The 18th Annual Community Health Fair at Midwestern State University will feature free health screenings and activities that teach health promotion and disease and injury prevention for participants of all ages. Hours are from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Friday, March 2, in the Don Flatt Gym in D.L. Ligon Coliseum.

Although the fair is a screening session for various health conditions, it is also the result of a team effort by students at MSU's Gunn College of Health Sciences and Human Services, and a chance to educate the public that affordable health care begins with prevention.

Free screenings include blood pressure; height, weight, and body mass index; blood glucose; pulmonary function; mouth Ph; vision; and HIV/STDs. Disease prevention information will be available for flu, osteoporosis, asthma, dental effects of sugar and alcohol, disease imaging and pathology, mammograms, and stress.

Health promotion topics include yoga, healthy menu choices, exercise, smoking/vaping cessation, reading food labels, and contraception. Other safety information concerning CPR and the Heimlich maneuver, fire, distracted driving, self-defense, poisons, ergonomics and back injuries, and ER vs. urgent care issues will be available.

Community members will have the opportunity to give back at the fair by donating blood, nonperishable items for the Wichita Falls Area Food Bank, outdated prescription eyeglasses, and by registering as tissue and organ donors.

Betty Bowles, Associate Professor of Nursing at MSU's Wilson School of Nursing, said that since the first fair took place in 2001, it has evolved into an assignment for the senior nursing students in the community nursing class, where they learn that nursing goes beyond the clinical setting in offices or hospitals.

"The fair brings the community to the campus, and it teaches students to communicate with the public," Bowles said. "This works with our goal of moving toward prevention and getting people to work for a healthier lifestyle, rather than treatment." Social work, psychology, dental hygiene, radiologic sciences, and respiratory therapy students also are involved with screenings and exhibits on living healthy.

Additionally, students learn important lessons in goal setting, event planning and organization - they are responsible for planning and staging the fair. They learn teamwork as they develop presentations, and they gain experience in working with community organizations as they join different service groups that will be represented at the fair.

"It's a chance for everyone involved to give something back to the community, all while learning how to stay healthy," Bowles said.

For information about this year's health fair, call Bowles at 940-397-4048.