ONEONTA _ "Treatment is okay, but prevention is where it's at," Bassett Hospital's chief heart surgeon told first-graders at Greater Plains Elementary School on Tuesday.
Dr. Robert Lancey helped give an interactive demonstration to the Oneonta class. Working with three other health-care professionals, he attempted to explain to about 35 students how the heart works and how to keep it healthy.
These types of classes are important, he said, because heart disease develops over a long period. But habits that can lead to the disease, such as smoking or poor eating choices, are established early on.
He is regularly involved with other physicians in the "UpClose" program for seventh graders, which includes viewing an open-heart surgery at Bassett in Cooperstown. But when two teachers from Greater Plains approached him, he decided to give a modified program a try.
"We'd do it in a heartbeat" for any other classes, he said. "This is the age to get them at."
The session included having students break into four groups, using a stethoscope to listen to each other's hearts. Justine Cintron said, after listening to classmate Gabby Barbera, that "it sounded loud."
"It sounded like a balloon pump," Gabby said.
One of those who had his EKG taken was Ryan Hasbrouck.
"It was fun," he said, but the sensors were cold.
His classmate Richard Serafin said it was interesting learning about the heart.
After each student used the equipment, Lancey said he noted that first-grader Evan Sitts was taking care of his heart through the exercise he got by playing sports. This made his heartbeat one of the loudest in the class, Lancey said.
"I was glad to learn my heart was so strong," Evan said.
The students had no problem handling the videotape of Lancey examining the lungs of people who did and didn't smoke.
The heart and lungs work together to get oxygen around the body, he said.
After handing out heart-healthy snacks of fruits and vegetables, he left the students with a parting message.
"You have two eyes and two ears ... but only one heart," he said. "You have to take care of it."
First-grader Siarra Goodhue said she got the message. In fact, she said the presentation helped her decide her future career. "I think I want to be a doctor like Dr. Lancey."
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