Free health tests and trivia at Allamakee County Fair to be offered by Veterans Memorial Hospital
Visitors to the Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) Fair Booth this year will be invited to play hospital trivia. Prizes will be awarded along with support information and other giveaways. They will also be offering free blood pressure checks, blood sugar tests and hemoglobin testing each day at the Allamakee County Fair with educational materials provided for each.
Thousands of people in the United States have diabetes and are unaware they do. Random testing such as this opportunity at the county fair helps to find the individuals who have high, undiagnosed diabetes and direct them to the professionals who can help them successfully manage the disease. For more information on diabetes and diabetes management, feel free to call Angie Mettille, BSN/RN/CDCES, Diabetes Educator, at Veterans Memorial Hospital at 563-568-3411.
Hemoglobin testing will also be offered again this year, to check for the amount of iron in the blood. Iron is a mineral that helps with growth and development. The body uses it to make hemoglobin and myoglobin, which carry oxygen from the lungs to all parts of the body and muscles. Some hormones are also made with iron.
Normal ranges for males is 14-18 g/dL and for females is 12-16 g/dL. Any results less than 6 g/dL is considered critical and needs immediate attention by a medical provider.
There are two sources of iron: heme iron and nonheme iron. Heme iron is found in meat, seafood and poultry and is absorbed better by the body. Nonheme iron is found in plant foods, such as fortified breads and grains, white beans, lentils, spinach, kidney beans, peas, nuts and some dried fruits, such as raisins. These foods are absorbed better when combined with meat, seafood, poultry or foods rich in vitamin c, such as citrus fruits, strawberries, sweet peppers, tomatoes, and broccoli. Handouts will be available at the fair booth for more information.
Free sun block will also be available for anyone who comes to the hospital booth, compliments of the Iowa Cancer Consortium and Allamakee Public Health.
As always, Veterans Memorial Hospital will have a medical kit available for any first aid emergencies on the Fairgrounds. The hospital booth will be located inside the Fairgrounds Pavilion building on the stage area Thursday and Friday, July 16 and 17, from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Saturday, July 18, from 9 a.m.to 3 p.m.
