Book Creator | Discover Health Sciences

zBook Challenge
Respiratory Therapist

At the booth of a respiratory therapist, the students were intrigued to learn about the crucial role respiratory therapists play in helping patients with breathing difficulties. The therapist shared a real-life question with the students: "How can we effectively manage and treat patients with chronic respiratory conditions such as asthma and COPD?" This question sparked a discussion among the students about the importance of treatment plans. Their first question was, "What is COPD?" The respiratory therapist said, "COPD is an acronym that stands for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, which is a type of lung disease that limits airflow out of the lungs." As they talked about different ways to prevent and help with the disease, she challenged them to a race. To join the “Kids in Medicine” on this race, continue with the story.

Hunt and Find

Step 1:

Go to zCentral and use Launch Code: A274.

Step 3:

Step 2:

Launch the activity to explore how our respiratory system works.

Challenge

What are you curious about?
What new questions do you have?

Go to zCentral and use Launch Code: W20. Using the Internet or other resource locate a model of a lung. Using the Tinkercad application try to create your own.

A respiratory therapist will assess, treat, and care for patients with breathing disorders. They will also initiate and conduct therapeutic procedures; maintain patient records; and select, assemble, check, and operate equipment. Education: Typical training at entry is an associate's degree or bachelor's degree. Average Pay: $70,540/yr.

zBook Challenge
Let's Race

Measure your own resting heart rate. Place your pointer and middle fingers on the inside of your opposite wrist just below the thumb.

Don’t use your thumb to check your pulse, as the artery in your thumb can make it harder to count accurately.
Once you can feel your pulse, count how many beats you feel in 15 seconds.
Multiply this number by 4 to get your heart rate. For instance, 20 beats in 15 seconds equals a heart rate of 80 beats per minute (bpm).

Next, time yourself running in place or jumping for 1 minute. Now measure and compare your active heart rate to your resting rate.

Materials Needed: Cotton ball and Straw
Substitute for cotton: Kleenex or paper
Substitute for straw: Roll a piece of paper around a pencil, tape it in place, remove the pencil, and use the paper tube as a straw.

Team up with a partner to complete these steps.

Create a start and a finish line. Place the cotton onto the starting line.
Using the straw, blow your cotton ball down the racing line
Measure how many seconds it takes to reach the finish line.

Now try different blowing techniques. Does it work better when you take long, steady breaths or quick, short breaths? Vary the length of the straw (short straw/ longer straw). Does this make a difference? Can you shift from shallow breaths to diaphragm breathing? How does that help with the race?

Air Breathe Sticker by Kopfkino Werbeagentur

Pause and Consider

What did you notice? How does this relate to the zSpace activity you just explored? How does this relate to what a respiratory therapist might do?

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zBook Challenge
Physical Therapist

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Next, the students visited a physical therapist who specialized in rehabilitation. The therapist presented them with a challenge: "How can we help patients regain their mobility and independence after a serious injury or surgery?" The students brainstormed ideas such as unique exercise programs to help patients in their recovery journey. She prompted them with a couple of questions to help jumpstart their ideas on ways to support recovery. To find out more, continue on with our friends, Ethan and Lily.

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Physical therapists are movement experts who improve quality of life through prescribed exercise, hands-on care, and patient education. Physical therapists diagnose and treat individuals of all ages. Many patients have injuries, disabilities, or other health conditions that need treatment. Physical therapists assess, plan, organize, and participate in rehabilitative programs that improve mobility, relieve pain, increase strength, and improve or correct disabling conditions.
Education: Typical training at entry is a doctoral or professional degree or bachelor's degree. Average Pay: $97,720/yr.

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Hunt and Find

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Step 1:

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Go to zCentral and use Launch Code: A114.

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Step 2:

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Step 3:

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Physical therapists must know all about muscle mechanics. How many muscles are in your body? What happens when muscles get tired and overworked?

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Physical therapists are movement experts who improve quality of life through prescribed exercise, hands-on care, and patient education. Physical therapists diagnose and treat individuals of all ages. Many patients have injuries, disabilities, or other health conditions that need treatment. Physical therapists assess, plan, organize, and participate in rehabilitative programs that improve mobility, relieve pain, increase strength, and improve or correct disabling conditions.
Education: Typical training at entry is a doctoral or professional degree or bachelor's degree. Average Pay: $97,720/yr.

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What did you learn or discover?
What information was surprising or new?

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zBook Challenge:
Stretch Break

Your challenge: determine how to help stretch muscles to relieve pain from overworked and tired muscles.

Your patient performed too many dips. What muscles might be affected and what movement would help to release the tension?
Your patient performed too many squats and his/her hips are painful. What muscles might be affected and what movement would help to release the tension?
Your patient is complaining of plantar fasciitis. What muscles might be affected and what movement would help to release the tension? What else can they do to help relieve the pain?

Let's Race:
Materials Needed: Cottonball and Straw (don't have either use a balled-up piece of paper and create a fist to blow into with your hand.
Team up with a partner

Create a start and finish line. Place the cotton onto the starting line.
Grab a straw and race blowing your cotton down the racing lane.
The best two out of three attempts win.

Now try different blowing techniques. Does it work better for longer or quick and fast breathing? Can you shift from shallow breaths to diaphragm breathing? How does that help with the race?

Pause and Consider

What did you notice? How does this relate to the zSpace activity you just explored? How does this relate to what a physical therapist might do?

zBook Challenge
Dietitian

At the dietitian's booth, the students learned about the role of nutrition in maintaining good health. The dietitian posed a question: "How can we educate people about the importance of a balanced diet and healthy eating habits?"

The students discussed school lunches, the use of social media, and posters at school to spread awareness about healthy eating.

The kids were getting hungry at this point and, thankfully, spread before them was a variety of rainbow-colored fruits and vegetables. "Nature's Candy," a sign read, "Treat yourself." Lily grabbed a sweet red pepper and Ethan a bright green apple.

Hunt and Find

Step 1:

Go to zCentral and use Launch Code: A163.

Step 2:

Step 3:

Learn about the five food groups, recommended portion sizes, and why some choices are better for us than others.

What did you learn or discover?
What information was surprising or new?

Dietitians and nutritionists plan and conduct food service or nutritional programs to assist in the promotion of health and control of disease. They may also supervise food services, counsel individuals, or conduct nutritional research.
Bachelor's degree needed. Average Pay: $66,450/yr.

zBook Challenge
Orthodontist

Speaking of healthy teeth, Ethan and Lily then visited an orthodontist, who designs and fabricates appliances to realign teeth and jaws to produce and maintain normal function and improve appearance.

The orthodontist presented them with a variety of teeth models and demonstrated how the correct bite helps the mouth chew the food and decreases the amount of potential pain from overcrowding. Intrigued, Ethan wanted to create his 3D teeth model to showcase his own teeth. Lily said she would help him design the model.