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Community Hospital-Fairfax invites public to health fair - Part Two

Community Hospital-Fairfax invites public to health fair
By: Jennifer J. Danley- Marketing/Communications Coordinator, Community Hospital-Fairfax
Author’s Note: This is the second article of a three part series that describes the events offered at the Community Hospital-Fairfax Health Fair

            Getting “on the road to a healthier you” starts at the Community Hospital-Fairfax Health Fair on May 15, 2008.
            Jackie Martin, RN invites parents and children to learn about pediatric asthma at her booth in the hospital’s solarium on the second floor.
            Jackie is the nurse manager of Community Hospital-Fairfax’s Cardio/Pulmonary unit and she will educate parents about medications for maintaining pediatric asthma. She will have information on adult asthma as well.
            “Parents need to be aware of how to be in optimum control of their children’s asthma, so I’ll teach them techniques on how to take medications,” Jackie said.
            While the adults and parents talk with Jackie, the children can visit with Barb Taylor, RN who will record their height and weight and give them certificates with their information. She has invited the kids to bring along their stuffed animals to the fair and they can get a check up also. She will teach children about their heartbeats and let them listen to their own through a stethoscope.
            Theresa Lee, RN and Becky Heits, RN will also be in the solarium handing out medical cards.
            “If you have a medical card on you when you come to hospital, it’s easier to handle a stressful situation. Also, if you were unconscious, the cards have a list of your allergies and medications, so it eases communication when you come into the emergency room,” Theresa said.
            Medical cards hold personal doctor information such as vaccinations, medications, allergies and medical history.
            Theresa and Becky will have other important information on when one should visit the emergency room or when to visit their health care provider. They will discuss heat stroke and the differences between lacerations, strains and sprains.
            Gay Martin, director of health information, wants to talk to families about personal health records. She will be in the cafeteria to inform people how to start and maintain their own personal health record at home.
“It’s time consuming to search for your health information and if you need it in an emergency, having that information organized is really helpful,” Gay said.
She will discuss the essentials of the health record and says it is ideal if your children go off to college or travel and if your family has several healthcare providers.
The Community Hospital-Fairfax staff hopes to see you at the Health Fair.