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.

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.

"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.

More than a dozen popular health screenings will be offered at this year's fair. Screenings available at no charge include the following:

There will be a small fee for two screenings, to help defray the expenses involved with offering the tests.

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.

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.

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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