Free Health Tests and MyChart Trivia at Allamakee County Fair-July 17-19
Stop by our booth at the Allamakee County Fair this year to play MyChart Trivia to learn about the new MyChart Patient Portal offered to all our hospital and clinic patients! You will be invited to sign-up for this new portal if you have not already. Prizes will be awarded along with support information and other giveaways.
We will again be offering “Be the Match” stem cell sampling for everyone ages 18-40 at fair. The “Be the Match” stem cell sampling is quick, easy, painless and can truly save a life. This is the same program that Robyn Roberts from Good Morning America endorses following her own successful bone marrow transplant match 10 years ago. A blood stem cell donation can be a cure for blood cancer, sickle cell, and other deadly diseases. Many patients and their families are counting on drives like this to find their match. The process is simple and painless and will be available for all visitors to the fair.
We 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, please 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.
As always, we will have a medical kit available for any first aide emergencies on the Fairgrounds. Our hospital booth will be located inside the Fairgrounds Pavilion building on the stage area on Thursday and Friday, July 18 and 19, from 11 am-8 pm, and on Saturday, July 20, from 9 am-3pm. We hope to see you at the Allamakee County Fair!!
