FREE Community Health Screenings

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Story Published: Feb 6, 2010 at 8:12 PM MDT

Story Updated: Feb 7, 2010 at 9:32 PM MDT

By Emily Florez

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IDAHO FALLS - It's National Heart Month and to celebrate your health, EIRMC hosted over a dozen booths, tests, and seminars for all to come and participate in. Many people don't get their annual check up because of the price, but Saturday it was all free.

Leon Watlington and his wife went to the clinic on Saturday and took advantage of all the classes and tests. Watlington said, "Everybody should take advantage of it, its free, there is nothing here that can harm you in any way."

The first weekend of February is EIRMC's annual Heart and Health Screenings. The American Heart Association emphasizes the importance of yearly screenings, and this year many took advantage of it.

Nancy Browne, EIRMC's Community Relations Specialist, said, "We have more people this year because there's a lot of people that are unemployed and uninsured. With the way the economy is right now this is a great opportunity for them to come and get all of these health checks free."

Watlington explained, "I have hyper tension, and so I wanted to come today to look at the diets, look at the different symptoms for strokes and heart risk."

There were blood glucose checks, diabetes risk assessments, blood pressure checks, to name only a few.

Sara Hawkins, a Registered Nurse at EIRMC, said, "I think the real benefit is we can give early diagnosis and treatment, also early prevention and health promotion. Those are things I believe if we can promote in the community that's where health care reform comes in."

The hundreds of volunteers who donated a days effort hope the things you learned will enrich your health for many years.

Hawkins said, "I hope they walk away with a desire to always know where they are. Always know where their ABC's are: their ankle-brachial indexes, their cholesterol levels, and then just that awareness I think will give them the tools to maintain their health in the future."

EIRMC administrators estimated that over 800 people showed up to take advantage of the free screenings.

Unfortunately, Saturday was the only day for the free screenings at EIRMC this year. But the first weekend in February next year will be another opportunity for you to participate in this event. If you feel you need a particular screening now, give your local clinic or doctor a call.

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