Students will have the opportunity to participate in various health screenings and receive samples of health care products at the annual Bowling Green Health Fair.
The event will take place today from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Lenhart Grand Ballroom of the Bowen-Thompson Student Union.Admission is free to all students and the public.
In past years the Wellness Connection has seen good attendance. Usually anywhere from 600 to 900 people from the community and campus visit the health fair.
“Students will learn about health related resources in the area and on campus, as well as learning about their own personal health and what behaviors they can change to make them selves healthier,” said Barbra Hoffman, health promotion coordinator of the Wellness Connection.
The Student Health Service and Wellness Connection have worked with Bowling Green communities to organize the fair. They will be bringing in around 42 exhibitors that include; the American Lung Association, local health departments and community groups such as Behavioral Connections.
There will also be various interactive displays that will feature quizzes, games and demonstrations in which participants can win prizes.
Visitors to the fair will be able to take advantage of several health screenings such as cholesterol screening for a fee of $3, glucose testing, body compositions analysis, pH testing, lifestyle analysis of health risk factors and dermascan. Dermascan uses UV light to display areas of sensitive facial skin and potential problem areas for skin cancer.
Also, there will be information about tattoo and body piercing safety, over-the-counter samples such as lip balm and sunscreen, and a raffle with door prizes.
Students are receptive to the event. “It is a good thing because it keeps us aware of our own body so we can stay in shape and healthy throughout the school year,” said freshman Melinda Gurgul.
This year the theme to the fair is Reel Health and the exhibitors will be decorating their booths with past or present movie memorabilia. This is a fun way for exhibitors to display their message in a creative way. It also provides entertainment for students while they are being tested.
“Students who have attended the fair in the past usually come back.If students have never came, they should take the time to stop in at the Ballroom and look at the booths and learn about their health.”
For more information, students can call the Student Health Service and Wellness Connection at 372-9355.
