Pine Island Pool to host Health and Safety Fair
In recognition of Drowning Prevention Awareness month, the Pine Island Pool along with Lee County Parks and Recreation will host a Health and Safety Fair to promote water safety as well as other health-related issues. Staged at the pool on Saturday, May 21, representatives from several area organizations and health care services will be on hand from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Among those who will be present for the day will be Radiology Regional with its Mobile Mammo who will offer breast cancer screenings. Sponsored by Stonegate Bank, formerly Southwest Capital Pine Island branch, a team of technicians will perform mammograms in the Mobile Mammo. Most forms of insurance will be accepted for screenings and a discount will be offered to those who self-pay. The Mobile Mammo boasts state of the art, full-field screenings with its digital mammography services. No prescription in needed and walk-ins will be welcome, however, those who would like to make an appointment ahead of time can call 936-2316.
Also present will be the Blood Mobile from Lee Memorial Blood Center which will accept donations throughout the event. Those who donate blood will receive a free, non-fasting, cholesterol test, iron testing and blood typing.
“The Pine Island Pool staff will be dedicating this blood drive to all of the women and men that are defending us overseas,” said Aquatic Supervisor Sandy Reynolds. “As a way of saying thank you to donors, qualified donors also will receive a gift from the Blood Center.”
Those with questions about blood donations may call 343-2333.
Other services available during the Health Fair will be free blood pressure checks by the Matlacha-Pine Island Fire Department which also will provide information about fire prevention and fire safety for residents. Also participating will be members from the Lee County Red Cross and the Beacon of HOPE to provide information about a variety of services available to Pine Island and Lee County residents in need of assistance. The volunteers from the Beacon also will provide transportation to and from the Health and Safety Fair for those who need it. Also on hand will be the Pine Island CERT who will provide information about hurricane preparedness and information about the organization and the Red Cross who will be offering free certified oral swab HIV tests.
The main focus of the event however will be water safety.
“The pool will be signing up children for summer swimming lessons and Junior Lifeguard Camp during the Health Fair with scholarships available if needed,” Reynolds said. “The huge push will be emphasizing water safety and drowning prevention. The motto of Pine Island Pool and the community is ‘every child a swimmer’ and we want to make it happen this summer.”
Reynolds also said that the children’s swimming lessons are for non-swimmers only. To ensure that all children on Pine Island are provided the opportunity to learn to swim, scholarships for lessons are available from the Bobby Holloway Jr. Memorial Fund which are designated by the foundation for swimming lessons. For more information or to register a child for swimming lessons or scholarship qualifications, call the Pine Island Pool at 533-7275.
In keeping with a festive atmosphere, those visiting the Health Fair will be greeted by live music provided by Lee Hagan and food and beverages will be available throughout the event.
“We are hoping the people of Pine Island will come out and join us for a day of fun as well as to gain some valuable information about the many services available in Lee County as well as those that can be found right here on the island,” Reynolds said. “This will be a great opportunity to take advantage of some of these services right here at the pool as well.”
The Pine Island Pool is located at 5675 Sesame Drive just north of the island center and for more information, call the pool at 283-2220.