The people of Hastings like the low cost, low stress health screenings...
Health Fair attendee Don Berns: "Seems like always when you go in a hospital, your blood pressure is up because you're sitting in there waiting for the doctor to come in, or whatever, and here it's more relaxing."
The 27th annual Vital Signs Health Fair at the Adams County Fairgrounds includes a wide range of low cost health screenings.
And if just the thought of a blood test gets you nervous, Abby the Saint Bernard therapy dog will be on hand to soothe you.
Therapy dog handler Denise Ferguson: "She can walk through the line for people waiting to get their blood drawn, so that she kind of brings their blood pressure down before the blood draw."
The fair reminds people that your medicine cabinet might also be due for a check. If you do have old or excess medications at home, the fair is a perfect opportunity to dispose of them in a safe and environmentally friendly way.
Southland District Health Department Executive Director Michele Bever: "Drugs that are disposed of through flushing down the toilet, those kinds of things...it gets into our water systems; those aren't filtered out through our water purification. And so we can increase our different amounts of estrogens or narcotics, or whatever it happens to be, that will be in our streams and waters, and can affect our flora and fauna."
The fair offers blood pressure measurement and a range of blood tests. Lead screening, as well as skin, colon, and prostate cancer screening services will also be offered. A Spanish language translator will be on hand from 10 p.m. until noon.
