SEQUIM — If you’ve been putting off going to the doctor for a checkup, don’t have health insurance or just want to find out what’s new in health care, visit the sixth annual Olympic Peninsula Health Fair in Sequim on Saturday.
The free event takes place at Sequim High School, 601 N. Sequim Ave., from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
More than 150 health care providers will offer free health screenings and information.
There will be vendors booths in the main gym offering information on health care services, informational tables in the cafeteria with local community organizations, health screening booths in the auxiliary gym and presentations in the auditorium on health and wellness issues.
Under one roof
Janet Parris, event co-organizer, said the health fair provides a wide range of information, all in one handy location.
“We believe it’s beneficial for people to attend because it can be hard to know what’s available in your community,” she said. “It’s like a living Yellow Pages.”
Parris stressed that the health fair offers something for people of all ages, from youths to seniors.
“A lot of people get the impression that it’s for seniors, but it’s not just for them — it’s for people of all ages,” she said.
Four information tables specifically address family needs: the Department of Social and Health Services Children’s Medical Outreach; Bridges to Parent Voice; Parenting Matters Foundation and First Teacher; and Healthy Families of Clallam County.
Several of the health screening services are beneficial for children, such as the vision screening and skin screening.
Glow Germ
Children may also enjoy, or at least benefit from, the “Glow Germ” booth, where participants wash their hands then view the results under a special light.
The results are often shocking, Parris said.
“People are really paying attention to the concept of hand washing,” she said. “This shows that just splashing water on them is not getting the job done.”
There are more health screening choices this year, giving participants the opportunity to get a jump on any possible health problems.
“It’s a good way to get a head’s up without going for a complete physical,” Parris said. “We really are sensitive to the fact that many people in the area are un- or under-insured.”
The screening booths are run by Olympic Medical Center and a range of private health care providers.
The 21 booths in the auxiliary gym include foot screening; hand and wrist screening; blood pressure screening; bone density screening; dental assessments; memory screening and more.
Vendors in the main gym also provide screening, such as spinal screening, carpal tunnel and arthritic hand screening.
Speakers in auditorium
New this year, event speakers will give presentations in the high school auditorium, away from the hustle and bustle of the fair, which has drawn upward of 2,000 participants in past years.
Usually there is already a long line by the time the doors open at 10 a.m., so this year the presentations begin at 9 a.m., with national speaker Dr. Leslie Van Romer presenting “Getting Into Your Pants . . .in 90 Days or Less.”
The talk focuses on a topic near and dear to many women, fitness and nutrition.
Speaker organizer Heather Jeffers said she hopes there is a big turnout for Dr. Van Romer’s appearance.
“She’s a dynamic speaker and people usually have to pay to see her,” Jeffers said.
Dr. Van Romer is a Sequim author, chiropractor and “weight-loss cheerleader.”
She said her talk is meant to give “simple direction and hope — hope that you can lose weight, build health and feel full and satisfied — all without counting, measuring, depriving, starving, sneaking, guilting, or feeling like a hopeless failure ever again.”
All of the 45-minute presentations are free.
Other speakers are Dr. Paul Cunningham with “Advanced Health Care Directives — Not just for Grandma Anymore,” 11 a.m.; Jay Bryan, exercise physiologist, with “De-aging with Exercise,” noon; Dr. Tom Locke, “Pandemic Flu and You,” 1 p.m.; and Lynda Williamson, occupational therapist, with “Gardening with Arthritis,” 2 p.m.
Jeffers said Dr. Locke’s talk is particularly timely, since the flu season is beginning.
“It’s the big topic right now,” she said. “There are a lot of misconceptions out there.”
Many of the booths will be offering free samples and give aways, and the first 2,500 people in the door will receive reusable nylon bags, courtesy of Sequim Health and Rehabilitation, one of the event sponsors.
The Peninsula Daily News is among the variety of sponsors for the fair.
“Gold” sponsors are Dungeness Courte, Sequim Health and Rehabilitation, the Olympic Area Agency on Aging, Sherwood’s Assisted Living and Olympic Medical Center.
