Healthy Living for the Holidays Health Fair at Washington Square Mall
Contact: Todd Harper
Phone: 317-630-7808
Pager: 317-310-5972
Holiday shoppers will not only have a chance to browse the dozens of shops and boutiques that Washington Square Mall has to offer, but they will also have a chance to learn about ways to stay healthy as Wishard Health Services and WTHR Channel 13 team up to give the community the gift of health this holiday season.
On Saturday, December 13 shoppers are encouraged to take advantage of free health screenings including blood pressure, cholesterol, depression, diabetes and more at Washington Square Mall. Fair participants can enter through the mall’s entrance next to Target. Washington Square Mall is located at 10202 East Washington Street in Indianapolis (the intersection of Washington Street and Mitthoeffer Road).
The fair will run from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., and a team of healthcare professionals will be on hand to answer questions for those visiting information booths on senior care, diabetes, mental health services, nutrition, smoking cessation, organ donation, fire and burn safety and other services.
"During the holiday season, we often find ourselves stressed out as we run around trying to find the perfect gifts for family and friends. The greatest gift we can give our loved ones though is to take care of our own health, so that we may share many holiday memories for years to come. The Healthy Living for the Holidays Health Fair provides the perfect opportunity to start this process by taking advantage of free health screenings and learning more about ways to maintain healthy living. Instead of a new sweater or a CD, give your loved ones the comfort of knowing you had your blood pressure, cholesterol, and sugar checked. And it won’t cost you anything." said Dr. John Kunzer, chief medical officer for Wishard's community health centers.
In addition to health screenings, participants can learn how to keep their families safer. The Richard M. Fairbanks Burn Center at Wishard, one of only 50 burn centers in the United States verified as a level one burn unit, will be on hand to provide burn prevention safety tips. A fire extinguisher demonstration will also be part of the event with training provided to both adults and children.
Midtown Community Mental Health Center, a division of Wishard Health Services, will be on hand to provide information to the public and allow fair participants to participate in an interactive demonstrations that simulates the effects of drinking and driving by use of "intoxication goggles." Spanish interpreters and bilingual pamphlets and health information will also be available at the fair.
Some of the groups and organizations that will be participating in the Healthy Living for the Holidays Health Fair include the Center of Hope at Wishard, Eastside Chiropractic, Wishard’s EMBRACE program, Hispanic Health Resources at Wishard, Life Scan/Johnson & Johnson (Diabetes Information), Indiana Organ Procurement Organization, Prevent Blindness Indiana and Senior Care at Wishard.
For more information about the Healthy Living for the Holidays Health Fair, please call Tammy Franklin at 630-6140 or e-mail tamara.franklin@wishard.edu.