Health Fair

Well, august is 2 months before the start of actual flu season (Vaccinations usually start around October 1), so flu awareness is not a terrible idea. And while H1N1 has killed like 11 Americans, I doubt the majority populous is aware of the tens-of-thousands that die each year from the normal flu.

As far as another goodie. Pens are always classic. I am biased against magnets, as my fridge is stainless steel (non-magnetic). Designing a business card-sized calendar of flu season that implies getting flu-immunized in october would fit with the theme of Flu Awareness, should you choose to go down that route.

There is a web site where I purchase my pens in bulk; called National Pen Company. You can look at their web site and order a catalog. They have nice treats such as stress balls, keychains, note pads, pocket calendars, cups and many other goodies that can be added in your goodie bags. And they seem to have lots of sales lately due to less business related to the economy, it seems. I also plan to order some pens as giveaways for my high school reunion picnic scheduled in August of this year.

Check in to your state's department of public health, sometimes they offer stickers, pamphlets (especially regarding infectious disease, like flu), etc. free. Do a search on your states website or contact your local health department. I also usually invite our local Red Cross, and American Cancer Society. If they cannot be at your event in person, they will often provide FREE materials that are very good. We also print up little note pads with our hospital logo. Our in-house print shop does them for us, so the cost is very little- just pennies apiece. In the past, I've also received little boxes of cereal from General Mills, and packets of Mrs. Dash. Those go over really well. Just go on the company's website. I start a few months ahead and start ferreting-away things to add to the goodie bags.

I'm on the hospital health fair commitee. (i just realized i'm not sure how to spell that and it kinda bothers me. lol) Our theme this year is "Healthier You." There are usually about 400 participants from the community.

Each participant will get a goodie bag with several items in it. Most of the items going in are leftover from past years. Each one will have a card called "know your numbers" where their blood sugar, cholesterol, b/p etc. can be recorded and it gives the healthy ranges. We have $300 leftover to add one more goodie to the bag. I've not been able to find many things to add that are within that price range. I did find a measuring spoon or some magnets. I wish we could get pedometers or something that would go well with the theme, but the budget doesn't allow for them. Does anybody have other suggestions for this???

I work on the floor and we plan to have a booth set up by aren't sure what it'll be yet. I'd really like to hear some unique suggestions for this. The EMT's will be doing B/P checks and lab will be doing Glucose and cholesterol screening. Some ideas we've had include smoking awareness and also flu awareness. I thought the flu awareness would be a good one b/c of the h1n1, but the fair is not until August, so not sure how well the timing on that will be.

Smoking cessation would be a good topic. You can go to the local American Cancer Society, or the Lung Association, and purchase pamphlets on smoking cessation, etc. I think that would be an excellant addition to your Health Fair. Smoking related illnesses are the number one cause of death in the US.

Lindarn, RN, BSN, CCRN

Spokane, Washington

In my community, i dont know where they got them, but they were called "Vials of Life". PPl can keep them in their fridge. They have a list of their meds, allergies....numbers i believe.. dont really remember all, but it was one of the coolest things i have seen. i worked with local rsq and when we would go to a house, on the fridge would be the sticker saying "vial of life" in fridge and we knew exaclty where to grab from, cuz its gotta be in the same spot.

Just an idea becuase you asked, and i thought it was awesome!

-H-RN

As a student, a peer and I did a health fair at an underserved city school. We called all the local businesses that had anything to do with health (hospitals, cancer groups, recycling, animal control, safety, anybody and everybody). We asked if they'd either donate something or set up an informational booth with some kind of activity. Now that I think about it, we had the lung association who brought real lungs the students could blow up with pressure thing, we had BMI's given, BP's given by local nursing students, bike safety, fire department brought their huge truck, a police car and dog, and lots of donations from jamba juice, costco and lots of other companies. Over 500 people attended. It was a huge success. Start calling companies and ask. Many are willing to help. Good luck.

Another thought...this is not a health related gift, but you can also ask if the local McDonald's can donate some of the current kiddie gifts to add to a goodie bag. I do a great deal of health fairs and most of the elderly that we served loved to give things to their grandchildren.

When I was part of a committee that planned our 10th anniversary high school reunion picnic, we went to a few neighborhood McDonald restaurants and they donated some small figurines that we used to as a giveaway bag to those that brought their children to our gathering. It was a big hit.

All of our local businesses are being contacted to see what they can donate or if they are willing to participate. The EMS and local nursing homes will be there as well as some other businesses. The outpatient clinic doctors have also been contacted for donations and tend to give really good gifts as giveaways. Our Dietician is taking care of contacting companies like General Mills. I don't remember which but some of them are not doing any of the freebies due to high demand and I would imagine the economy in general.

Sounds like you're on your way to a great health fair. Good Luck.