Historical April 1976 event report and period medical descriptions; preserved as an archive, not current guidance.
The first Four Corners Health Fair, sponsored by the People’s Clinic and the Des Peres Branch Library, will be held on Saturday, April 24, 1976. between 11:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. It will be held– where else?–at the Four Corners, the corner of Kingsbury and Des Peres, in vans parked outside, and in the Library and Clinic…and outside, too, if weather permits.
At the Library, there will be a Health Fair Film Festival, with a series of short, health-related films. You can come to see one film–or all of them–and there will be two showings of each film.
The City of St. Louis Health Department is sending its Lead Van, and will provide testing for blood lead levels. Lead poisoning is a serious problem in areas like our neighborhood, with older housing that still bears leadbased paints. It is especially dangerous for the children in the toddler stage… they’ll put almost anything in their mouths!…and for children who have gotten into the habit of “chewing on things.” An added advantage of the City’s Lead Van is that they will do a definitive test for sickle cell anemia with each blood lead test they run.
The St. Louis Diabetes Association will be here with their testing program, to give screening tests for diabetes, and the People’s Clinic will be checking blood pressures. Diabetes and problems associated with high blood pressure are probably the two commonest disease states afflicting our adult and olderadult populations, and in each, early detection means easier control and avoidance of “late complications” of the disease.
The St. Louis Hearing and Speech Society will be present with their Hearing Test van, complete with audiometers and sound-proof booths! Noise pollution in cities has been blamed for everything from a bad case of “nerves” to actual hearing loss, so city folks are well advised to keep track of how their hearing is doing. Unsuspected hearing loss in children can, of course, bring about all sorts of school-related problems, and hearing loss in older folks can lead to withdrawal and depression–hearing is one way we keep in touch with the world and our friends.
The Fire Marshal’s Office is arranging a surprise for us…they definitely will be with us, but they haven’t decided how they will present their information concerning home safety and fire safety (we are hoping for a BIG, RED fire engine, but then we’re still children at heart). Since health involves more than “not being sick”, information on how we can make the places we live healthier and safer is certainly a part of a Health Fair!
Since venereal disease is the second most communicable disease in the U.S., second only to the common cold, the VD Action Council will be at the Health Fair to give reliable information on signs, symptoms, treatments, and prevention. There are probably more back-stairs myths and old-wive’s tales about VD than there are about the common cold, but their effect is greatly multiplied because at least the common cold is self-limiting, while you just don’t get over VD without treatment. This will be a good chance to check our what you think you know against what you should know:
The American Cancer Society will be there, and so will the Red Cross… but why go on listing? Everyone is invited to come to the Health Fair, and see for himself, and learn for himself, so we will keep a few surprises- in store!
One reminder, because it could turn out a sad surprise for the kids: The kids are welcome! How could you keep them away from a fair? They are bright, inquisitive, and should learn a lot. But, they shouldn’t come alone, because most of the tests available will require the signed consent of parent or guardian for people under 21 years of age. We plan to send out consent slips through the schools, but Mom and Dad should plan to take advantage of the services available, too. Parents’ health is as important to the kids, as the kids’ health is.
Besides, all the services are FREE!
Originally published in The Paper, April 1976.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Archival transcription note: Printed “check our what you think you know” retained.
Original source: SD_Times1976_04.pdf, printed page(s) 4; PDF page(s) 4.
