Health Fair brings knowledge, training
Photo by TANNA YEOUMANS Local nurses and the Life Flight crew gathered for a group photo in front of the helicopter.
Photo by TANNA YEOUMANS Layla White got to sit in the helicopter.
Photo by TANNA YEOUMANS Dennis Geyman, son of Taylor and Amie Geyman, happily sat in the helicopter, while mom stood close by.
Photo by TANNA YEOUMANS The Boundary Community Hospital’s annual Health Fair was attended by the Life Flight helicopter and crew.
Photo by TANNA YEOUMANS The BCH Nurse staff assisted with teaching attendees CPR and other life saving emergency procedures.
Photo by TANNA YEOUMANS The newly implemented Angel 1 support vehicle also attended the event.
Photo by TANNA YEOUMANS Each booth was oversaw by local emergency response personnel that answered questions and informed the public on what they do.
Photo by TANNA YEOUMANS The plant sale brought in a record number of sales going back towards the live in residents.
Photo by TANNA YEOUMANS Boundary Search and Dive Rescue Team Secretary Brandon Neuman
(Courtesy Photo) The Boundary Community Hospital nurses and staff assisted with teaching people of all ages a couple of life saving emergency techniques such as CPR.
BONNERS FERRY — The Boundary Community Hospital hosted a health fair on their grounds on the sunny day of Saturday, May 11.
“We couldn’t have asked for a more beautiful day,” said Lauren Kuczka, marketing director for the Boundary Community Hospital. “The event went as planned and we have heard nothing but good things from the folks who came.”
Attendees wandered around the various booths and were able to talk to first responders and hospital staff among other people and get helpful information and knowledge about various things.
“It’s a great opportunity to have conversations with health service providers, find out more about what services are available locally and to talk with our medical professionals about the hospital and what we’re doing to help the community,” said Kuczka. “The vendors were pleased they were able to interact and have in depth conversations answering questions and getting the word out about what they offer.”
There were some attendees that came to gain knowledge to assist with their schooling, or day-to-day life, such as learning how to perform CPR on an infant.
“We came to see what they had and to learn some things,” said Jennifer Price, a visitor to the Boundary Community Hospitals Health Fair.
Price is currently studying child health safety, so visiting the health fair went hand in hand with her schooling. The was entertaining to her two young children and their visiting grandmother that she brought with her.
A portion of the fair consisted of a booth run by local nurses that taught visitors of all ages CPR, how to stop a bleed, and how to take and read blood pressure.
“They taught me how to do CPR on a baby, so that was good,” said Price. “There is also a lot of chainsaw accidents here, so the training on how to stop a bleed was a good one to be teaching.”
Life Flight attended the event with the helicopter and some of the crew members. They answered questions and allowed children to sit in the helicopter.
“We are members of the crew, but we don’t actually get to touch any of the buttons,” said Flight Nurse Sara Burney about her role in the helicopter. “It’s beautiful to be in the air and it is nice to be a part of the community and being able to help people that need it.”
Based out of Sandpoint, the lifeline is relatively nearby for those in need in Bonner and Boundary counties.
“It is nice to have the helicopter so close and so available because it is a rural area and the hospitals are small, very capable, but the resources are limited,” said Burney. “Also, there is so much open land and activities, hunters, hikers, snowmobilers, loggers, and all that, so it is nice to be available. Those are tough guys, the loggers, so it is nice to be backup for them if they need it.”
The plant sale booth that benefits the Extended Care Facility Resident activities sold record amounts of plants and brought the residents funding.
“Thanks to everyone who picked up tomatoes and peppers for their garden,” said Kuczka.
The health fair next year is aimed to be held the second Saturday in May to go hand in hand with National Hospital Week.
Upcoming events for the Boundary Community Hospital will be the free sports physicals clinics on Aug. 6, from 5-7 p.m. in Outpatient Services. After that will be the Fry Healthcare Foundation Golf Tournament on Sept. 6, at Mirror Lake Golf Course.