Cochise County offers dementia-prevention, heart‑health and sun‑safety presentations countywide

Trinity Rigby, who works in chronic-disease prevention for Cochise County, described a set of free presentations the health department offers to community groups and organizations, including dementia-prevention (45 minutes), hypertension/heart-health with blood-pressure checks (45 minutes) and a new sun-safety program about skin-cancer prevention (about 30 minutes).

"I am Trinity Rigby. I work in chronic disease prevention," she said, and explained that dementia-prevention sessions focus on diet, lifestyle and activities to support brain health; hypertension presentations include hands-on blood-pressure checks and evidence-based strategies to reduce cardiovascular risk. On sun safety she recommended a minimum of SPF 30 for daily use and suggested SPF 50 for extended outdoor activity at higher elevations; she also described the ABCDEs for self skin checks (asymmetry, border, color, diameter, evolution) and encouraged community-based skin-check awareness and free screenings when possible.

Trinity said materials and contact information are available for groups that invite the department to present and that staff can deliver sessions online or in person. Board members discussed local dermatology access and suggested building a county resource sheet with referral contacts for screenings and specialists.

Next steps: staff will continue outreach to community centers and local partners, work on a referral sheet for dermatology and explore opportunities for free screening events.