Oklahoma Lions
Mobile Health Screening Unit
Fact Sheet
Co-sponsors
The Oklahoma Lions Service Foundation is a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization dedicated to helping the people of Oklahoma. The Foundation owns the Oklahoma Lions Mobile Health Screening Unit (MHSU). Major funding for the purchase of the MHSU came from Oklahoma Lions Clubs and the Lions Clubs International Foundation.
BlueCross BlueShield of Oklahoma makes substantial contributions toward the annual operating costs of the MHSU. Freightliner is also a substantial contributing partner.
Support
Hundreds of donations of various sizes helped purchase and equip the MHSU. It has a value of over $200,000. Significant support was received from the Lions Clubs International Foundation (LCIF), Lions and Lioness Clubs of Oklahoma, and many individual contributors.
On board screening
Local Lions in support of a healthy Oklahoma offer information on
obesity
, an epidemic in our state and obesity can shorten lives and affect the quality of life. Lions perform all of the screening tests on the MHSU. However, professionals such as licensed nurses or EMTs sometime help.
Diabetes
is one of the major causes of blindness as well as other serious health problems. Hospital quality blood glucose monitors are used for the blood tests.
High cholesterol
can also cause serious health problems, and the latest portable monitor is used for this blood test.
High blood pressure can be an indicator of heart disease and other related problems.
Blood pressure
screenings are conducted with an automated blood pressure meter. A spirometer is used to measure
lung capacity
, to help detect problems caused by smoking or other environmental hazards. The screenings for
glaucoma
use a frequency doubling technology field tester. We also screen for
visual acuity
using the chart test that measures how well people can read at a distance of 20 feet. The latest technology in screening for
osteoporosis
, usually in women over 40 years of age, is the Achilles Insight portable bone scan test. It requires only that the person remove a shoe and sock, and place one heel (sprayed with a light solution of alcohol and water) into the comfortable heel cup for a few seconds. Decreased
bone density
(osteoporosis), like blood pressure, may not present symptoms until in the advanced stages where it is more difficult to treat.
Further information and scheduling
The Oklahoma Lions Mobile Health Screening Unit comes to your community through the sponsorship of your local Lions Club(s). Only local Lions Clubs in Oklahoma can schedule the MHSU.
For scheduling, contact the Oklahoma Lions Service Foundation Office Administrative Secretary, 4123 NW 10th St., Oklahoma City, OK 73107-5801; telephone 405-947-6540 (Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.); e-mail lionadmin@sbcglobal.net. The MHSU schedule link on this webpage will link to a planning calendar that you can use, but remember, the MHSU can only be scheduled by contacting the OLSF office. The MHSU schedule is closed by the 20th of each month for the following month (i.e., deadline is April 20 for May schedule).
2009-2010 Oklahoma Lions Mobile Health Screening Unit Committee:
Chairperson: Lion Mike Rhoads (Tulsa Downtown Lions Club)
Treasurer: OLSF Treasurer Lion Jacque Mooney (Midwest City Lions Club)
District 3-O: PCC Gary Taylor (Mannford Lions Club)
District 3-K: PDG Ferril Williamson (Wewoka Lions Club)
District 3-L: VDG Ealmer Klippel (Chickasha Lions Club)
District 3-A: Lion Kim McFarland (Enid Briggs Evening Lions Club)
District 3-H: Lion Clare Twitchell (OKC Metro Lions Club)
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