AUBURN - An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
Traffic was brisk at the YMCA Health Fair Saturday morning as people came to access free preventive screening for things like blood pressure, cholesterol and aches and pains.
The informational fair is intended to make participants more aware of body health, with blood pressure, vision, and audio screenings by professionals who had volunteered for the morning.
Barb Nervina, of Cato, and Connie Tallcot, blood bank supervisor at Auburn Memorial Hospital, signed people up as they arrived for blood tests.
“When we first started, the plan was hopefully we would reach people in their 30s and 40s who may be at risk but never did anything about it,” Mena Hansinger, assistant fitness director at the Y, said. “Dr. Rick Nangle and our Medical Advisory Committee have been running it for about 10 years, now.”
“We offer this once a year, while the hospital has free blood screening in the fall,” she said. “It complements the hospital, so that people can get twice as much (preventive health care) as they had before. The only thing that we can do is recommend that they see a doctor.” She said that screening results are sent to family doctors for those people who have one and indicated it on their forms.
“It's a very good program,” Y member Sophie Renahan, 76, of Owasco,” said. She has been coming to the event for a number of years and was drawn to the cholesterol and glucose screening. She also likes meeting up with her friends.
“Every person who takes a blood test is contacted to let them know whether they are generally healthy, need to see a doctor soon, or should definitely make an appointment,” Hansinger said.
“I had high cholesterol and found that out here,” Renahan said of her past experience. She confirmed that the information was sent to her private physician and she continues to be treated for that condition.
Renahan was later seen receiving a chair massage from Spring Sander, a massage therapist from the Center for Wellness helping to reduce stress and muscular pain.
People are mainly interested in getting the screening done, getting the information, and leaving, rather than being entertained. Hansinger said the screening was “very basic” to help find out if there may be a problem.
Some people fast before coming to the fair if they want blood tests.
Tony and Irene Nervina of Auburn came to the Health Fair for blood tests.
“Being old, you can't afford to pay for all this,” Irene said. She was having her blood pressure taken by Ed Gould, 24, a third-year medical student at Upstate Medical Center.
Gould will be a full-fledged doctor in 14 months, when he plans to go into internal medicine. He and four other medical students from Upstate were helping out under the direction of Dr. Anthony DiRubba, director of internal medicine and pediatrics. Gould said he valued the practice of personal interaction with patients that he gets at the Health Fair.
Auburn Memorial Hospital phlebotomists came and volunteered their time.
Doxie Sherman, of Auburn, a volunteer at AMH, and Penny Cayey, of Moravia, now in community relations for the hospital, were manning the AMH information table to answer questions and hand out fliers.
Victory Sports Medicine and Orthopedics staff, of Skaneateles, showed a naked knee dissection to demonstrate how joint lubricant works. Physical therapists Dale Buchberger and Thomas Zirilli were on hand to answer questions, as was Maggie Whitehouse, physical therapy assistant.
Information booths addressed topics such as diabetes awareness and tobacco addiction. Aurora of Central New York let people know that they could get a ride to some places if they needed transportation.
Many parents who took their children to Healthy Kids Day on Friday night also came to the Health Fair for adults on Saturday. The Health Fair proved to be a positive experience for all involved - volunteers and “patients” alike.
Staff writer Kathleen Barran can be reached at 252-5311 ext 238 or kathleen.barran@lee.net
The informational fair is intended to make participants more aware of body health, with blood pressure, vision, and audio screenings by professionals who had volunteered for the morning.
Barb Nervina, of Cato, and Connie Tallcot, blood bank supervisor at Auburn Memorial Hospital, signed people up as they arrived for blood tests.
“When we first started, the plan was hopefully we would reach people in their 30s and 40s who may be at risk but never did anything about it,” Mena Hansinger, assistant fitness director at the Y, said. “Dr. Rick Nangle and our Medical Advisory Committee have been running it for about 10 years, now.”
“We offer this once a year, while the hospital has free blood screening in the fall,” she said. “It complements the hospital, so that people can get twice as much (preventive health care) as they had before. The only thing that we can do is recommend that they see a doctor.” She said that screening results are sent to family doctors for those people who have one and indicated it on their forms.
“It's a very good program,” Y member Sophie Renahan, 76, of Owasco,” said. She has been coming to the event for a number of years and was drawn to the cholesterol and glucose screening. She also likes meeting up with her friends.
“Every person who takes a blood test is contacted to let them know whether they are generally healthy, need to see a doctor soon, or should definitely make an appointment,” Hansinger said.
“I had high cholesterol and found that out here,” Renahan said of her past experience. She confirmed that the information was sent to her private physician and she continues to be treated for that condition.
Renahan was later seen receiving a chair massage from Spring Sander, a massage therapist from the Center for Wellness helping to reduce stress and muscular pain.
People are mainly interested in getting the screening done, getting the information, and leaving, rather than being entertained. Hansinger said the screening was “very basic” to help find out if there may be a problem.
Some people fast before coming to the fair if they want blood tests.
Tony and Irene Nervina of Auburn came to the Health Fair for blood tests.
“Being old, you can't afford to pay for all this,” Irene said. She was having her blood pressure taken by Ed Gould, 24, a third-year medical student at Upstate Medical Center.
Gould will be a full-fledged doctor in 14 months, when he plans to go into internal medicine. He and four other medical students from Upstate were helping out under the direction of Dr. Anthony DiRubba, director of internal medicine and pediatrics. Gould said he valued the practice of personal interaction with patients that he gets at the Health Fair.
Auburn Memorial Hospital phlebotomists came and volunteered their time.
Doxie Sherman, of Auburn, a volunteer at AMH, and Penny Cayey, of Moravia, now in community relations for the hospital, were manning the AMH information table to answer questions and hand out fliers.
Victory Sports Medicine and Orthopedics staff, of Skaneateles, showed a naked knee dissection to demonstrate how joint lubricant works. Physical therapists Dale Buchberger and Thomas Zirilli were on hand to answer questions, as was Maggie Whitehouse, physical therapy assistant.
Information booths addressed topics such as diabetes awareness and tobacco addiction. Aurora of Central New York let people know that they could get a ride to some places if they needed transportation.
Many parents who took their children to Healthy Kids Day on Friday night also came to the Health Fair for adults on Saturday. The Health Fair proved to be a positive experience for all involved - volunteers and “patients” alike.
Staff writer Kathleen Barran can be reached at 252-5311 ext 238 or kathleen.barran@lee.net
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