CHPing away at illness Published Dec. 17, 2010 By Wayne Crenshaw 78th Air Base Wing Public Affairs ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. -- A small office at Robins is a strong promoter of the "ounce of prevention" theory when it comes to health, except it offers a lot more than an ounce. The four people in the Civilian Health Promotion Services office, or CHPS, are employees of Federal Occupational Health, working under contract with Air Force Materiel Command. Their mission is to promote good health for Team Robins members by stressing prevention and early detection. Office workers give free blood-pressure screenings and other basic health checks, weekly health classes on a wide variety of subjects, special work-area classes upon request, health fairs and more. Last year they had contact with more than 6,000 people, and everything they do is free, said Kelley Denney, CHPS coordinator. They would like to see more people, but there are those who are reluctant. "There are some people who would just rather not know," Denney said. "Obviously, if there's something wrong, it's better to know because there are things you can do." Denney said the program has probably saved some lives because in many cases the screenings have led to early detection, which is crucial. They stress to clients the checks are not a substitute for a physical and people should still see a physician. Health classes are Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 1 p.m. in the Fitness Center Annex in Bldg. 301. Topics include healthy eating, developing good sleep habits, quitting smoking, and stress management. People can also visit www.afmcwellness.comfor a wealth of information and resources on preventing health problems. Users can also get a personal health profile and risk assessment. For more information about CHPS, call 497-8030 or visit the office in Bldg. 207, Room C-119.