Physician General Recognizes Student Winners of Annual Get Smart Art Competition

PITTSBURGH, Nov. 18, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Pennsylvania's Physician General Dr. Rachel Levine today announced the winners of the fourth-annual statewide Get Smart Art Competition in observance of Get Smart About Antibiotics Week.

"This annual art competition helps us teach children at an early age about the importance of proper hand washing and responsible antibiotics use," said Dr. Levine. "By avoiding unnecessary antibiotics, we help keep children and all Pennsylvania residents safe from many potential health complications. We hope that everyone involved in the event this year had fun and learned how to 'get smart' about antibiotics."

Get Smart About Antibiotics Week is a national observance to raise awareness about antibiotic resistance and the importance of antibiotic stewardship.

During the past four 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.

"Each 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," said Secretary of Health Karen Murphy. "Overusing 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 Get Smart About Antibiotics Week, please visit: http://www.cdc.gov/getsmart/week/overview.html.

For more information about the Department of Health, please visit www.health.pa.gov  

MEDIA CONTACT: April Hutcheson, 717-787-1783

Editor's Note: A full list of this year's art competition winners is below:

Ages 11-12
First Place: Courtney Keller, Age 11, Kennett Square, PA
Second Place: Madyson Isenhour, Age 11, Harrisburg, PA
Third Place: Keegan Carter Trilley, Age 12, Harrisburg, PA

Ages 9-10
First Place: Sarah Watson, Age 9, Atglen, PA
Second Place: Ian Lentz, Age 9, Camp Hill, PA
Third Place: Alyson Park, Age 9, Lorton, VA

Ages 7-8
First Place: Avery Moran, Age 8, Palmyra, PA
Second Place: Romello Torres, Age 8, York, PA
Third Place: Naila Nicholson Age 8, Lancaster, PA

Ages 5-6
First Place: Wyatt Lentz, Age 5, Camp Hill, PA
Second Place: Aanya Govil, Age 6, Mechanicsburg, PA
Third Place: Alexa Rank, Age 6, Dillsburg, PA

Ages 4 and under:
First Place: Kailee Park, Age 4, Lorton, VA
Second Place: Landon Moran, Age 4, Palmyra, PA
Third Place: Kendal Rank, Age 3, Dillsburg, PA

SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of Health

Related Links

http://www.state.pa.us