WEST FARGO, ND - By all accounts, health and wellness begin with knowing your health indicators.  That's the central focus of the Big Iron health screening and information services, provided again at the Big Iron Farm Show Sept. 15-17.  The service continues to be coordinated by North Dakota LIVING.

The North Dakota LIVING Big Iron Farm Show health screening and information services will be available in the Horticulture Building on the Red River Valley Fairgrounds, West Fargo.  The services are available each day of the Big Iron show, from 9 am to 4 pm, and feature cholesterol and glucose tests, and information on injury recovery and heartburn treatment, among other services.

The United Blood Services (UBS) Bloodmobile and certified staff will be on hand to accommodate blood donors and there will be information available on organ donations.

As the Big Iron show has grown over the years, North Dakota LIVING has enlarged the health screening and information services menu. 

"With our Touchstone Energy co-operatives, North Dakota LIVING is dedicated to serving co-op members and their communities with important information and excellent service," said Clark Van Horn, North Dakota LIVING advertising manager.   "The wonderful partnership we have with the Big Iron Show for this health service project, and on several other fronts, is a shining example of working closely with the people of our region, for the betterment of all,"  Van Horn added.

The UBS Bloodmobile has also become an important feature of the Big Iron health information services in recent years.  The Bloodmobile returns to this year's Big Iron at these times:  Tuesday, Sept. 15, and Wednesday, Sept 16, 10 am to 3:30 pm; and Thursday Sept 17, 9:30 am to 3:30 pm.

Rhonda Ellefson, UBS, Fargo, indicates the Big Iron appearance of the Bloodmobile and the work there with blood donors is a key to the UBS commitment to blood blanks.

"United Blood Services needs more than 350 units each day to supply 71 area hospitals,"  Ellefson said.  At the Big Iron Show, Bloodmobile technicians will greet and work with walk-in donors.  They will collect whole blood and 2RBS (red blood cell) donations, which take about an hour of the donor's time.

The other helpful North Dakota LIVING health screening and information services available at Big Iron this year include:

•·         Cholesterol, glucose and blood pressure screenings, performed by students of the North Dakota State University (NDSU) College of Pharmacy.  "It's always great to see our repeat customers at Big Iron,"  said Jeanne Frenzel, NDSU assistant professor and coordinator of this set of services at Big Iron.  The charges are $15 for a cholesterol screening, $5 for a glucose screening, and free blood pressure testing.  Pharmacy students will also dispense heartburn awareness information. 

•·         Hearing tests, coordinated by Sheyenne Hearing Service.

•·         Eye, organ and tissue donation information, provided by the Lions Eye Bank of North Dakota.

•·         Information for recovering injured people about services assisting the return to functional employment.  This service is provided by the Rehabilitation Consulting and Services division of ND Vocational Rehabilitation.

Big Iron Farm Show is a subsidiary of the Red River Valley Fair Association.  For more information call 282.2200 or visit http://www.bigironfarmshow.com/ or pick up the North Dakota Living supplement, the official publication of the Big Iron Farm Show.

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