About 450 local residents had themselves medically screened by health care professionals during Saturday morning’s 9Health Fair at Granby Elementary School.

The event was the second of three 9Health Fairs being held in Grand County this month. Kremmling’s took place on April 5, while the third and final one of the series is set for Saturday in Fraser.

“This is the seventh 9Health Fair we’ve held in Granby,” said Carl Marsh, event coordinator. “We’re the baby compared to Kremmling and Fraser, who have both been doing it for a very long time.”

During Saturday’s event, waiting lines were short and the evaluations went relatively quickly.

“We had a lighter turnout than the last couple of years, but it’s probably because of spring break,” Marsh said. “After the winter we’ve had, I don’t blame people for wanting to go away for a vacation.

“But the important thing about 9Health Fairs is that it’s not about the numbers. If we find one individual with diabetes or high blood pressure who didn’t know it, we’ve done our job,” he said.

Those attending Saturday’s fair went through a series of stations to be checked for a number of health areas including blood pressure, glucose (diabetes), vision, hearing, body fat, body in balance, foot health, body mass index, oral health, skin cancer/breast examination and mental health. All of these screenings were free of charge.

Participants also had the option of having samples of their blood taken for a 31-component blood chemistry test. Men also were offered a PSA (Prostrate Specific Antigen) screening. These were the only tests requiring fees.

“For the uninsured and under-insured, or those who don’t see a doctor on a regular basis, 9Health Fairs are a great way to find out what’s going on with their bodies,” Marsh said. “We offer free and low-cost screenings for everyone.”

Those opting for the low-cost screenings can pay for them by check or cash.

All participants in the 9Health Fairs must be 18 years old or older. Children may accompany their parents but cannot go into the blood-draw areas. Free child care is offered by all the county’s fairs.

The success of Grand County’s 9Health Fairs, Marsh emphasized, is dependent upon volunteers, both health care professionals and average citizens who given of their time.

“I’m always amazed at the number of volunteers we have each year,” he said. “We usually have between 75 to 100 here in Granby. Without these dedicated volunteers who return every year, we just wouldn’t have a 9Health Fair.”

Marsh especially wanted to commend Grand County Emergency Medical Services whose assistance is “invaluable.” He also wanted to thank the Granby Rotary Club for its help.

“As past 9Health Fairs have shown, we in Grand County are as healthy as the rest of Colorado, which is considered one of the healthiest states in the nation,” Marsh said. “It makes us extremely proud to see so many people in this county who are concerned enough about their health to attend one of our fairs. They are a great way to protect one’s health.”

Although the Kremmling and Granby 9Health Fairs are now over, anyone in the county who would like to attend the third and final fair in Fraser on Saturday is encouraged to do so. It will be at Fraser Valley Elementary School from 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

For more information on Fraser’s 9Health Fair or to volunteer, contact its site coordinator John Erwin at 726-4603.

The 9Health Fair is the largest nonprofit health fair program in Colorado. For more information, visit http://www.9healthfair.org.