Update: More than 525 people attended and a group of first- and second-year nursing students did a combined more than than 500 blood pressure tests and blood glucose tests.
Among the other students helping out: Two from human service and a group from fourth-year nursing.
The volunteer pharmacists and their nurse helpers recorded 200 cholesterol readings, with each reading including a one-on-one 10-minute teaching session.

A group of third-year nursing students want you to know more about your kidneys and why you should be taking care of them.

In recognition of World Kidney Day on Mar. 10, students Talia Ollek, Allison Speller, Taryn Christian and Brie Fehr have organized a health and information fair for the same day at Northills Shopping Centre from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

About 20 organizations have signed up and in addition to sharing practical information, there will be prizes and free screenings. First-year nursing students will give blood pressure tests, second-year students will test blood sugar levels and a local pharmacist will assess cholesterol. This is the third year that TRU nursing students have coordinated the long-running health fair with field guidance from School of Nursing faculty member Dr. Florriann Fehr.

“There are 1,253 people in Kamloops and area who are suffering from kidney disease and 161 of them are on dialysis,” says Ollek.

When functioning properly, the fist-sized kidneys circulate about 180 litres of blood a day, which is the same as 45 four-litre jugs of milk. Your kidneys are among the major players ridding your body of harmful toxins, each with a million microscopic filters busily dealing with the bad stuff so you can get on with your day. Though you can function with one kidney, two is ideal. If one or both are having troubles, you could find your life drastically disrupted by having to spend a few hours a week or even multiple days hooked up to a dialysis machine.

“As of September 2015, 80 people in Kamloops and area were on the kidney-transplant wait-list,” says Speller.

Your kidneys produce red blood cells, which promote bone growth and help retain water levels and blood pressure. Keep them healthy and you have a better chance of warding off hypertension, diabetes and other problems that could lead to kidney disease. Refined sugar, alcohol and caffeine among other things can all contribute to kidney disease.

“Remember, what goes into your body goes through your kidneys,” says Christian.