CRESTVIEW — Residents combined health information with a good time Saturday morning at the annual Crestview Community Health Fair.
Children took rides on Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office Posse horses on the green in front of the Community Center and hopped around inside an inflatable bounce house.
From booths staffed by local health providers, attendees received information on health-related topics ranging from personal wellness to assisted living and hospice care.
“It was a good steady pace this year,” Crestview Area Chamber of Commerce Health and Wellness Committee chairwoman Mary Beth Blanchard said. “We did quite a few blood pressure checks at our table.”
Blanchard’s committee organizes the annual event.
A highlight was North Okaloosa Medical Center’s introduction of its new robotic surgery system. On a demonstration version of the high-tech unit, residents tried to manipulated colored objects using the stereoscopic viewfinder.
“It was really awesome,” resident Denisse Cruz said after trying the machine.
Attendees paused to watch performances during the morning, including a debut by the Ten Talents Youth Theatre, which performed a scene from its upcoming production of “Aladdin.”
“They have a good operation going here this morning,” the Rev. Harry Tipton said as he paused to help himself to a give-away at M*A*S*H Medical Supplies’ booth.
“And I got fruit snacks,” Brayden Mallory, 5, added, after raiding the bowl at Crescent Park Village’s booth.
The annual health fair was sponsored by North Okaloosa Medical Center, Twin Cities Hospital, Fort Walton Beach Medical Center, Shoal Creek Rehabilitation, Gentiva Health Services, West Florida AHEC, SilverCrest Health and Rehab Center, Financial and Insurance Services and Crestview Urgent Care.
Email News Bulletin Staff Writer Brian Hughes, follow him on Twitter or call 850-682-6524.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Community Health Fair combines important info with fun (VIDEO, PHOTOS)