Community Health Needs to be Addressed During Free Health Fair at Riverton Hospital on Saturday

These issues, along with many others, will be addressed during the hospital’s free Community Health Fair on Saturday, June 11 from 9 a.m. to noon at Riverton Hospital, 3741 W. 12600 South.

“Screenings play an important role when it comes to the prevention of a variety of life threatening diseases,” said Blair Kent, Riverton Hospital’s administrator. “When people get screened, they become more aware of their own health and what they can do to stay healthy.”

During the event, free health screenings will be available to check blood pressure, body fat, cholesterol, hearing and vision. Discounted lab tests (all under $9) will be available to check for other health concerns such as diabetes, prostate cancer, and liver, kidney and thyroid disease.

The hospital’s community health news assessment found that 25 percent of adults in the area have not had their cholesterol checked, while 27 percent of women in the have not had a screening mammogram.

As a result, mammograms, which help doctors detect breast cancer at its earliest stages and lead to more life-saving outcomes, will also be available to women. Women should bring their insurance card.

Another community issue to address: children not wearing a bike helmet.

“In a majority of bicyclist deaths, the most serious injuries are to the head, highlighting the importance of wearing a bicycle helmet,” said David Hasleton, MD, an emergency medicine physician at Riverton Hospital. “Helmet use has been estimated to reduce the odds of head injury by 50 percent, and the odds of head, face, or neck injury by 33 percent.”

Riverton Hospital will give away 500 free bike helmets fair, on a first-come, first-served basis. Additionally, hospital staff will help fit the child with the correct-sized helmet.

“Based on the results of our community health needs assessment, Riverton Hospital will continue working with community partners to address the health needs over the next several years through education, screening and treatment, many of which are provided at this year’s community health fair,” said Kent.

Health fair attendees will also enjoy free Hawaiian shaved ice, island music, hula lessons, and activities for the kids.

Children’s activities include an interactive operating room where kids can gown up and experiment with safe surgical instruments, free train rides provided by Herriman City, fire truck and police vehicle on display, family photo booth, face painting and relay races.

Numerous safety and educational booths will be outside and on all floors of the hospital to provide healthy snacks, freebies and information about helmet safety, injury prevention, water safety, hand hygiene healthy recipes, women and newborn info, colonoscopies, sleep disorders, home health, hospice, heart services and activities from the Intermountain Healthcare wellness program, “LiVe Well.”