Thursday, May 28, 2009

A Healthy Community Starts With You!

Here's something I found at the Trailhead to Health Summit in Billings I thought would be neat to share with you:

Change Yourself
  • Set an example!!! Quit smoking, achieve a healthy weight, or take a walk 3 times a week. Be a leader with your actions
  • Track your efforts and share your succes with as many people possible
  • Use public transportation or bike to work
  • Recycle
  • Shop at farmers' markets
  • Have regular health screenings
  • Volunteer

Change Your Workplace

  • Begin or expand a worksite health promotion program
  • Remind employees to wash their hands with a sign or provide hand sanitizer
  • Provide ample fruits and vegetables in the cafeteria
  • Begin or exand an Employee Assistance Program, to help employees cope with stresses that may impact their work
  • Provide free pedometers and sponsor physical activity challenges
  • Encourage employee fitness breaks, as simple as a walk around the building
  • Encourage employees to take the stairs instead of the elevator
  • Offer blood pressure, cholesterol, and diabetes screenings at the workplace
  • Provide child care assistance for employees
  • Offer discount gym memberships
  • Include health tips in organization newsletters

Engage Your Neighbors

  • Establish community gardens on your campus of in your neighborhood
  • Encourage carpooling
  • Organize local stream and park clean-ups
  • Lead and promote group walks in your neighborhood
  • Increase availability of affordable fruits and vegetables in underserved neighborhood meetings

Advocate For Policies

  • Bike lande development
  • LEED (Leadership in Engery and Environmental Design) guidelines for new buildings
  • Reimbursement for treating nicotine addiciton
  • Reduce portion sizes in cafeteria meals
  • Daily physical education in the schools for students in grades K-12
  • Design developments that promote walking and biking in city planning
  • Healthy food and beverage choices in public vending machines
  • Safe routes to and from schools for every child

Adapted from the Alliance for the Healthiest Nation

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