By Katie Shukis
“Turn over a new leaf” … for your health this fall. This is the theme of the 2002 UNO Health Fair, which will be held Oct. 17.
The fair will run from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the second floor of the Milo Bail Student Center. The event is open to all faculty members, staff, students and their spouses.
The free event will feature be approximately 30 vendors that will offer a variety of screenings, information and gifts.
“The annual UNO Health Fair is a great opportunity to take control of your health,” Chancellor Nancy Belck said in a prepared statement. “By assessing your risk factors for a variety of medical conditions, you can make informed choices about exercise, diet and a healthy lifestyle. I encourage all faculty, staff and students to ‘Turn over a new leaf’ this fall by attending this valuable event.”
Vendors include Origins Skin Care, Wal-Mart free eye screening by Wal-Mart Vision, free body composition (blood pressure, height, weight testing) by UNO Fitness Center and free spine alignment screening by Koca Chiropractic.
Other services that will be offered include flexibility tests, bone density testing and hearing screening.
Information on STDs, AIDS, stress and depression will also be distributed at the event.
Although most of the services offered by the vendors will be free, there will be an opportunity for participants to get a comprehensive blood draw for $20. The blood draw would cost about $300 dollars if someone were to walk into a doctor’s office and request to have it done.
The comprehensive blood draw includes about 10 different test. The tests measure cholesterol, blood sugar, liver, complete blood count, cardiovascular, blood protein, kidney, blood mineral, thyroid and diabetes.
For an additional $12, males can have a prostate cancer screen included in their blood results.
Pre-registration is required for the blood lab work. Those wishing to have blood work done can register with Student Health Services by calling 554-2374.
There will also be simple blood sugar testing done at the health fair for $2. No pre-registration is required for the test.
Participants in either of the blood draws must fast for 12 hours prior to the test in order for the results to be accurate.
Kane Miller of UNO’s health/wellness department encourages members of the UNO community to stop by.
“The blood draws test for so many different things that people might not be aware of … students need to be just as aware as adults … age doesn’t matter,” Miller said.
Prizes given away at the event will include an autographed UNO volleyball and poster, as well as gifts from some of the vendors. These include gym bags from the bookstore, Henry Doorly Zoo passes, Durham Western Heritage museum passes, UNO hockey tickets and coupons for several restaurants.
