New events including ‘Be the Match’ and ‘Teddy Bear Clinic’ at VMH’s Family Wellness Fair May 10; No masks required

The annual “Family Wellness Fair” will be held Wednesday, May 10 from 3:30-6 p.m. at Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) in Waukon. Health and wellness testing, exhibits, activities and refreshments will all be providing a complete evening of entertainment and education for families of all ages. This year, masks will not be required and the fair will be back to a full-size event with refreshments and taste testing. Everyone in the area communities is welcome to attend this free event.

‘Be the Match’
New this year, visitors to the fair can participate in the “Be the Match” bone marrow sampling which will be provided by the hospital’s Laboratory. This is the same program that Robyn Roberts from “Good Morning America” endorses following her own successful bone marrow transplant match 10 years ago. A blood stem cell donation can be a cure for blood cancer, sickle cell, and other deadly diseases. Many patients and their families are counting on drives like this to find their match. The process is simple and painless and will be available for all visitors to the fair.

Exhbitors
Many exhibitors will have display tables with information, demonstrations, and activities for the entire family. To date, the exhibitors include: Allamakee County Emergency Management, Allamakee Substance Abuse Prevention, Gundersen Medical and Vision Clinic, Helping Services for Northeast Iowa, Northeast Iowa Agency on Aging, Northeast Iowa Behavioral Health, Northeast Iowa Community Action (NEICAC), Northeast Iowa Recreation Center, TASC, Village Creek Bible Camp, Waukon Good Samaritan Center, Waukon Lions Club For Kids Sight, Waukon Park and Recreation/Waukon Aquatic Center and the Waukon Wellness Center.
 
Entertainment
Entertainment for the evening will include special appearances by “Klyde Thinger” the Clown and Mike Chapman, Balloon Artist. In addition, a Waukon Fire Department fire truck and Veterans Memorial Hospital ambulance will be parked outside the entrance to the fair for children to view. Face painting will again be offered this year, as well as a medical temporary tattoo table and health care career photo booth, plus many other youth games such as a bean bag toss and Operation game, among others. The Gundersen Air helicopter is also scheduled to be on-site for outdoor tours on the way to the newly remodeled Gundersen Medical Clinic where the ‘teddy bear clinic’ will be held that evening, offering youth free teddy bears as they experience a medical office visit.

Health Fair
VMH staff will be on hand to perform a number of free health tests and share health information such as blood pressure testing, grip strength testing and children’s reach game, O2 saturation and carbon monoxide testing, the effects of smoking, diabetes and blood sugar testing, chair massages, ‘gut health,’ Vitamin D and blood type testing, surgical services, correct hand washing technique and cell phone sanitation, physical therapy, safe drug disposal, advanced directives and patient portal registration, among many other topics. Again this year, Veterans Memorial Hospital staff will be demonstrating and instructing “Hands Only” CPR that can effectively be used by anyone, on anyone who is experiencing cardiac arrest. Information on how to “Stop The Bleed” with hands-on practice will also be highlighted. Hospital staff will also be offering tours of the CT machine and new Mammogram machine as well as Infusion and Outpatient area.
 
Door Prizes
Over 100 door prizes will be given away that night. All visitors to the Family Wellness Fair are eligible to win just by signing in at the registration table as they enter the event. Names will be drawn throughout the evening with all winners having their choice of door prizes.

All visitors to the Family Wellness Fair are asked to enter the fair through the Medical Clinic main entrance. The fair route will proceed through the building into the hospital, out through the ER entrance to the newly remodeled Gundersen Clinic building, back through the hospital lower level, exiting out the main entrance of the hospital. Parking will be available at both the clinic and hospital lots, as well as all street parking.

The annual “Family Wellness Fair,” held Wednesday, May 10 from 3:30-6 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, feel free to contact Erin Berns, Public Relations Director at Veterans Memorial Hospital at 563-568-3411.