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Health Fairs Offer Exercise Demos, Nutrition Talks

Duke fairs begin next week, providing employees with flu shots, health screenings

Free flu shots are one of the many activities at the annual Health Fair. Here, Kathe Kaufman, left, a research analyst with Recruitment, receives a free seasonal flu vaccination from LIVE FOR LIFE nurse Janet Stolp. Flu vaccinations will be administered
Free flu shots are one of the many activities at the annual Health Fair. Here, Kathe Kaufman, left, a research analyst with Recruitment, receives a free seasonal flu vaccination from LIVE FOR LIFE nurse Janet Stolp. Flu vaccinations will be administered at all three health fairs. Photo by Bryan Roth.

Last year, Sarah Woodring sat down at the Duke Eye Center's table at Duke's annual Health Fair for a quick vision screening. 

"I looked through the machine and noticed the letters were getting fuzzy," said Woodring, a clinical research coordinator for the Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center. "It confirmed that my eyesight was changing and convinced me to try glasses."

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Vision screenings are one of many activities Duke staff and faculty can take advantage of during Duke's 11th annual Health Fairs, which begin next week. LIVE FOR LIFE, Duke's employee wellness program, is sponsoring the fairs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 13 at Durham Regional Hospital; Oct. 19 at Searle Center at Duke University and Oct. 25 at Duke Raleigh Hospital.

Free flu shots, fitness demonstrations and blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol screenings are also available. The fairs are also a convenient opportunity to learn more about Duke's health insurance plans before Benefits Open Enrollment begins Oct. 24. Representatives from each of Duke's health plans and the vision and dental plans will be present.

"It is an excellent opportunity to ask questions and find out what is the best fit in an insurance plan," said Bill Phillips, benefits manager at Duke. "People don't often have the opportunity to ask their questions of plan representatives face to face at one location. Why not take advantage of it?"

Woodring has attended the health fair at the Searle Center for the past several years, visiting information tables and gathering health tips such as low-calorie snack ideas and stress reduction techniques. Last year, she also came away with a door prize of a $100 gift certificate to Duke University Stores.

"I've been using it to purchase snacks at the Duke women's basketball games," said Woodring, who plans to attend the fair again this year.

New to the fairs are a series of 15-minute fitness demonstrations by Duke specialists on Zumba exercise, healthy cooking on a budget and simple strength training exercises for work or home. 

"We want people to leave the fairs with plenty of ideas about how to fit fitness into their lives and be energized about their health," said Lauren Updyke, health education manager for LIVE FOR LIFE. 

Fitness demonstrations during the Oct. 19 fair at the Searle Center take place at the following times:

Functional Strength Training:  10:30 a.m. to 10:45 a.m.; 1:30 p.m. - 1:45 p.m.

Zumba: 11 a.m. - 11:15 a.m.;  noon to 12:15 p.m.

Healthy Cooking on a Budget: 11:30 a.m. to 11:45 a.m.; 12:30 p.m. to 12:45 p.m.