Health Fairs and You

Are you looking for a way to promote health awareness and encourage your employees to assume responsibility for their own health? Consider hosting a workplace health fair.

Health fairs can vary widely in scope and presentation, but the goal is to provide a general baseline check on an individual’s health in one or more areas. For any group of 100 people, it has been estimated that 25 will have a disease or disability, 5 with have an acute healthcare need, 60 will have a risk factor for disease, and 10 will be well. A health fair is an effective means of demonstrating a supportive workplace environment, and it can leave a lasting, positive impression on your employees and their family members.

GETTING STARTED

1. Attend health fairs to gather facts and insight. Talk to organizers and health care professionals to learn about what is involved.
2. Ask for help. Work closely with local health care facilities. Most have access to or have been involved in health fair planning.
3. Help to accommodate employees. Your health fair may be more successful if you allow employees to attend during company time. Work with management to help accommodate employees based on your company’s goals and objectives.
4. Find an appropriate location and time. Look for an area at or near your organization that is easily accessible to all employees, such as the cafeteria, a large foyer or hallway, a conference room, the parking lot, a patio and/or a picnic area. A good time to host a health fair is midday through lunch.
5. Promote effectively. Whether through e-mail reminders, posters displayed where employees gather or advertising incentives for participation, remind employees often about your upcoming event.

SCREENINGS and EDUCATION

Workplace health assessments and screenings may include, but are not limited to, cardiovascular risk assessment, blood chemistry screening, and screenings such as osteoporosis, finger stick glucose, body in balance, mental health and other numbers critical to maintaining good health. Educators may be on hand to answer questions about a variety of health issues such as prescription drugs, diabetes, diet and exercise. Educational materials are usually provided.

SUGGESTIONS FOR BOOTHS

• Free services such as blood pressure and pulse screening, vision and hearing screening, and height/weight/body mass (BMI) screening
• Pay-as-you go screenings for prostate-specific antigen (PSA), cholesterol, HDL, LDL, triglycerides and cholesterol risk profiles; glucose screening for diabetes; and screenings for kidney function, muscle and bone function, liver function, iron deficiency and thyroid function (Note: Many of these screenings will require fasting for a more accurate reading, so it’s important to make employees aware in advance. Morning screenings for these kinds of tests may be more suitable.)
• “Ask a Health Professional” area, staffed with two or three nurses or doctors
• First aid station
• Informational literature booth
• Diet and nutrition information center (with healthful food samples)
• Prescription assistance information booth
• Alternative health information area
• Smoking cessation help center
• Children’s area, including a craft station and giveaways such as balloons and coloring books
• Free massage area
• Entertainment

CAN’T HOST A HEALTH FAIR?

Even if you can’t host a health fair, you can partner with or support a health fair in your community and generate positive PR for your company. Consider your company’s goals and objectives to help set a budget and allocate funds. Remember, a big budget isn’t necessary for a health fair. Think creatively—no matter what size your budget may be, you have a range of options to explore.

Personal Best® produces one of the most extensive collections of health and wellness, safety, productivity, shift work and personal money management publications in the industry. 

• Nine monthly, subscription-based newsletters.
• Over 300 ancillary titles, which includes calendars, brochures, posters, table top posters, booklets, walking journals and audio conferences.
• Over 1,500 quality articles on health and wellness, safety, productivity, shift work and personal money management to license for use through our TopTopics site.
• Multi-language offering (Spanish, Canadian English and Canadian French) on select newsletter, calendar and brochure titles.

Representing more than five decades of experience in serving the wellness needs of thousands of organizations in the U.S. and Canada, Personal Best® is committed to supporting those organizations that believe in the power and future of wellness.