Health fair set for Saturday

Correspondent

The Roosevelt General Hospital Health Fair will include a variety of services to county residents as always, according to RGH Director of Marketing and Public Relations Greg McFarland.

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Portales fire fighters hands out bicycle helmets to children each year at the annual Roosevelt General Hospital Health Fair where residents can get free health screenings.

The event, which is from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday, will offer 400 free flu shots, a car seat clinic, a bike helmet fitting and a variety of free screenings.

“The flu shots will be given by Clovis Community College nursing students in the flu tent,” said McFarland.

The free screenings include diabetes, cardiopulmonary, wound care, stroke assessments, blood pressure, balance tests, height/weight/body mass index and child immunizations for children three and older.

There will also be a variety of “healthy stations,” according to McFarland, such as medical imaging, physical therapy, cardiopulmonary, pharmacy and “ask a nurse.”

“There is something for everyone at the health fair,” said McFarland.

The hospital will even have free babysitting services for those in attendance, for up to an hour and a half per child, he said, with books and bouncy houses for the children to play with.

Clinical Care Manager Kim Burrow said she believes the Health Fair is a great opportunity to show the community all that RGH has to offer.

“It gives us an opportunity to open our doors to the community so they can see all that we have to offer,” said Burrow. “I think it’s a great eye opener for people to see all the health care opportunities here in Portales.”

McFarland agreed with Burrow that the health fair was a good opportunity for the community.

“The health fair is an awesome way to promote healthy living in the community,” he said.

The event will also include a blood screening panel available to attendees between 8 and 10 a.m. for a cost of $35.

“After you pick up your blood panel results, you can discuss the results with a provider at RGH the same day or take them to your primary care provider if you choose,” said McFarland.

The RGH Foundation is also hosting a 5K Saturday morning with the proceeds for the 5K going to the Digital Mammography Suite at the hospital. Registration begins at 6:30 a.m. by the Emergency Room Entrance and will cost $20.

People are welcome to register the day of, according to McFarland, who said the race will start at 7 a.m. with free T-shirts will be provided to the runners.

The Eastern New Mexico University Cheerleaders will also be in attendance to help direct and cheer on the runners.

“If you run in the 5K, you are entered to win one of three free initial mammogram screenings,” said McFarland.