Each year nearly 10 percent of Avalon’s population chooses to get healthier at Catalina Island Medical Center’s Catalina Community Health Fair, which will be held this year on Thursday, April 18.
The Catalina Health Fair will be open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. It will take participants between one and two hours to visit all of the stations.
Those hundreds of individuals attend the fair to improve their health through a variety of free and low-cost health screenings as well as complimentary health information.
Each year nearly 10 percent of Avalon’s population chooses to get healthier at Catalina Island Medical Center’s Catalina Community Health Fair, which will be held this year on Thursday, April 18.
The Catalina Health Fair will be open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. It will take participants between one and two hours to visit all of the stations.
Those hundreds of individuals attend the fair to improve their health through a variety of free and low-cost health screenings as well as complimentary health information.
“The health fair is a great, low cost way to make sure you and your family are healthy and stay that way,” said health fair organizer Dawn Sampson.
One of the many providers available at this year’s Community Health Fair will be the Children’s Dental Clinic, which regularly provides free and low cost services to local children at their clinic at Avalon Schools.
“If parents would like to bring their pre-school children, the Children’s Dental Clinic will provide screenings at the health fair to start them on the path to oral health,” Sampson said. “They will also be able to educate parents and provide referrals if needed.”
Parents will soon receive permission slips from Avalon Schools as soon teachers may opt to take their classes to the Catalina Community Health Fair.
Many screenings at the health fair will be available for no charge, including vision, skin cancer and high blood pressure.
There are other screenings that are planned for presentation, such as tuberculosis, diabetes and bone density, that may have a small charge. A number of blood tests are available at the health fair and are typically the most popular service available due to the value of the tests.
“The savings on blood tests can be significant,” Sampson said. “That’s one of the reasons it is one of the most popular services at the health fair.”
In addition to complete blood counts, chemistry panels, lipid panels, thyroid screening and prostate screening, hemoglobin A1C will also be offered, as will Hepatitis C screening. This year three physicians from Downey Regional Medical Center will be available to consult with attendees about which blood tests are appropriate.
Each of the six blood tests is $25. Cash, checks and credit/debit cards will be accepted at the health fair.
Attendees who are planning to take advantage of the stroke, cardiovascular and cancer ultrasound screenings offered by Bio Science Medico, may be able to make an earlier appointment by calling the company directly at (800) 547-5227 between 3 and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
This year, due to increased costs, donations are particularly essential to the success of the health fair.
Donations may be made by sending a check to Catalina Island Medical Center at P.O. Box 1563, please note “Health Fair” in the memo line.
