March 6, 2009 Volume 110 Number 5

UA 290 offers members medical screenings as part of health fair

Members, retirees and spouses of Plumbers and Fitters Local 290 were offered free medical screenings, hearing tests, chair messages, healthy cooking classes, and more at the 12th annual Donald Dunn Health & Safety Fair held Feb. 28 at the union’s training center in Tualatin.

Dunn was a member of the union and an apprenticeship instructor who died in a ladder mishap while working on a job in Salem. His wife sued, and used some of the settlement money to start a safety seminar for her husband’s co-workers and their families. The fund has since run out of money, but the program was so popular that the training center continued it.

More than 300 members and spouses attended the Feb. 28 event — with 200 pre-registering for medical screenings to obtain a five-year risk assessment for coronary heart disease, type II diabetes and stroke.

Technicians from LifeLine Screening scanned the carotid artery to detect plaque build-up (an early sign of a possible stroke); they completed a 10-minute blood test to measure cholesterol and blood glucose levels, and each individual was weighed and measured to determine their body mass index. Results will be mailed to each participant.

“Local 290’s health and welfare trust paid for the screenings as part of its health care prevention program,” said assistant apprenticeship training coordinator Marci Wichman.

Lunch was provided by the Plumbing & Mechanical Contractors Association.

Additionally, lectures were held on “Surviving a Heart Attack” and “Diabetes-Care & Prevention,” and Chef Shana Larsen spent the day demonstrating healthy cooking techniques.

The fair even had a dog — Rocco, a mixed Terrier puppy — on hand for petting. Studies show dog owners have less stress and lower blood pressure, and are less likely to suffer from depression.

The Red Cross Blood Mobile set up for members to donate blood. The goal for the day was to collect 31 pints.


Home | About

© Oregon Labor Press Publishing Co. Inc.