Gwinnett Daily Post

SUWANEE - At least 400 people are expected to attend Collins Hill High School PTSA's second annual Health Fair on Saturday, organizers said.

The Health Fair, scheduled from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Suwanee school, will offer free services such as glucose, blood pressure and vision checks and provide information on topics such as nutrition, eating disorders, smoking cessation and organ donation, said Dawna Baker, co-vice president of the PTSA.

In addition, students aged 12 to 19 can be tested by Heart Screens for Teens for $58, a fraction of the normal cost. The eight-minute test is an echocardiogram of the heart that allows trained physicians to examine the heart and detect hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, or HCM, and an obstruction of blood flow out of the heart, Baker said. Heart screens will be offered by appointment from 9 a.m. to

4 p.m., with walk-ins accepted as the schedule allows.

"We believe that healthy minds and bodies are key to a student's success, as well as our schools and community," Baker said. "Our vision began with the desire to offer Heart Screens for Teens to Collins Hill students, but the PTSA quickly realized that partnering with additional health care professionals could provide valuable prevention screening and information to everyone in our surrounding area."

More than 350 people attended last year's health fair, and 134 students were tested by Heart Screens for Teens. Eighteen students were consequently diagnosed with a potentially life-threatening heart condition, Baker said.

Registration for Heart Screens for Teens, as well as an American Red Cross blood drive, will be available at Collins Hill High before school begins on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Families can also schedule tests and blood donations by e-mailing lizpizarro@aol.com with a preferred time.