FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH IN

FRANKLIN COUNTY

Mission: To protect, promote & improve the health of all people in Florida through
integrated state, county, & community efforts.
WELLNESS NEWSLETTER SEPTEMBER 2014
One in 3 children in the United States is overweight or obese and Childhood obesity
puts kids at risk for health problems that were once seen only in adults, like type 2
diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease. Being overweight as a child increas-
es the risk of being overweight or obese as an adolescent and young adult. In other
words, many kids dont grow out of being overweight. The good news is that child-
hood obesity can be prevented. In honor of National Childhood Obesity Aware-
ness Month, Florida Department of Health in Franklin County encourages your
family to make healthy changes together.
Be more active: Get at least 60 minutes (1 hour) of physical activity every day. It can be shorter activities that
add up to 1 hour a day. Walk around the neighborhood, go on a bike ride, play basketball at the park or learn a
new sport.
Limit screen time: Keep screen time (time spent on the computer, watching TV, or playing video games) to 2
hours or less a day. Start tracking how much time your family spends in front of a screen.
Make healthy meals: Buy and serve more vegetables, fruits, and whole-grain foods. Make half your plate veg-
gies and fruits. They are full of nutrients and will help to promote good health including helping to lose or man-
age weight. Choose protein foods, such as lean beef and pork, or chicken, turkey, beans, or tofu. Make seafood
the protein twice a week on your plate.
Healthy snacks: Good snacks are a must throughout the day. Put fresh fruit in a bowl thats easy to reach in
the refrigerator or on the kitchen counter. Whole-grain crackers with low-fat cheese, pret-
zels, popcorn or apple slices with peanut butter are good snacks. Drink plenty of water or
milk each day instead of soda or juice.
Make Meal Time = Family Time: Family meals are a good time to talk to each other.
Make it a priority to each together by scheduling family meals at least two or three times
a week.
Taking small steps as a family can help your child stay at a healthy weight. If you are not
sure if your child is at a healthy weight, ask with your doctor or nurse. All children, ado-
lescents and adults need to make healthy food choices in their diet and get more physical
activity every day. BMI (Body Mass Index) can determine whether or not your current
weight or your childs weight is a healthy weight. All children, adolescents and adults
need to make healthy food choices in their diet and get more physical activity every-
day. If you need further information, log on to http://www.cdc.gov/healthyweight.


The Florida Department of Health in Franklin/Gulf
Counties is celebrating National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration child passenger safety week
with Cars and Kids. This is a car seat checkup
event in partnership with Early Head Start. The event
is being held September 15, 2014 at Early Head Start
located at 159 Highway 98 Apalachicola, Fl 32320
from 1:30p.m. to 3:00p.m. For more information
please contact Mrs. Patricia Rickards at(850) 653-
2111.
In Honor of Labor DayLearn Steps to Create Lung Friendly Workplaces
Could your workplace be making you sick: This Labor Day, the American Lung Association is rec-
ognizing the working men and women in the U.S. that are living with lung disease or may develop a
lung disease for the first time caused by exposures to certain chemicals, irritants or allegens at work.
If you have asthma, exposures in the workplace can be a cause of asthma symptoms. Check out the
American Lung Associations Guide to Controlling Asthma at Work to learn the four steps to pre-
vent asthma symptoms at work: www.lung.org/workplaceasthmaguide. Submitted by Gina Moore,
Tobacco Prevention Program with the Florida Department of Health in Franklin County.

If you are experiencing a breathing problem at work, encourage your employer to review the Ameri-
can Lung Associations Guide to Lung-Friendly Workplaces.
The Florida Department of Health in Franklin/
Gulf County Closing the Gap program supports
Fruits and Veggies Month. The Closing the Gap
Program will start back hosting healthy cooking
demonstrations at the Piggly Wiggly in Apalachic-
ola and Dollar General Market in Port St. Joe in
October.

The newsletter is written by Talitha Robinson and Vanessa Edenfield, R.N. The information is provided on the purpose of edu-
cation only and is not for the use to diagnose and/or treat any medical and/or mental health condition.
For specific medical advice, diagnosis, and/or treatment please contact your primary care provider.




FREE Childbirth Education Classes


Learn about :
The Labor and Delivery Process
Options for Managing Pain
Breastfeeding
Newborn Care and Much More

This 6 week class series is taught by certified childbirth educator and there is
No charge to attend. You are encouraged to bring your partner or loved one
to share this experience. Childcare will not be provided.
You may bring a pillow and a blanket along with a drink
and light snack.

Car seat safety education offered during the 5th class.

When: Mondays, October 6thNovember 10th, 5:00 p.m.7:00 p.m.
Where: Florida Department of Health in Franklin County (Franklin County Health Depart-
ment)
139 12th Street, Apalachicola, Fl 32320
Contact: Patricia at 850-370-6357 to reserve a spot
We would like to wish the following staff a
very Happy Birthday!

Patricia Rickards 9/22

The Health Education Team at the Florida Depart-
ment of Health in Franklin County has organized
a Community Walking Club called Franklin On
The Go! This Club will be conducting communi-
ty walks on Monday and Thursdays at 6pm-7pm.
The start location will be at the Franklin County
Health Department.
#HealthiestWeightFL
Franklin On The Go! Walking Club