigns with assemblies and their finale events were color runs.

The purpose of the PHLC Campaign is to encourage youth to make good choices by recognizing and rewarding them for certain positive lifestyle accomplishments from kindergarten through graduation.

“The underlying premise of the program is that if a young person arrives at age 21 prior to smoking, abusing alcohol, or drugs, they are virtually certain never to do so,” McLaughlin said.

High school participation was completely online, with students logging in and completing pledges and surveys. The greater number of items they completed, the more points they earned toward receiving chances for scholarships and monthly prizes. High school participation was fairly even, at 38% at Southern High School and 42% at Northern High School. Participation for high school students by grade level, including both schools, were: 9^th grade, 57%; 10^th grade, 36%; 11^th grade, 26%; and 12^th grade, 37%.

“Surveys show that most Garrett County youth don’t smoke, drink, or misuse drugs, but some do,” said McLaughlin. “PHLC is our way of jumpstarting our youth on a healthy path so they can continue a drug-free lifestyle as they get older.”

PHLC is sponsored by Garrett County Drug Free Communities Coalition and administered by the Garrett County Health Department and Garrett County Public Schools. For more information about the program call the health department at 301-334-7730, or 301-895-3111, or visit PlayHardLiveClean.com.

Cutlines: James Michaels, coordinator of the Play Hard Live Clean Campaign at the Garrett County Health Department, did presentations at each elementary and middle school to get students excited about the “training a champion” challenges. At left is Michaels singing his “champion song” to Broad Ford students. Each school chose how they wanted to implement and complete their campaign. At right are a few of Route 40 Elementary School’s participating students enjoying their turn on a slip ‘n slide the school sponsored as the celebration for their 99% participation rate. Resource officer Joe Casey was included in the celebration.

By Diane Lee, Public Information Officer, Garrett County Health Department