County health fair is Saturday

Safety mascots Smokey Bear, Sparky the Fire Dog, and Fred the Preparedness Dog are scheduled to pep up patrons at Marion County Health Fair from 8 to 11 a.m. Saturday at USD 408 Sports and Aquatic Center in Marion.

One event organizer, Ken Johnson, said the mascots and this year’s theme of “Holiday Healthy” are meant to help draw young families.

“Many services that will be offered are meant to help give people a snap shot of their health right now so that they can know how they should approach eating during the upcoming holidays,” Johnson said. “We are also doing the event in conjunction with Marion County Toy Run. People can bring presents and donations for the Toy Run.”

A LifeTeam helicopter will also be available for patrons to see, weather permitting, he said.

Reduced price flu shots and many lab tests will be available.

Johnson said “a nominal fee” would be charged for flu shots if patrons do not have insurance cards.

Lab tests used in checking fluid balance, organ function, lipid abnormalities, anemia, infections, diabetes, and prostate cancer will be available.

This year, blood will be drawn at the fair, and test results will be mailed to patrons, which they can take to their health providers.

The cumulative price for lab tests is $55, Johnson said.

County Emergency Medical Services also will have a first aid class and likely have CPR demonstrations, he said. Public exposure of all the county’s health service also is an objective for the event.

“There are lots of local people offering local health service here in the county that we want residents to know about so they don’t have to go out-of-county to get them,” Johnson said.

Hillsboro Community Hospital, Emergency Medical Service, Marion County Health Department, and St. Luke Hospital sponsor the event.

For more information, call Johnson at (620) 947-1460, Roger Schroeder at (620) 382-2177, or Diedre Serene at (620) 382-2550.