Saturday’s Annual Health Fair at Lawrence Memorial Hospital is expected to draw a crowd — nearly 2,000 people participated last year.

The fair, which runs from 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at LMH, 325 Maine St., is a good way to get certain health screenings for free and some blood work done at a low cost, according to organizers.

However, the Health Fair “is not designed to take the place of regular health visits and monitoring by one’s own physician, but is to enhance an individual’s self-awareness of their own health status,” said Aynsley Anderson, the hospital’s community education coordinator.

Screenings at the fair will be for hearing, oral and skin cancers, height and weight, heart disease, stroke risk and foot health.

Exhibits include health information on headaches, dietary fats, smoking cessation, hospice care and organ donation.

Several area physicians, dentists and other health care providers volunteer their time to provide these free health screenings.

Also, several not-for-profit support agencies and groups offer informative exhibits about their services and related health issues.

Most screenings and exhibits are free. The only fee that is charged is for the blood work.

The LMH Lab provides low-cost blood work, which is the first stop for many Health Fair participants after they arrive. The blood work is most accurate when it is drawn after fasting for 10 to 12 hours.

The blood tests include a total lipid profile (total cholesterol, LDL, HDL, triglycerides), plus tests for nutrition, kidney, liver, bone and heart health. The cost of the blood work is $35, and $40 for males who wish to have the PSA (prostate screening antigen) test included.

After the blood work, participants can stop in the LMH Atrium area and get free refreshments provided by LMH Food and Nutrition Services.