Practical nursing students, staff and faculty to host Sixth Annual Health Fair, April 18

Photo above: A PTC practical nursing student helps interpret an X-ray image at the Fifth Annual Health Fair in 2010.

Practical nursing students, staff and faculty members are in the midst of planning the Sixth Annual Health Fair for April 18, as part of the nursing department’s ongoing effort to inform, educate and empower the community to adapt healthier lifestyle behaviors. The fair, which will include information exhibits on a variety of health-related topics such as “Acupuncture,” “Blood Pressure and Heart Disease Risk,” “Breastfeeding,” “Diabetes,” “Emergency Preparedness,” “Family Planning and STDs,” “Homeopathy,” “Low Back Pain,” “Migraine Management,” and much more, is free and open to the public. The fair will run 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Pine Technical College.

“We hope this event will bring families together for health and safety information and resources in a fun atmosphere,” says Jody Perkel, nursing faculty member at PTC. “Our students work very hard on this project each year to bring the most relevant and timely health issues to the community. We are creating an environment that supports health,” Perkel adds.

26 health fair exhibits will be created and staffed by 80 second-year practical nursing students and a mix of nursing program faculty and staff members. Exhibits will be located throughout the halls of PTC and in classrooms 250 and 260. Last year’s fair drew more than 300 attendees, and this year’s event is predicted to draw upward of 350.

“In addition to the exhibits and information-rich event, free car seat safety checks will be offered in the parking lot,” Perkel says. “Altogether, it’s just a great event, whether or not you’re concerned about anything health-related. Even for those folks out there who are very health-conscious and may know all the health rules to live by – I bet that even they will learn something valuable from this fair. It’s just not to be missed!”


Photo above: A PTC practical nursing student takes Carleen Kendall's blood pressure at the Fifth Annual Health Fair in 2010. Kendall is a PTC faculty member in the nursing department.