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Bad News: Cardiovascular illness continues to be the No. 1 killer of men and women in New York State and the United State. Along with this, diabetes and obesity rates also continue to escalate. Good News: Good nutrition and exercise habits can significantly reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and obesity. Great News:
Changing your diet and exercise habits can be easy and
fun. The Warren-Washington County Healthy Heart
Program is committed to assisting you in both of these areas.
We encourage lifestyles that include time to be moderately active
for 30 minutes per day, most days of the week, and to eat all foods in
moderation. These two little things can greatly reduce your chances of
heart disease and improve your quality of life. Glens Falls
Hospital is proud to partner with the Warren and Washington County
Public Health Services to coordinate this New York State Department of
Health, grant funded, Healthy Heart Program. The program is coordinated
by a coalition made up of a diverse mix of local health care
professionals, business people, educators, physical fitness experts and
public officials. Scavenger Hunts
Join the hunt for good health. Held
in various communities to inspire residents to discover their community
by foot, the Scavenger Hunts are free and geared for people of all ages
and abilities to participate! Free
food - Free prizes - Free fun! Each town is
provided with a map postcard that promotes safe places to be active such
as Whitehall's Historic Loop and Carol A. Thomas Memorial Walk in North
Creek. Pedometer are given away as prizes to promote "10,000 steps" per day. For more information, please call Kathy Varney at (518) 926-5906.
Moms' Walking Club
This new walking club gives new or veteran moms a chance to get out of the home with their babies to socialize and be active in a safe and friendly environment. Held twice daily at the Glens Falls Civic Center from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. - 6 p.m. Cost of the walking club is a $10 annual fee. Members that register receive a free pedometer. To register, visit the Civic Center Office, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, please call Kathy Varney at (518) 926-5906 or the Civic Center at (518) 798-0366.
Bicycling and Pedestrian Safety
Bicycle and Pedestrian Bumper Sticker ContestBumper stickers, a moving message for aspiring political candidates and righteous causes, are also now the chosen vehicle for the Healthy Heart Program to raise awareness about the importance of pedestrian and bicycle safety. Since 2003, 1,100 fifth-grade students in Warren and Washington County have participated in the Bicycle and Pedestrian Bumper Sticker Contest. The contest is taught to teach students safe approaches in walking and biking in addition to the health benefits of being active. The contest is kicked off by student's playing a "Foot Power Jeopardy"game with pre- and post-tests given to gauge their increased knowledge in safety and health. After the lesson plan, students were invited to submit a bicycle or pedestrian safety bumper sticker design. Over half of the students submitted artwork. Winners were chosen from each school. The finalists, each carrying giant versions of their bumper sticker designs, were honored at center ice during an Adirondack Ice Hawks/Adirondack FrostBite hockey games. The winning artistic creations were immortalized as vinyl bumper stickers, with 500 colorful copies made from each winning design. Each design, bearing the student’s name and school, was distributed throughout his or her respective community in the spring. The bumper stickers were largely funded by the New York State Governor's Traffic Safety Committee and also made possible through a partnership between Glens Falls Hospital, Warren County Public Health, Warren County Sheriff, Glens Falls Police Department, Warren County Traffic Safety Board, and the state Department of Health. Local businesses and organizations that donated towards the program include Stewart’s Shops, Inside Edge, Fun Spot, Hollywood Limousine and Adirondack FrostBite.
Pedestrian Flag ProgramIn June 2005, Hudson Falls, NY became the first
community in the state to implement a pedestrian safety program using
flag holders equipped with bright orange Day-Glo flags at crosswalks.
The Healthy Heart Program, the state Department of Transportation and
the village of Hudson Falls collaborated to pilot a cheap alternative to
help make pedestrians safer and more noticeable to motorists when
crossing busy thoroughfares. Early studies indicate the pedestrian flag approach, now used in 13 states, greatly increases compliance in giving pedestrians the right of way. In fact, motorists are twice as likely to stop for pedestrians who use flags; in Tampa, accidents involving pedestrians fell 36 percent
FIT WIC
Physical activity intervention for families of 4-year-olds enrolled in WIC. Each parent is encouraged to be active with their children and provided with an activity resource bag. Items in the bag include a FIT WIC activity book, Playtime Favorites CD, Healthy Habits for Healthy Kids nutrition book, bean bags, jump rope, beach balls and pedometers.
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