MANTI—What better way to get important health messages to families than a health fair, especially when the fair is paired with an opportunity to make sure immunizations required for the new school year are current?

That’s the approach the Central Utah Public Health Department (CUPHD) took last Friday, Aug. 12 when it staged a health fair at park behind the Old Historic Manti City Hall.

The fair featured stations addressing everything from underage drinking to car seats to CUPHD programs such as Baby Watch and Parents as Teachers.

At many of the stations, youngsters could pick up prizes, including water bottles, Frisbees, tote bags, backpacks, tie-dyed T-shirts and a pencil bag containing pencils, a pencil sharpener, an eraser and crayons.

At the station on the Baby Watch program, Dana Anderson and Holly Pipes, early intervention specialists, explained that the Health Department can send workers into a home to assess children who have developmental delays or disabilities.

“It’s the state’s program to help kids before age 3,” Anderson said.

At a station promoting use of seat belts and car seats, visitors learned that children should ride in car seats up to 8 years old.

At a station on underage drinking, visitors learned that when families eat dinner together, chances of children in the family getting involved in underage drinking go down, statistics show.

Children visiting the station could spin a dial to win a utensil, such as a slotted spoon or pancake turner, that might be used to cook dinner at home.

At another station, a sign advised visitors to “blow bubbles not vapor.” The station offered dishes with bubble-blowing solution where kids could blow oversized bubbles.

Another station provided information about the Parents as Teachers program, where experienced parents go into homes and give advice to new or struggling parents.

Kids attending the fair got a check mark on a card at each station they visited. When all the boxes on the card were checked, they could turn the card in for a drawing. CUPHD plans to give away bikes to youngsters who win the card drawing.

The Health Department clinic is across the street from the park where the fair was held. It was open to give shots to youngsters who needed them.

Another preschool immunization clinic was held Tuesday from 4-6 p.m. at CUPHD’s Mt. Pleasant clinic. Students coming in for immunizations received pencil bags with pencil sharpeners, erasers and crayons.

The Health Fair was organized by Linsy Good, a public health nurse in Manti. It was the second year the Health Department has put on a fair.

“We hope to make it an annual event,” she said.