Optometrist John Harvat, left, examines Artie Shaw in 2007 during the annual Lawrence Memorial Hospital health fair. Harvat is offering free vision assessments for 3-year-olds this week as part of Kanas See To Learn Week.

Hundreds of early birds turned out Saturday to have their arms pricked, mouths swabbed and prostates screened.

“It’s crazy, it is really crazy,” said Janice Early-Weas, Lawrence Memorial Hospital community relations director.

“We had one man who was here at 5:45 (a.m.) to have his prostate screening!” said Aynsley Anderson, LMH community education coordinator.

And while the hospital’s 26th annual health fair didn’t start until 7:30 a.m., organizers were glad to see people so eager to take advantage of free screenings and cheap blood work.

Many people showed up at the hospital early because the more than 555 of them who had their blood drawn were required to fast for the 10 hours leading up to the screening.

“I can go pig out now,” said Bob Carnahan, a retired Lawrence physician, after one of 16 phlebotomists drew his blood. “Oh, I’m so happy.”

A buffet of food waited for patients on the lower level of the hospital, 325 Maine.

Organizers said more than 1,000 people attended the fair, which was on three floors of the hospital’s common area and included screenings as well as health-related exhibits.

While the health fair wasn’t intended to take the place of a yearly doctor visit, that becomes the reality for some, organizers said.

“For some people who don’t have health care, this is it,” Anderson said.

She said the hospital was hopeful that the screenings raised fairgoers’ awareness about problems they might be having and that attendees will take the information they received to their doctor for further advice.

While most people went to the hospital for the reduced-price comprehensive blood profile, which checks for cholesterol, potassium and calcium levels among many others, hospital staff and community professionals also provided 12 other free screenings, including prostate, oral cancer, vision and hearing.

Connie Putthoff, Tonganoxie, took the bright white sneaker off her right foot before sticking her foot into a machine.

She found out the two-mile walk she takes every day has been keeping her bones strong.

“You’re doing very, very good,” Betty Moles, LMH lactation consultant and community education worker, told Putthoff during her bone density screening.

“Anybody who does not take advantage of (the fair) is losing out,” said Putthoff, a hospital volunteer. “I come every year.”