Lifestyle choices uncensored

POST FALLS - They felt lungs that had been exposed to smoke and not, saw a tragedy that resulted from texting behind the wheel and were asked direct questions about their health. And, as a result, students at New Vision Alternative High School walked away from Wednesday's wellness fair at their school with a better understanding of what can result from lifestyle choices they make.

POST FALLS - They felt lungs that had been exposed to smoke and not, saw a tragedy that resulted from texting behind the wheel and were asked direct questions about their health.

And, as a result, students at New Vision Alternative High School walked away from Wednesday's wellness fair at their school with a better understanding of what can result from lifestyle choices they make.

A pig's lung that had been exposed to smoke - and the demonstration of how it is limp compared to one that wasn't - made the biggest impact on junior Milany Hernandez.

"I seriously started to cry when I saw that lung," said Hernandez, a smoker herself. "It's a reminder of how it can get worse and worse."

Hernandez said she believes more students are smoking and getting started at a younger age, "but a lot of them actually care," she said.

Hernandez said she believes students at her school, including herself, should take the lifestyle lessons they learned at the fair and speak to middle school students and even those in elementary school. That would not only personally reinforce what they learned or have been through, but spread the word to younger students when issues actually start.

Lake City High students involved with Teens Against Tobacco Use, who were among the fair's presenters, are already speaking to other students.

Freshman Tiffany Lassila said Wednesday was "a little different" presenting to high school students, but believes it was just as effective.

"A lot of the students looked at the lung and went, 'Ooooo. That's gross,'" Lassila said. "They said they need to show it to a friend who smokes."

New Vision junior Will Ryder said he learned that he could put on a few more pounds to be healthier.

"I need to work out more and I need to eat," he said. "I can change a few things about my health."

Ryder said he appreciated the opportunity to be exposed to a broad range of services and information, including a fitness center, health and stress management, nutrition guidelines, fire prevention, teen dating, Project Safe Place and the OASIS women's shelter.

Paul Farina, Post Falls police's school resource officer, asked students if their privacy is protected online and if they understand the risk of texting and driving.

He encouraged "positive peer pressure" such as taking a stand if their friends have risky behaviors.

"Peer pressure can also be good," he said.

Across the gym, Kootenai County Fire and Rescue's Jim Lyon showed students a video that it took less than a minute from the time smoke detectors sounded to when flames were rolling along the ceiling in a living room fire.

A video on an injury accident that resulted from texting behind the wheel was also shown.

Alarming statistics - such as vehicle crashes being the No. 1 cause of death with teens, and alcohol is involved with nearly 50 percent of car wreck fatalities and most of those ejected die - were revealed for students to ponder.

Cindy Linna, school nurse, said the fair, in its second year, is intended to be geared toward students in a comfortable environment that's just down the hall from their classrooms and involves all of their classmates.

"We had them make posters before the fair so they could start thinking about the topics and take some ownership," Linna said.