Get
well, live well, be well
Gearing
up for health fairs
[MARCH
21, 2000]
The
14th annual Children’s Health Fair will be held at the Indoor
Sports Complex of the Lincoln Park District at 1400 Primm Road on
Friday, March 24, from 8:45 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. "Health Starts
2000," this year’s edition of the Community Health Fair,
will focus on innovations in health, fitness and medicine for the
new millennium. These events will be Saturday, March 25, from 9
a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Lincoln Park District as well. Admission is
free. Everyone is invited to attend.
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Children’s Health Fair
The
14th annual Children’s Health Fair will be held at the Indoor
Sports Complex of the Lincoln Park District at 1400 Primm Road on
Friday, March 24, from 8:45 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Fifth
grade students from Lincoln and Logan County schools will be
brought to the Indoor Sports Complex for two hour-long segments
during the day. Home-schooled fifth grade students are also
invited to attend. The goal of the Children’s Health Fair is to
encourage children to learn about health in a way that allows them
to play an active part in the learning process. More than 30
agencies will be represented at the fair.
The
children will receive information about such topics as cancer
prevention, exercise, nutrition, hospitals, dental health,
disabilities, drugs/alcohol, emergency services, farm safety,
personal hygiene, personal safety, posture, senior citizens and
vision.
A
new feature at the fair this year is the Heart Adventure
Challenge Course. Research studies have supported the idea
that children learn best through play experiences. The Elementary
Heart Adventure Challenge Course from Western Illinois University
does just that. Children learn about the most important muscle in
the body by going through it. They are physically involved while
navigating the blood’s pathway through the body.
Following
last year’s successful event; the students will once again have
a "scream out" against the tobacco industry in the
American Cancer Society’s Great American SmokeScream Contest.
Classes will compete against each other using screams they have
written containing messages to the tobacco industry about the
dangers of smoking. The best screamers will be treated to a class
pizza party.
The
students are encouraged to make health-related posters before
the Health Fair. Prizes will be awarded and the posters will be
displayed at the fair. The top four winning posters will be on
display at Burger King, Hardees, McDonald’s and Taco Bell
restaurants before the health fairs.
Community Health Fair
"Health
Starts 2000," this year’s edition of the Community Health
Fair, will focus on innovations in health, fitness and medicine
for the new millennium. The events will be Saturday, March 25,
from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Lincoln Park District’s Indoor
Sports Complex. Admission is free. Everyone is invited to attend.
More
than 60 organizations will have displays and some will offer
health screenings. Guests at the fair will learn new and
innovative approaches to wellness through non-traditional
alternatives to medicine. Internet browsers can take a firsthand
look at what’s available on health and fitness Web sites. Guests
will also have an opportunity to win valuable door prizes donated
by area merchants.
Health
screenings
More
than a dozen popular health screenings will be offered at this
year's fair. Screenings available at no charge include the
following:
Type of test |
Sponsored by |
Blood
pressure |
Logan Co.
Health Dept. |
Tetanus shots |
Logan Co.
Health Dept. |
Blood
sugar/diabetes |
Graue
Pharmacy |
Height and
weight |
Lincoln Park
District |
Pulse
oximetry |
ALMH
Respiratory Therapy Dept. |
Vision |
Logan Co.
Health Dept. |
Glaucoma |
Family
Medical Center |
Child
development |
United
Cerebral Palsy |
Osteoporosis |
Memorial
Medical Center and ALMH |
Cholesterol |
ALMH Cardiac
Rehab and Lab |
There
will be a small fee for two screenings, to help defray the
expenses involved with offering the tests.
Type of test |
Sponsored by
& cost |
Hemoglobin |
Family
Medical Center $1.00 |
Body
composition testing |
ALMH
$10.00 |
People
interested in the screenings should plan to arrive early enough to
allow time for all of the screenings to be done before the fair
ends. Those who arrive after 1 p.m. may not be able to complete
all the screenings. Fasting is not necessary before the tests.
Screening is an accurate and safe procedure when done by trained
health care professionals.
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Other
attractions
The
American Red Cross will again be conducting a blood bank in
conjunction with the Health Fair, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The gift of
blood can help save someone’s life, so people are urged to make
plans to give at the American Red Cross Blood Bank. First-time
donors are welcome.
The
Logan County Health Department will be holding car safety seat
inspections at the Lincoln Community High School. Four out of
five car seats are used incorrectly. In the U.S. during 1996, 1,813
fatalities were reported for children 14 and under in motor vehicle
crashes. Of these deaths, 37 percent were children 4 and under.
People are invited to have their children’s car seats checked on
March 25 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Call 735-2317 to schedule an
appointment.
Making
a return visit is the Child Identification Program, a popular
service brought to the fair by the Lincoln Police Department.
Parents will have the opportunity to have their children
fingerprinted at no charge. Fingerprinting has been very
beneficial to the police in locating missing children. Parents are
urged to take advantage of this service offered from 9 a.m. to noon.
Smokey
Bear of the
Forestry Department of the Illinois Conservation Service and Sgt.
McGruff of the Lincoln Police Department will also be on hand
throughout the day promoting safety.
A
Tot’s Park will also be a part of the fair this year.
Youngsters can play on the equipment while moms and dads are
visiting the exhibits and displays. This area will be under adult
supervision.
Bingo
will be available
to guests of the fair from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Maple Ridge Care Center
is sponsoring this activity for all ages
Nutritious
foods, prepared by Lincoln Land Catering, will be available
for purchase at the fair as well.
Entertainment
All
ages will be treated to scheduled entertainment throughout the day.
9:45 a.m. Performance by Vince and Larry, the crash test
dummies from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
They will do a brief skit promoting seat belt safety.
10:00
a.m. Dan Dugan and his students of Lincoln Yoshuka International
Karate will give a spirited demonstration.
10:30
a.m. The Lincoln Bible Church will present a Puppet Show. The
teen group of the church is making their second visit to the fair
with this safety-oriented program.
11:00
a.m. The Aerobics Department of the Lincoln Park District will
perform. Aero-Kick, a hot, new style of exercising will be
featured.
11:30
a.m. Sheila Farmer of Animal Control will stop by with a
friend or two. It is well documented that pets have a positive
effect on our mental and physical health. Sheila will be explaining
the many opportunities available to adopt a pet.
12:00
p.m. LinPro Square Dancers will perform, with do-si-dos and
promenades for the enjoyment of fair guests.
12:30
p.m. The Hype Puppets will take center stage. Lincoln Junior
High School’s HYPE (Helping Youth in a Positive Environment) group
is making their first appearance at the fair.
1:00 p.m. The Possum Holler Pickers will bring the sounds of
bluegrass music to the fair.
The
Community Health Fair is co-sponsored by the Lincoln Park District
and the Logan County Health Department.
Questions
about the children’s health fair or the 15th annual community
health fair should be directed to Marcia Greenslate at the Lincoln
Park District (217-732-8770) or Marcia Dowling at the Logan County
Health Department (217-735-2317).
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