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Physician General Announces Winners of Annual Get Smart About Antibiotics Kids’ Art Competition and the Get Smart Volunteer Awards

03/21/2017

Harrisburg, PA – Physician General Dr. Rachel Levine today revealed the winners of the fifth annual statewide “Get Smart about Antibiotics” Kids’ Art Competition and the Get Smart Volunteer Awards.

 

“Teaching children at an early age about the importance of responsible antibiotics use is as easy as it is essential,” said Dr. Levine. “Avoiding unnecessary antibiotics helps to keep all Pennsylvanians safe from potentially serious health complications. An event like this art competition is as fun as it is educational and I am grateful to every volunteer who has helped make this event possible.”

 

For the past five years, the Get Smart Program has hosted a kids’ art competition open to children age 12 and under. The competition is sponsored by the Department of Health and gives children the opportunity to showcase their creativity and help spread the word about the importance of hand hygiene, vaccines, and appropriate antibiotic use.

 

The Pennsylvania Get Smart Program aims to decrease the need for unnecessary antibiotics by preventing illnesses before they occur. The program holds this yearly art competition to give children the opportunity to display their creativity and spread the word about the importance of hand hygiene, recommended vaccinations and appropriate antibiotic use.

 

Every year, as many as 10 million children in the United States are at risk for harmful side effects from antibiotics prescribed for viral illnesses, which are not cured by antibiotics. The overuse of antibiotics contributes to the rise in antibiotic resistance, which results in at least 23,000 preventable deaths in the United States annually.  

 

For more information about the Get Smart Program and the Department of Health, please visit www.health.pa.gov or follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

 

MEDIA CONTACT: April Hutcheson, 717-787-1783 or ra-dhpressoffice@pa.gov

 

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Editor’s Note: A full list of this year’s art competition and volunteer award winners is below:

 

2016 Get Smart Competition Awards

 

Ages 11-12

First place: Courtney Keller, Kennett Square, Chester County

Second place: Madysen Isenhour, Harrisburg, Dauphin County

Third place: Keegan Carter Tilley, Harrisburg, Dauphin County

Ages 9-10

First place: Sarah Watson, Atglen, Chester County

Second place: Ian Lentz, Camp Hill, Cumberland County

Third place: Alyson Park, Lorton, Fairfax County (Virginia)

 

Ages 7-8

First place: Avery Moran, Palmyra, Lebanon County

Second place: Romello Torres, York, York County

Third place: Naila Nicholson, Lancaster, Lancaster County

 

Ages 5-6

First place: Wyatt Lentz, Camp Hill, Cumberland County

Second place: Aanya Govil, Mechanicsburg, Cumberland County

Third place: Alexa Rank, Dillsburg, York County

 

Ages 4 and under:

First place: Kailee Park, Lorton, Fairfax County (Virginia)

Second place: Landon Moran, Palmyra, Lebanon County

Third place: Kendal Rank, Dillsburg, York County

 

2016 Get Smart Volunteer Award

 

Shelley Haffner Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Centre County

Award for Leadership Skills in Public Health

 

Abigail Kraus – University of Pittsburgh, Mechanicsburg, Cumberland County

Award for Leadership Skills in Public Health

 

Tabitha Reefer Pennsylvania Department of Health, Kittanning, Armstrong County

Communication Skills in Public Health

 Content Editor

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