Health care. For many people, especially college students or parents of low-income households, there are no two words more feared or despised. But for those without the resources to get tested or receive expensive care, health fairs are excellent venues of information and free services.
Christ United Methodist Church put on a Community Health and Safety Fair in south College Station, Saturday. Christ Church partnered with Millican United Methodist Church, First United Methodist Church, the Texas A&M University Health Science Center, the College Station Medical Center, College Station Fire Department and A&M Consolidated High School in offering the community-wide event.
"Our purpose is to raise awareness about the resources available [for improved health]," said Reverend Tommy Myrick, pastor of Christ United Methodist Church and a coordinator for the event.
A variety of organizations set up booths for the fair. The American Red Cross had a representative available to answer questions about donating blood and organizing blood drives, while several personal fitness groups, such as Innovative Fitness, marketed their programs. A catering service called D'Vine Cuisine LLC offered healthy catering options.
"We are also offering free flu shots," Myrick said. Participants who visited at least 10 booths could take their signed card to the back and receive the shot.
Members of A&M Consolidated High School's after-school club, Health Occupations Students of America, also had a set-up at the fair. The students took blood pressure and measured height and weight. They even calculated your height-to-weight ratio for you, which measured whether you were at risk for weight-related diseases.
"Most of us [students] hope to go into health or the medical field someday or just enjoy medicine," said Mona Reddy, one of the student members of Health Occupations Students of America. "We are trained in the basics and [as volunteers] help out and get practice using our skills."
The College Station Medical Center, also known as The MED, was represented at the health fair. Joe Brown, director of marketing for the MED, answered questions and directed attendees to the center's body mass index and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease screening stations.
Brown discussed the center's role in the fair and what they do to improve health in the community.
"We do a lot of marketing, through ads and commercials and things like that, but nothing beats one-on-one interaction. [The health fair] is an opportunity to meet with people face-to-face, to answer their questions and get feedback [on the MED's health programs]," Brown said. "We also offer screenings as a preventative health practice. Some people come in not even aware that they have health problems, but after they get screened, they're informed about the condition and know how to prevent it if they're at risk or treat it if they have one."
The College Station Fire Department had several vehicles on-site for demonstrations. A passenger-restraint display was also set up to encourage child-passenger safety practices and warn about the consequences of not wearing seat belts.
"Our desire is to improve community health and safety," Myrick said.
