Corbin said the staff will make ear plugs for athletes who want to use them while swimming. The program's directors test athletes' strength by seeing how many situps they can do in a minute. They check balance by asking athletes to stand on one leg with their eyes closed. The last part of the Healthy Athletes program is the Athlete Health Promotion Center. The staff there talks to athletes about health concerns like weight and preventative care, such as wearing seat belts and protecting skin from the sun, Corbin said.
Athletes leave the Healthy Athletes program with gear they can keep.
Some athletes with vision problems receive a pair of glasses, said Anchorage optometrist Patrick Reber. Physicians use donated frames and lenses to make glasses on site for the athletes. Ideally, athletes will have their new eyeglasses before they leave the Games, but if the prescription is difficult to fill it could take longer, Reber said. On his way out of the Special Smiles program, Aviles carries a bag filled with a toothbrush, toothpaste and other items, his green mouth guard to use during his hockey match, and a passport with one stamp in it. He, just like the other athletes, has to visit all of the Healthy Athletes stations and have his passport stamped there before he can receive an electric toothbrush donated by Sonicare.