Posted by Health Handouts | Posted in Health Handouts, Health Tips | Posted on 10-04-2009
A health fair is a fantastic way to familiarize staff members with health concerns and related wellness programs. During a health fair staff members might be able to get resource materials; participate in offered health screenings (vision, hearing, blood, cholesterol, cancer, dental, etc.); observe demonstrations on the use of exercise equipment; go to mini-classes on various health subject matters; get no cost promotional items from local organizations; try healthy foods; and pick up information about their health benefit plan.
Some employers feature a “health & benefit fair” which includes vendors representing the various employee benefit plans (long-term disability, retirement, etc.) available to employees through their employer.
Considerations when coordinating a wellness fair:
• Setting up a successful health & wellness fair takes extensive time. Time issues should be taken into account in planning and organizing such an event. The most time consuming part is generally contacting potential participants, making arrangements for their participation, confirming their participation, and setting up the day of the event.
• Sufficient space, tables and chairs must be on hand to allow for the number of vendors involved. Some vendors may have portable displays or materials that will require additional space, access to electrical outlets, or other logistical considerations that must be discussed prior to the health and wellbeing fair.
• Vendors will be hoping to make contact with as many persons as possible during the event. Securing their commitment to future health & wellness fairs requires that every effort be made to promote participation by publicizing the event, selecting the proper venue, and offering incentives/rewards.
• If possible, locate the wellbeing and health fair in an area with heavy foot traffic.
• Ask vendors to supply no cost materials at their table and to make a donation to a prize drawing. Follow all organization policies when seeking donations.
• As an idea to increase employee participation and to keep interest high, each attendee could be given a “passport”, similar to a bingo card, to be signed by each vendor. The signed passport becomes the ticket for the prize drawings. Such drawings should take place every 15 or 30 minutes.
• Consider teaming up with nearby organizations to hold a health & wellness fair. A team effort will spread out the work and maximize participation.
Ideas for a Benefits Fair:
Invite representatives from each of your employee benefits provider groups. Ask each vendor to be ready to answer employee questions concerning their program. Representatives could include:
• Retirement plan representative.
• Long-term disability plan representative.
• Health plan representative.
• Health Benefits representative.
• Contract cell phone representative (if applicable).
• Local savings and loan or credit union representative.
• Workers’ compensation representative.
Limited Space for a Health Fair: If space is limited host the fair at lunch time. Place stations in business hallways or in individual small conference or office rooms located throughout the building. Offer a map with all the stations listed. Have a free drawing awarding a prize for anyone who goes to 75 percent of the stations. Use a punch card or similar method to verify.
Resources for health & benefit fairs coordination:
Assume a broad definition of “health” and reflect that by involving a variety of vendors and services involved with physical, mental, financial and social health; for example, health agencies, safety businesses, benefits providers, local medical facilities, recreational facilities, parks, financial planners, childcare referrals, EAP, health clubs, health food stores, library, alternative and complementary medicine providers, etc.