April 26, 2014 at 9:45 p.m.
Disease prevention, health education the focus of annual wellness fair, Healthy Kids Day
Disease prevention, health education the focus of annual wellness fair, Healthy Kids Day
By Kayla Thomason-
"Rhinelander, the community has always come out and supported (the health fair)," said Matt Thompson, public relations and communications manager for Ministry Health Care. "We're excited that people are utilizing the opportunity to get free screenings and it's so important to know your numbers and your stats."
Thompson said the screenings are important because they let people know if they need to change their lifestyle or seek further medical help.
The screenings have identified everything from questionable moles to blood sugar and blood pressure numbers that are cause for concern.
Last year over 700 people took advantage of the free screenings.
"Ministry Health Care supports free screenings for the community and really getting engaged with the community about their health care, not just when they need a doctor but prevention," Thompson said.
The Saint Mary's Hospital Foundation sponsored the fair and covered the cost of the free screenings.
"This is the gem of health fairs in the northern region for us," Thompson said. "We do a health fair in every hospital and this is our biggest."
In the past, the Rhinelander health fair would pull in 300 people while the other Ministry hospitals would attract 125-150 people, Ministry officials said.
"I think in today's economic times people recognize an opportunity to come in and take advantage of some of the free services that are being offered today and pick up more information about grabbing control of their own health care situation is a positive thing," said Jesse Bolder, Saint Mary's Hospital Foundation director. "I think the increase in turnout today is a direct result of the changing times of health care and people being more proactive about it."
The foundation's goal is to enhance health care in the surrounding community and help those who are underserved.
Bolder said he thinks the Rhinelander health fair is one of the largest held in the Northwoods.
"Folks in Rhinelander are very fortunate to have the quality of facilities and health care that Ministry Saint Mary's offers," Bolder said.
There were presentations on hernias and how to set up a power of attorney for health care as well as 36 booths and 12 free screenings, which ranged from blood pressure and cholesterol tests to memory and hearing checks. There was also a child seat safety check.
Over at the YMCA of the Northwoods, Healthy Kids Day focused on every aspect of children's health, from physical to mental.
The Rhinelander Lions Club offered free eye exams and Hearing Advantage performed hearing screenings.
One woman brought her son in last year and they discovered something through the eye exam.
"When the Lions tested his eyes he couldn't see out of his left eye so we brought him to the eye doctor and found out he is legally blind in his left eye," said Paula Zelechowski, mother of two children who attended Saturday's event. "So if it wasn't for them we probably wouldn't have caught it."
Along with performing hearing exams, Hearing Advantage demonstrated the advances in hearing aids such as having the ability to listen to music or hear the phone through the aid itself. This was Hearing Advantage's first time participating in Healthy Kids Day.
"It's very important [to get children screened] because a hearing impairment can actually have an effect on a child's speech development, it can affect their ability to learn in a classroom and it affects their ability to socialize with other children," said Jesse Kaster, owner of Hearing Advantage.
Fire and police department personnel attended the event and the Spirit helicopter was parked there for children to see. The idea was for the children to become accustomed to the emergency workers so they will not be afraid of them in the event of an emergency.
Northwoods K9 Sports and Tender Loving Care attended the event to show children various activities and tricks they can do with their dogs.
There were vegetable seeds and herbs available for children to plant and crafts tables to entertain their minds.
Throughout the day the children had the opportunity to munch on healthy snacks such as apples, bananas and oranges.
Children could swim, enjoy power beats (playing drums on a big ball), try their luck on the obstacle course or play in the bouncy house.
"The kids love [Healthy Kids Day], the parents do too," said Diane Zarembka, director of the YMCA's children's learning center. "It's great to see parents interacting and playing with children."
Kayla Breese may be reached at [email protected].
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