Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Health Fair Slated For Next Weekend

Health screenings, information and giveaways will highlight the 4th Annual Nevada County Health-A-Rama.

This event, sponsored by the Nevada County Health Alliance, will be held from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 9, at the First Baptist Church gym.

According to co-chairman Janet McAdams, the Health-A-Rama was created to promote local health care as a service to the public. She said the event has drawn about 400 each year.

Some of the health screenings available include blood pressure checks, glucose screening, pulse/oxygen content, geriatric psychiatry/cholesterol screenings and developmental screenings.

In addition, there will be balloons for the children, along with bingo games, and fingerprinting.

McAdams said Firestone is providing photo booklets for children. When the Prescott Police Department takes their fingerprints, these, along with their immunization records, can be placed in the booklet.

The Prescott Lions Club will be offering juice, bagels and fruit for those who show up. Many of the screenings, McAdams said, must be done after fasting for accurate results.

She said the idea behind the Health-A-Rama is to give something back to the community. "A lot of diseases, if we detect them early, can be treated and prevent serious illness later one. A lot are insidious diseases, coming on slowly with few, if any symptoms, and aren't easily noticed. By the time they're detected, they've created a serious health problem."

Nevada County, she said, has a high rate of heart disease and diabetes, so it's important for people to be tested for these diseases.

Other events at the Health-A- Rama include: child hearing screenings, hemoglobin health, vision care, blood typing, Internet access for medical information, heart disease information, face painting, health insurance education, senior health issues, organ donor programs, calcium education, dental health, hearing information and diabetic foot care.

Boys II Men and Girls II Women will be doing the setup and take down of the tables and chairs, McAdams said, and there'll be a lot of giveaways and door prizes as well.