Booths at Fair
Health fairs are a wonderful way to educate people about health issues and a good way to raise money for non-profit organizations, schools and colleges, and companies. Some fairs focus on one theme, such as cancer or the elderly. Planning and timing are important issues when planning a health fair.
Workshops and Classes
Conduct bike, water and fire safety, cooking, nutrition or meal-planning workshops. Offer first aid, stress management or cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) classes.
Medical Screenings and Services
Do medical screenings such as blood pressure, skin cancer, glaucoma and vision, dental, mammograms, mental health, and risk for heart disease or diabetes. Offer foot exams, immunizations and blood or hearing tests. States have different standards for medical services and supervision of these tests and screenings. Your local health department can advise you about this issue.
Booths
Set aside some funding to make sure your booths have plenty of items to give away, because they will be more popular than booths that only offer information. Have booths from non-profit organizations such as the American Cancer Society, the American Diabetes Association and American Heart Association. Many local clubs, professionals and companies willingly participate in health fairs. Some of these organizations and people include exercise and weight-loss clubs or groups, massage therapists, senior service groups, hospitals, the fire, police and public health departments, shelters for domestic violence, the military, clinics, counselors, chiropractors and physician assistants.
Prizes and Giveaways
Get donations from local businesses for prizes and giveaways. Put a container and registration cards in every booth at your health fair. Try to get booth participants to offer free items such as toothbrushes, toothpaste and dental floss for a participating dentist.
Nutrition, cooking and meal-planning workshops could offer prizes of grocery store gift certificates. Health booths might give away thermometers, small cold or hot packs, and boxes of adhesive bandages. Get certificates for bike helmets from local sports shops for the police department booth. Coupons for stop-smoking aids are a good choice for a tobacco prevention booth.
Activities
Organize a scavenger hunt for youths where they visit booths to get specific health questions answered. Offer prizes for the fastest team or group.
Have the police department do a program on bicycle safety and then have the children and teens bike an obstacle course based on age. Some police departments give away bicycle helmets, but if the one in your city does not do this, ask the local sports stores to donate them. To encourage the stores to do this, tell the stores to give certificates for a percentage off the purchase price of any items. This will drive more people to their stores.
Get a physical trainer or exercise club to hold a competition to see who can do the most sit ups or push ups.
Ask a self-defense expert to give short lessons in which people can participate.
Have a relay race. Bobbing for apples is fun for kids, and they can keep the apples after hearing about healthy snacks.
Tags: give away, from local, health fair, local sports, meal-planning workshops, non-profit organizations
