File Photo. 2017 Sky Lakes Health Fair. (Brian Gailey / Klamath Falls News)

Sky Lakes hosts annual community health fair - Screenings, classes, and golf swing analysis part of free Saturday event

In addition to an assortment of free health screenings and demonstrations at the annual Sky Lakes Medical Center Community Health Fair, you can also have your golf swing analyzed and get improvement tips, learn how to “Stop the Bleed,” and walk through a giant-sized colon.

The 21st edition of the free event begins at 8 a.m. Saturday in Exhibit Hall 1 at the Klamath County Fairgrounds, 3531 S. Sixth St. The event runs until 2 p.m.

Registrations for free “Stop the Bleed” classes are still being accepted, and drop-ins are welcome. Taught by Sky Lakes Trauma Program Manager Stacey Holmes, RN, BCEN, the “Stop the Bleed” sessions will start on the hour beginning at 8 a.m. The last session begins at 1 p.m. Sign up online at the Calendar section of SkyLakes.org.

Uncontrolled bleeding is the number one cause of preventable death from trauma, Holmes said. The greater the number of people who know how to control an injured person’s bleeding, the greater the chances that person has of surviving the injury.

Allan Santiago, a physical therapist at Sky Lakes Rehabilitation Services, will show golfers some of their swing characteristics and how those characteristics may be influenced by physical limitations. “Participants will leave with some exercise-based solutions that they can work on” to help improve their golf swing, he said.

Wellness screenings at the health fair include:

Free cholesterol (HDL, LDL, and triglycerides) screenings;
Free blood glucose screenings;
Free lung function screenings; and
Free blood pressure checks.

Fasting 8-12 hours is recommended for best results from the cholesterol and blood glucose screenings.

Physicians from Sky Lakes clinics and Cascades East Family Medicine will be on hand at the health fair to interpret results at no charge.

“The free annual health fair is a chance for people to get valuable information about their health as well as to learn about some of the many services available at Sky Lakes, our clinics, and in the community,” said Tom Hottman, manager of the medical center’s community health outreach program, which organizes the event. “The event is an extension of the hospital’s mission to help and encourage people to make better health choices.”

Sky Lakes Cancer Treatment Center and the American Cancer Society collaborated to bring an inflatable colon model to the health fair. The display and the related information is part of the Sky Lakes effort to help eliminate colorectal cancer.

According to the American Cancer Society, more than 135,000 people will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer in the United States this year, and over 50,000 will die from the disease. Screening can help find and prevent colorectal cancer; it is one of the most successfully treated cancers if diagnosed early.

“March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month and with it comes an opportunity to bring attention to potentially lifesaving actions people can take,” Hottman noted. “The Sky Lakes health fair is an excellent opportunity to learn more about the disease and screening.”

There also will be free displays by several Sky Lakes departments and community partners, and activities and information specifically for children.

Press release provided from Sky Lakes Medical Center.

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