Rebecca Smith, left, gets her blood pressure measured during the 2012 Wrangell Medical Center Health Fair as MiKayla Stokes looks on. This year’s fair is set for April 6 at the Nolan Center.
The 2013 Wrangell Medical Center Health Fair is scheduled for April 6 at the Nolan Center – and this year’s fair will include a new Vitamin D level test in addition to the normal Health Profile, Thyroid Screen, Prostate Screen and Hemoglobin A1C diabetes screens.
For the past 19 years, WMC has sponsored the event – which has grown in size each year.
Cathy Gross, WMC’s Director of Health Information Management, said the event is unique in Southeast Alaska.
“Wrangell Medical Center sponsors an annual health fair the first Saturday in April each year,” Gross said. “This is one of only two community sponsored health fairs in Alaska, the only one held annually, and is one of the most successful in the state. We estimate that we reach approximately one half of the residents of Wrangell each year, including teens and children. As a major health care provider in Wrangell, we understand the importance of screening tests, as well as the health education related material the vendors provide to attendees.”
All vendors who attend the health fair also offer free health related information and activities. Attendees are able to obtain vision and blood pressure checks and weights with body mass index calculations, all of which are provided at no cost. Last year, the fair performed almost 1200 screening tests and had approximately 50 local and out-of-town vendors.
Every attendee will also have a chance to win a prize by having at least 50 percent of the fair vendors stamp a special card that will be given to him or her upon arrival. The grand prizes for this year are, for adults (18 and over) two round-trip tickets on Alaska Airlines; for youth (13-17) a pool pass donated by WMC; and for kids (12 and under) a bicycle donated by Klondike Bike.
For information, call WMC at 874-7000.
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