"Family Wellness Fair" set for May 10 at Veterans Memorial Hospital celebrating its 20th anniversary

New events and activities available to help mark this year's milestone; former U of I quarterback Chuck Long attending

The 20th annual “Family Wellness Fair” will be held Wednesday, May 10 from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon. Health testing, exhibits and activities will all be providing a complete evening of entertainment and education for families of all ages.

This is the 20th annual event sponsored by Veterans Memorial Hospital and will include some special added attractions to celebrate this milestone. Everyone in the area communities is welcome to attend this free event which is offered in conjunction with the end of the annual Live Healthy Iowa Community Wellness Challenge.

ENTERTAINMENT
Entertainment for the evening will include special appearances made by “Klyde Thinger” the Clown, plus balloon artist Paul Kammarmeyer will again be on site making his creative balloon creations for the children attending the Fair. In addition, a Waukon Fire Department fire truck and hospital ambulance will be parked in the front entrance to the hospital for children to view. Face painting will again be offered at the event and child car seat checks will also be offered by certified professionals who will be located at the shipping/receiving entrance to the hospital.

New this year, a photo booth will be available, plus a “Dunk Your Doctor” dunk tank will be on the grounds for a fun opportunity to raise funds for the Allamakee County Relief Office and the local Veterans Quilts of Valor project.

EXHIBITORS
Over 40 exhibitors will have tables on display providing demonstrations, games and crafts for the entire family. To date, the exhibitors include: Waukon Lions Club “Iowa Kid Sight” free vision screenings for children, Allamakee County Extension,  Allamakee Substance Abuse Prevention (ASAP), Mayo Health System Waukon Clinic, Gundersen Eye Clinic, Gundersen Waukon Medical Clinic, Families First Counseling, FSA-USDA Farm Service Agency, Helping Services for Northeast Iowa, MOSAIC, NEICAC Early Childhood Programs, NICC, Northeast Iowa Behavioral Health, Northgate Care Center, Northeast Iowa Area Agency on Aging, TASC, Thornton Manor and Thornton Heights, Waukon and Postville Good Samaritan Center, Village Creek Bible Camp, Visiting Nurse Association, Clayton County VNA-WIC, Whitney Sleep Diagnostics, St. Croix Hospice, Allamakee County Conservation Board, Alzheimer’s Association, Waukon Park and Recreation/Waukon Aquatic Center and the Waukon Wellness Center.

New this year, the Iowa Sports Foundation and Live Health Iowa directors will be on site. Chuck Long, former Iowa Hawkeye quarterback and pro football player, is now the Director of the Iowa sport Foundation and will be at the fair to visit and sign autographs.

Live Healthy Iowa Director Dr. Amy Michelle Willcockson will be giving a “state of health” address presenting the truth about health in the local county, the opportunities to improve health in Iowa families and what actions can be taken today to make a difference. She will present at three different times throughout the fair, at 4 p.m., 4:45 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. in the ICN Conference Room.

HEALTH FAIR
Veterans Memorial Hospital staff will be on hand to perform a number of free health tests. Blood pressure testing, grip strength testing and children’s reach game, core strengthening, O2 saturation and carbon monoxide testing and smoking cessation, diabetes and blood sugar testing, hemoglobin testing, BMI and waist circumference testing, and chair massages and reflexology will all be available and performed free of charge.

Again this year, Veterans Memorial Hospital staff will be demonstrating and instructing the new “Hands Only” CPR that can effectively be used by anyone, on anyone who has a witnessed cardiac arrest. Wallet cards will be handed out to everyone for quick reference on this new, simple, two-step CPR procedure. Information on cancer and cancer prevention will also be available at the fair, as well as information on medical advance directives.

New this year, sun safety information will be available as well as information on screen time and how much is too much. In addition, exercises anyone can do will also be shared.

The Veterans Memorial Hospital Nutrition Services Department will also be providing healthy snacks and refreshing fruit throughout the evening.

DOOR PRIZES
Over 100 door prizes will be given away the night of the Fair. All visitors to the Family Wellness Fair are eligible to win just by signing in at the registration table as they enter the hospital. Names will be drawn throughout the evening with all winners having their choice of door prizes.

LIVE HEALTHY IOWA PRIZES
Veterans Memorial Hospital will also be awarding prizes at the Wellness Fair to all those in Allamakee and northern Clayton counties that participated in the Live Healthy Iowa 10 week wellness challenge in 2017. In order to claim their participation prize at the Veterans Memorial Hospital Family Wellness Fair, Live Healthy Iowa participants are asked to present their access card at the receptionist desk during the fair. Personalized participant access cards can be found by going to the Live Healthy Iowa website at www.livehealthyiowa.org and under the participant’s “my dashboard” tab, clicking on the “access card” graphic at the bottom right of that dashboard page. The card can then be printed and brought in to redeem the prize.

The 20th annual Family Wellness Fair, held Wednesday, May 10 from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m., is a community wide event offering families of all ages a night of entertainment and education about the resources available to them. This fun-filled family event is free and open to all members of the community of any age. For any additional information, contact Erin Berns, Public Relations Director at Veterans Memorial Hospital, at 563-568-3411.