Health fair to offer free massages, bone density tests

The 34th annual campus health fair is being held today at Alumni Hall in the Indiana Memorial Union. The fair will offer a variety of interactive exhibits including the new bone density test to raise awareness about osteoporosis. \nHealth and Wellness Education Office Coordinator Tracy Crowe said about 1,000 students attend the fair each year. \n"The fair is a good way to make students aware of the services available both locally and on campus and to help them become more well," Crowe said. "There are a lot of services students are unaware of."\nAnne Reese, director of Health and Wellness Education, said the new bone density test is painless and beneficial because many students are not getting the calcium they need. Calcium deficiency can result in the gradual loss of bone mass.\nSickle cell testing is another service that will be offered at this year's health fair. The Martin Center of Indianapolis will provide the test, which looks for the sickle cell anemia trait.\n"Some people think it is only found in African-American communities, but it has been found in all races," Reese said.\nAnother benefit of the fair is that flu shots will be available to students at a reduced cost of $13, which can be charged to one's bursar bill. \nReese said two years ago there was a large amount of flu infections early in the season, which meant many students had the flu while trying to study for finals.\n"The one thing you can really do to protect yourself is get a flu shot," Reese said.\nAside from numerous kinds of testing and flu shots, free five-minute back massages are also available, usually one of the most popular aspects of the fair. \n"What sets this health fair away from other health fair experiences is each exhibit is interactive," Reese said. \nThe interactive exhibits will include information along with games, prizes and free giveaways. Topics range from nutrition to sex and sexuality, an exhibit in which condoms are given away.\n"Health information is always associated with your fourth grade health class, and that wasn't fun," Reese said.\nHowever, Reese said she hopes that through the health fair, students will gain information about their bodies in a fun and interactive way.