10/17/2017 Starke County Community Health Fair Slated

Knox, Ind. – The Starke County Community Health Fair presented by Starke Hospital is slated for October this year – a move that will help the hospital educate the community about important preventive health measures to consider before winter hits.

In previous years, the health fair has taken place in May, but a committee decided to switch it to fall this year.

“October is a great time to really be thinking about what you and your family’s needs might be related to health,” said Stacey Kellogg, regional community relations manager for Starke Hospital. “Flu season is right around the corner, and many people are due for certain health screenings like mammograms or colonoscopies. The Starke County Community Health Fair offers an opportunity for the community to learn more about these important tests, get free screenings for conditions like diabetes and high cholesterol, and meet with the doctors, nurses, and medical professionals in our community.”

New this year will be free flu shots for adults while supplies last.

The event will be from 3-7 p.m., Oct. 17 at the Knox Middle School gym, 901 S. Main St., Knox. Park in the lot off of Shield Street and enter the gym in the back.

“We are happy to be working with the Knox Middle School staff to host the health fair at the gym again this year,” Kellogg said. “The health fair has grown over the years, and having it at the middle school allows us to invite more community vendors to participate, and create highly-interactive health exhibits around a variety of topics. We also took into consideration comments from the community last year who requested the fair be open later so they could attend after work, so we are pleased to be extending it to 7 p.m.”

People of all ages are welcome.

This year the health fair will feature free screenings for blood pressure, blood sugar (diabetes), high cholesterol, hip/knee/back conditions, body mass index, and osteoporosis. Screenings are made possible with support from the Healthcare Foundation of La Porte.

Interactive exhibits this year will include CPR demonstrations, cardio pounding (like drumming), how to be tobacco free, healthy snack preparation with samples, surgery suite exhibit, self-defense demonstrations, and more.

“We are excited to have so many community partners involved in this event. We expect about 29 nursing students from Purdue University Northwest to assist with delivering health education and screenings, and are looking forward to having Community Services of Starke County, WKVI, and other partners represented,” Kellogg said.

Physicians, nurses, and medical professionals in the areas of surgery, primary care, cardiology, emergency department, diagnostic imaging, obstetrics/gynecology, and more will be on hand to interact and answer questions.

Advanced registration is highly encouraged for the Starke County Community Health Fair. Registration is available online at starkehealthfair.eventbrite.com. Follow Starke Hospital on Facebook for updates.

Vendors who wish to request space at the fair can do so online at starkehealthfairvendors.eventbrite.com. This does not guarantee vendor space; it is simply an application. Someone from the health fair committee will contact vendors with a response.