10 Nov Cricket Gets Healthy
A number of health interventions have been trialled at UK cricket grounds over the 2010 season. Spectators and staff at Lancashire, Yorkshire and Surrey’s cricket grounds have been party to health promotion days and health checks during the summer months and the findings have been fed back to the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB).
The offer of a thorough cardiovascular health check certainly appealed to fans and staff at OId Trafford where the average uptake was about 45 participants a day on county match days. One steward was particularly grateful for the opportunity. Identified as being at high risk of cardiovascular disease, he was advised to seek medical advice immediately.
The Network was also involved in planning a number of other successes around the country. A special health promotion day focussing on the early detection of CVD and oral cancer within South Asian communities took place at Surrey’s Brit Oval to coincide with the One Day International match between England and Pakistan. Under the brand ‘Boundaries for Life’, 31 participants took part in free health checks, with 8 participants being referred for further medical examination at their local GP or dentist. A repeat of similar initiatives is already being planned for 2011, and an ECB spokesperson commented:
“The ECB is pleased to see a number of our grounds adopting health initiatives over the 2010 season and will continue to work with the European Healthy Stadia Network next summer to offer more spectators the opportunity to take advantage of free health interventions.”
