The first hour of Our Lady of the Angels Hospital Back 2 School event Friday drew more than 100 youngsters for various types of health screenings.

The Back 2 School event at the Bogalusa hospital focused on newborns and children up to 16 years of age.

“This is a pediatric Back 2 School Health Fair,” event coordinator Lynn Wells, R.N., said. “We are offering giveaways, asthma screenings, skin cancer screenings and body mass index and nutritional screenings. We’re also doing scoliosis screenings and backpack safety.”

The staff puts weights in backpacks to show youngsters the proper way to wear backpacks, Wells said.

“Shots for Tots” immunizations were also provided to participants, as well as a growth chart.

“The Health Fair goal was to promote health and wellness to the children of Washington Parish,” Wells said.

Wells said screenings were provided by Family Practice residents and the hospital’s nursing staff.

Wells is in her 17th year at the hospital. She works in the Education Department. She said it’s the hospital’s second year to do the Pediatric Health Fair.

Washington Parish Sheriff’s Office officials also were on hand to make photo I.D. badges for children. An interactive gaming truck was provided by Mark and Patti Seal, and Bogalusa and District 7 fire departments were at the event to promote fire safety.

During the times children were not being screened for their health, they had the opportunity to have their faces painted by surgical nurses Jane Whitney and Amy Ladner.

Our Lady of the Angels Hospital is next scheduled to host a Bee Fit Health Fair Nov. 7.