Even with the hot, sizzling weather beating down on Norwalk, it did not stop the students from checking out and participating in the health fair that occurred April 21.

Organizations, special stores, clubs, professors and the local fire department all came out to spread some knowledge on health and safety issues.

The Round the Fountain Health Fair was the first one ever at Cerritos.

“It has never been done before, it’s brand new,” said Nancy Montgomery, student health services coordinator.

Montgomery was ecstatic on the outcome of the health fair, and how well it turned out.

“It was unbelievable. I was a bit worried that students were not going to show up, and that we bought all these free gifts for nothing, but I was wrong.”

She mentioned that the blood table was the most successful.

It provided the students with free blood tests, cholesterol, and glucose tests.

“The line for the blood table was backed up to the student center, the only bad thing was that it was too hot today,” Montgomery said.

Another table that had students lined up was one done by Dr. Ni Bueno, HED department chairperson.

Her table was a quick stop to getting information on fat contents of different fast foods, what happens to  ones body when one eats too much fast food, and ways to help one get healthy and maintain it.

“One common misconception students had were about carbohydrates. Many students think they are fattening but that is false.

“Carbs are low in calories, but what you put on them makes them fattening,” Bueno said.

An example that Bueno used was pasta. She said that the actual pasta in not bad for you, but the sauce you put on top of it is what makes it an unhealthy meal.

All across the table were fake models of one pound and five pounds of fat and muscle.

There were also test tubes of fat contents that certain fast foods contain.

“When students have a visual, it’s more educational,” Bueno said.

At the STD table pamphlets and condoms were distributed to the public.

LA County health employee, Phillip Phan, was one of volunteers answering questions and giving out the “love gloves.”

“We’re here to provide information about STDs, and give out some free condoms,” Phan said.

He talked about certain type of infections that are curable like Chlamydia and some that are not.

“The Student Health Center provides STD testing that is free and confidential and there are many local health centers that do the same thing,” Phan explained.

For a complete list of them one can visit www.lapublichealth.org/std.

One participant came from the Cerritos Mall to help students get knowledge on vitamins and health issues.

“I was contacted by the Student Health Center here at Cerritos, and they wanted me to come down to speak to the students,” said Lupe Munoz, Vitamin World store manager.

She was giving out free samples of Vitamin C, and giving free information on other vitamins that are essential to live a healthy life.

“The number one question that I got today was ‘What exactly are vitamins?’ and I basically just answered them that they are essential for well-being and one can’t get them all from food,” Munoz said.