Health fairs slated for Saturday

RBC I With health fairs in Meeker and Rangely on Saturday, residents of Rio Blanco County will have two chances to have their health checked for free or low-cost and to gather information regarding known and unknown health problems they may have.
In Meeker, the Channel 9 Health Fair, held in conjunction with Pioneers Medical Center, will be held 7-11 a.m. at the new Meeker Elementary School on Ute Road, said Margie Joy, director of development at Pioneers Medical Center.
“We will have quite a variety of events, including blood tests and hearing screenings,” Joy said. “We should have events of interest to all members of the public. We look forward to a large turnout for this free event, designed to help area residents with known health issues or to help them find out if they have previously unknown problems.”
The free exams will include blood pressure, body fat skin-fold screening, height/weight body mass screening, pulse oximetry, vision screening, oral health checks, body in balance screening and lung-function screening.
Other screenings include: blood chemistry (blood draw) for $30; blood count (blood draw) for $15; colon cancer screening kit for $20; hemoglobin A1C (blood draw) for $25; prostate-specific antigen (PSA) men-only blood draw for $40; and a Vitamin D 25-hydroxy screening (blood draw) for $40.
For more information about the Meeker health fair, contact Christy Atwood at 878-4014.
The Rangely Community Health Fair will be held April 20 at Rangely District Hospital, and the public is invited to take part in planned events there as well.
That fair will run from 7-11 a.m. with a series of screenings and health checks available. There will be drawings for door prizes and numerous booths with free handouts and health information.
The blood screenings include: blood chemistry; prostate specific antigen (PSA), for men only; blood count; Vitamin D; hemoglobin A1C; and colon cancer.
Payment for the screenings may be made by credit card, check or cash, and participants must be 18 years or older.
Those planning on the blood draws at either fair should fast from food for 12 hours before the test but are encouraged to drink plenty of water. Diabetics should not fast and should continue taking prescribed medications. Those who have had their blood drawn early or who have it drawn at the Rangely fair will also be entered to win a 2013 Freemotion 775 treadmill.
For more information, residents should contact Kyle Wren at the hospital at 675-4226.