SHOTS, CHECKUPS JUST FOR KIDS; SIMI HEALTH FAIR EASES THE BACK-TO-SCHOOL PAIN.

Byline: Kevin F. Sherry Daily News Staff Writer

Children on their way to school this fall received free medical checkups from head to feet Sunday at the Boys & Girls Club of Simi Valley.

The Kids Care Fair, now in its eighth year, offered nearly two-dozen health screenings for vision, immunizations, eyes, ears and weight. The Simi Valley Explorers fingerprinted children and the Kiwanis service club distributed child-safety coloring booklets with crayons.

In all, the 130 volunteers at the fair expected to check the health of about 300 children, said JoLynn de la Torre, spokeswoman for Simi Valley Hospital, one of the fair's sponsors.

The Kiwanis booklets had information about how children could stay safe and spaces where parents could create a handy profile of their children.

``I love working with the kids,'' said Susan Wesner of Kiwanis. ``I like being around children. We want to make sure kids stay safe.''

Children bound for school received free immunization shots for diseases like measles, hepatitis and diphtheria at the Sunday-only event.

Although much of the fair focused on health-related topics, from prenatal screening to scoliosis tests, various stations offered something fun for kids, such as origami or face painting. A teddy bear repair clinic helped bring injured buddies back to life.

The fair mixed fun with necessary workups to give children a positive image of health care, said Pam Civiletti, director of Simi Valley Hospital's nursing services for women and children.

``I don't want them to think that going to the doctor is a terrible thing, or getting a shot is a terrible thing,'' Civiletti said.

As parents progressed through the various checkups with their children, each child received colored stickers. At the end of the route through the club, children with enough stickers received a free helmet to wear while biking or skating.

While the fair was not meant to be a replacement for a full physical exam, it covered a number of areas, like speech and hearing, that most physicals do not address, de la Torre said.

``There's just so many screenings here that you don't normally get,'' she said.

With all its screening stations, the free clinic was a budget helper, said Chuck Pendley, who brought his children to the fair.

``It helps you cut down on the cost of going to a doctor, where they weigh you and charge $40,'' Pendley said.

The fair is an important resource for people on a budget or for children ready to go to school, said Stacey Mackelburg, who brought her two children to the fair. The trio stopped at just about every station.

``They're having a good time,'' Mackelburg said.

CAPTION(S):

2 Photos

PHOTO (1) Christian Serrano, 4, receives a shot from Beth Evelyn at the Kids Care Fair.

(2) Sam Mestaz, 8, of Simi Valley gets a peek of what is to come at the health fair's immunization center.

Joe Binoya/Special to the Daily News