Thousands take part in Hispanic Health and Safety Fair
BY EMILY HAGEDORN, Californian staff writer
e-mail: ehagedorn@bakersfield.com | Sunday, Jun 10 2007 10:10 PM

Last Updated: Sunday, Jun 10 2007 10:13 PM

Free glucose screenings and child identification cards were hot commodities at Sunday's Hispanic Health and Safety Fair.

Lines of people patiently waiting to be pricked and measured wound around Building 3 at the Kern County Fairgrounds.

This event is one of the area's only health fairs that caters to Hispanics, said Carol Ramirez, sales manager for The Spanish Radio Group, which hosted the event along with Health Net insurance.

As of 1:30 p.m., 4,500 people had gone to the 13th annual fair with 1,500 more expected before it ended at 4:30 p.m., Ramirez said.

"They know that there is someone here who can talk to them in their own language," Ramirez said.

Lidia Reyes, 30, said she would feel uncomfortable attending a generic, all-community health fair.

The Bakersfield resident took advantage of the free blood-pressure screenings and child ID cards. "To get this much information is great."

The free event put residents in touch with experts, without the red tape sometimes encountered in local clinics, Ramirez said.

"It's not a never-ending trail of 'Go here and fill this out' and 'Wait all day to see this doctor,'" she said. "Plus, they don't have time to go to the clinics on a weekday."

The event also offered free immunizations, a fire safety demonstration, local health insurance representatives, information on Medi-Cal and cosmetic surgery experts in booths. One man dressed as Superman made balloon animals for the children.

"I think it's pretty cool because the people who don't have Medi-Cal can get shots, too," said Cecilia Julian, 14, of McFarland, after getting a couple of shots of her own.

Next year, the event will be even larger with half devoted to health and the other half devoted to safety, Ramirez said.
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