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20th Medical Group hosts pediatric health fair

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Holly MacDonald
  • 20th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
With the new school year arriving soon, many families are making trips to the doctor’s office for annual physicals.

The 20th Medical Group is hosting a Pediatric Health Fair for military families Aug. 4 at the main clinic from 1 to 4 p.m.

The health fair will include school sports physicals, face painting, health and safety information, door prizes and games.

One of the main objectives of the fair is for children to get their physicals. Fifty appointments are made available on the 4th, said Ms. Patti Busser, 20th Medical Operation Squadron, family advocacy outreach manager.

“The entire medical group will be participating in one way or another,” Ms. Busser said.

She also said if some of the children aren’t able to be seen at the fair more appointments will be available before the start of the school year.

This year they are expecting another good turn out. Last year, 400 people attended the fair and 198 children received physicals, said Master Sgt. James Eidson, 20th MDOS, preventive health assessment individual medical readiness monitor.

Another important aspect of the fair, for those who aren’t getting physicals, is the information awareness.

Several different organizations will be participating and sharing information.

Some of the organizations available will be the health and wellness center, safety, dental clinic, life skills, new parent support program, the airman’s family readiness center, Red Cross, Tricare, poison control, women infants and children and the sheriff’s department, Ms. Busser said.

“The fair makes it easy for parents to learn about on base and local resources,” Ms. Busser said.

The outreach manager said the fair is fun for children because there will be characters in costume to meet the children. Games including a fishing booth, bean bag toss and ring toss will be available.

She also said the door prizes will include gift certificates for bowling, golf, outdoor recreation, Wateree recreation and skills development.

“It’s a great way to get kids ready to go back to school,” Ms. Busser said.

With all the activities and information, the fair is a good way to celebrate the end of summer for the children and the parents, she said.

“Last year’s fair was a huge success, it was a great way for the medical group and the community to interact,” Master Sgt. Eidson, 20th MDOS, said.

Hopefully this year’s fair will be an equal or greater success, the medical group is ready to educate and prepare this year’s students, Ms. Busser said.