HEALTH EDUCATION

For more information about Health Education, contact us at 785-826-6600 or send us an email. Many of the websites listed are available en Espanol.

Public Health Education

Emergency Preparedness

Health Promotion & Wellness

Worksite Wellness

Tobacco Use Prevention

HIV/AIDS Prevention

HIV/AIDS Case Management

Public Health Education offers information on a variety of health topics, and can help you locate reliable sources of health information. We can assist you in locating certain health statistics. We collaborate with other agencies on grant applications related to public health.

Display items are available for loan to community groups, churches, businesses, and health fairs. We can help you to start a wellness policy or program for your business. We are happy to partner with others in the community on projects and events that will improve the health of our citizens.

For more information about public health, visit these websites:

• Center for Disease Control www.cdc.gov
• Kansas Department of Health and Environment www.kdheks.gov
• National Association of County & City Health Officials www.naccho.org
• Healthy People 2010 www.healthypeople.gov
• United States Department of Health & Human Services www.surgeongeneral.gov/publichealthpriorities.html 

Emergency Preparedness works with Saline County Emergency Management and other public and private organizations to coordinate and plan for the community response to public health emergencies such as pandemic flu, bioterrorism, disease outbreaks, and other natural disasters. We set up training, drills, and community-wide disease surveillance systems.

For information on individual and workplace pandemic flu preparedness, go to:

http://www.pandemicflu.gov/plan/individual/index.html

http://www.kdheks.gov/cphp/families.htm

For H1N1 flu information in ASL and other languages:

http://www.kdheks.gov/H1N1/H1N1_multilingual.htm

For information on cleaning agents for hard surfaces, go to:

http://www.epa.gov/oppad001/influenza-disinfectants.html

To sign up free for Salina/Saline County Code Red (to get emergency notification on your telephone) go to:

http://www.ci.salina.ks.us/content/126/193/197.aspx

For more information on disaster planning, go to:

http://www.redcross.org/

http://www.kdheks.gov/cphp/index.htm

http://www.getreadyforflu.org/newsite.htm

http://www.ready.gov/

Health Promotion & Wellness places an emphasis on preventing chronic disease through increased physical activity, healthy diet, and tobacco avoidance. We partner with many community coalitions, schools, and wellness programs; including the Saline County Tobacco Use Prevention Program, Pound Plunge, Go Red for Women,  Salina Senior Games, Back to School Fair, American Heart Association, American Cancer Society, and others to reduce the incidence of heart disease, cancer, diabetes, obesity, and other chronic illnesses.

We all need to work together to create healthy environments that support healthy behavior choices. This can happen through a variety of activities: personal initiative at home, organized sports, and even policy developments and programs in the community and workplace.

Changing from unhealthy habits to healthy ones is sometimes difficult, but the benefits of good health are worth it. Eating better, moving more and quitting tobacco use can help to prevent the leading causes of death, suffering, and health care costs. Take charge of your health!

Start improving your health today with your free copy of CheckUp: The Complete Personal Health Manager. CheckUp is a software program that helps track your health information securely on your personal computer. Try it - it's free to all Kansans!

• http://www.checkupsoftware.com/HealthyKansas.html

For more information on chronic disease prevention, visit these websites:

American Heart Association www.americanheart.org

American Cancer Society Workplace Solutions www.acsworkplacesolutions.com

Why wellness?

• Health care costs are rising.
• In 2007, health care spending in the United States reached $2.3 trillion, and is projected to reach $3 trillion in 2011. Health care spending is projected to reach $4.2 trillion by 2016. (Source: The National Coalition on Health Care)
• Children and adults are overweight and obese.
• 61% of Kansans are overweight or obese and 24% of Kansans are obese.
• Preventable diseases are rising
• The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports preventable lifestyle-related illnesses account for 70%-90% of all healthcare costs.

The reality and cost of obesity:

Adults:

• Only about 1/4 of adults in the US eat the recommended servings of fruits and vegetables each day.
• Obesity rates have increased by more than 60% among adults in the last 10 years -- 25% of the adult population is obese.
• More than 60% of adults do not get enough physical activity.
• In Kansas in 1995, 15% to 19% were obese; in 2001, this number climbed to 20% to 24%.

Children & Young Adults:

• More than 60% of young people eat too much fat, and less than 20% eat the recommended servings of fruits and vegetables each day.
• Children and young adults who are overweight are more likely to be overweight or obese as adults.
• Almost 16% of our children and young adults are overweight. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) have estimated that 1 in 3 children will develop diabetes in their lifetime.

Costs:

• In 2000, the total cost of obesity in the US was estimated to be $117 billion (US Department of Health and Human Services).
• The lifetime medical costs of heart-related diseases (hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, stroke, high cholesterol) are approximately $10,000 higher for those moderately obese (than among people at healthy weight).
• Increased physical activity reduces illnesses associated with obesity, which helps re-duce long-term medical costs. Preventable illness accounts for 70% of the burden of illness and its associated costs.

For more information about obesity, visit these websites:

• WE CAN Ways to Enhance Children's Activity & Nutrition www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/heart/obesity/wecan/index.htm
• National Heart Lung and Blood Institute Obesity Education Initiative www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/heart/obesity/lose_wt/patmats.htm
• Kansas Department of Health and Environment Office of Health Promotion www.kdheks.gov/bhp/index.html

Physical activity and nutrition guidelines:
The USDA has developed the “My Pyramid” program to help you choose the foods, amounts and physical exercise that are right for you. For more information visit www.mypyramid.gov

 The 3 goals through the pyramid system help you:

• Make smart choices from every food group
• Find your balance between food and physical activity; and
• Get the most nutrition out of your calories

Healthy Eating:

• Emphasizes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, fat-free or low-fat milk and milk products
• Includes lean meats, poultry fish, beans, eggs and nuts
• Is low in saturated fats, trans fats, cholesterol, salt and added sugars

Nutrition:

• Consume 3 cups per day of fat-free of low-fat milk or milk products.
• Choose low-fat or lean meats and poultry. Consume 5.5 ounces of meats and beans per day (based on 2000 calorie intake).
• At least half of your daily “grains” should come from whole grains.
• Eat the recommended level of fruits and vegetables each day (for 2000 calorie intake, this is 2 cups of fruit and 2 1/2 cups of vegetables per day).

Eat 5 to 9 servings of fruits and veggies a day:

What is a serving?

A typical portion is often more than one serving. A large salad, for example, can add up to 2 to 3 servings. One serving of fruits and vegetables should fit within the palm of your hand. It's a lot smaller than most people think.

Why do we need to eat more fruits and vegetables?

Research proves that fruits and vegetables are critical to promoting good health. In fact, fruits and vegetables should be the foundation of a healthy diet. Most people need to double the amount of fruits and vegetables they eat every day.

How do fruits and vegetables fight to protect your health?

Fruits and vegetables are packed with essential vitamins, minerals, fiber, and disease-fighting phytochemicals. Because of this, eating a variety of fruits and veggies everyday can help reduce your risk of: heart disease, high blood pressure, type II diabetes, and certain cancers.

Does an apple a day keep the doctor away?

For healthy recipes, check out these sites:

• Food Fit www.foodfit.com

• Fruits and Veggies – More Matters!

• Delicious Decisions www.deliciousdecisions.org

• National Heart Lung and Blood Institute cookbooks

  • Keep the Beat www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/heart/other/ktb_recipebk/ktb_recipebk.pdf

  • Stay Young at Heart www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/heart/other/syah/index.htm

  • Heart-Healthy Home Cooking African American Style www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/heart/other/chdblack/cooking.pdf

Don’t forget the water!

Water is essential to daily living. It helps with body-temperature maintenance, is needed for your body to function properly and is vital to electrolyte balance. There are recommended amounts for normal activity:

• Women: 8 glasses (64 oz) daily
• Men: 12 glasses (96 oz) daily

Of course, with physical exercise, you need to replace the water you lose. Be sure to drink before, during and after exercise to avoid dehydration!

Physical activity:

Engage in moderate-intensity physical activities for at least 30 minutes on 5 or more days of the week (Centers for Disease Control). Make sure to do at least 10 minutes of activity at a time. For example, you can take three 10-minute brisk walks.

Vigorous exercise includes activities like jogging, running, fast cycling, aerobic classes, swimming laps, singles tennis, and racquetball. These activities usually increase your heart rate, make you sweat and may cause you to breathe faster or with more effort. Moderate exercise includes activities such as brisk walking, gardening, slow cycling, dancing, doubles tennis, or hard work around the house.

For more information about wellness and exercise, visit these websites:

• Walk Kansas: A Fitness Challenge www.walkkansas.org
• Healthy Kansas www.healthykansas.org
• MyStart Online Fitness Program www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=3040839
• Choose to Move Program for Women www.choosetomove.org
• Resources from Choose to Move www.choosetomove.org/my_tools/aha_resources.html

Body mass index:
One first step to taking charge of your health is knowing your Body Mass Index. The term BMI is often used when discussing the obesity epidemic, but what is BMI?

Body Mass Index is a number that shows body weight adjusted for height. BMI can be calculated with simple math using inches and pounds, or meters and kilograms. For adults aged 20 years or older, BMI falls into one of these categories: underweight, nor-mal, overweight, or obese. BMI is not the only indicator of health risk.

BMI is just one of many factors related to developing a chronic disease (such as heart disease, cancer, or diabetes). Other factors that may be important to look at when assessing your risk for chronic disease include:

• Eating habits
• Physical activity
• Waist circumference
• Blood pressure
• Blood sugar level
• Cholesterol level
• Family history of disease

BMI calculators

• http://www.cdc.gov/healthyweight/assessing/bmi/
• http://www.nhlbisupport.com/bmi/

All persons who are obese or overweight should try not to gain additional weight. In addition, those who are obese or who are overweight with other risk factors should consider losing weight. A complete health assessment by a physician is the best way to decide the right steps for you. Whatever your BMI, talk to your doctor to see if you are at an increased risk for disease and if you should lose weight. Even a small weight loss (just 10% of your current weight) may help to lower the risk of disease. Physical activity and good nutrition are key factors in leading a healthy lifestyle and reducing risk for disease.

http://www.cdc.gov/vitalsigns/pdf/2010-08-vitalsigns.pdf

Worksite Wellness  Investing in the health of employees is one of the best decisions a company can make. At least 25% of the healthcare costs incurred by working adults are attributed to modifiable health risks such as poor diet and lack of exercise.

Challenges corporations face today...

With more pressure today than ever before, Corporate America is struggling to be profitable while healthcare costs continue to rise and attack their most important resource -- employees.

Most executives know that creating a wellness environment is the only way to have healthier employees and ultimately lower healthcare costs. Worksites are crucial to improving the health of their workers. Most adults spend more of their waking hours at work than anywhere else, making it a great place for promoting healthful habits. The worksite organizational culture and environment are powerful influences on behavior and can influence employees to adopt a healthier lifestyle.

Employee benefits of wellness policies

• Weight reduction
• Improved physical fitness
• Increased stamina
• Lower levels of stress
• Increased well-being, self-image and self-esteem
• Employer Benefits of Wellness Policies
• Enhanced recruitment and retention of healthy employees
• Reduced healthcare costs
• Decreased rates of illness and injuries
• Reduced employee absenteeism
• Improved employee relations and morale
• Increased productivity

A U.S. Department of Health and Human Services report in 2002 revealed that at worksites with physical activity programs, employers have:

• Reduced healthcare costs by 20-55%
• Reduced short-term sick leave by 6-32%
• Increased productivity by 2-52%

Studies show:

• Fitness programs have reduced employer healthcare costs by 20-55%.
• Preventable illnesses make up 70% of illness costs in the United States.
• Reducing just one health risk increases a person's productivity on the job by 9% and reduces absenteeism by 2%.
• For every $1 the average company spends on its worksite wellness program, it receives an average net benefit of $3.40 to $7.88.

"Meeting well"
Using these suggestions can help you have a healthy meeting, training, or event.

Have a morning meeting and provide:

• Fresh fruit
• Low-fat breakfast burrito
• Low or non-fat yogurt
• Hard cooked eggs
• Whole wheat or multi-grain mini bagels -- 3½” diameter or less (or cut regular bagels in half)
• Small muffins (2-2½ or smaller) -- bran, oatmeal, or multi-grain (large muffins can be cut into smaller portion sizes)
• Fruit quick breads (i.e., oatmeal, banana, pumpkin) -- cut into small pieces
• Whole grain toast or English muffins
• Offer low fat cheese, low fat cream cheese, peanut butter, jam or jelly
• Granola bars -- low fat (5 grams of fat or less per bar)
• Low-fat granola

What about lunch/dinner? Try these suggestions:

• Salad with low-fat or fat-free dressing on the side
• Soups -- vegetarian broth based or skim milk based (not cream)
• Pasta salad with low-fat dressing
• Sandwiches made with whole grain breads or wraps made with lean meats, low-fat cheese, low-fat condiments
• 2-3 ounce serving -- lean meats, poultry, fish, tofu (3 grams fat/oz.)
• Steamed vegetables with herbs/lemon
• Whole grain rolls
• Fresh fruit, canned fruit in fruit juice or light syrup
• Include at least one vegetable -- fresh or cooked (avoid cream sauces)
• Baked potatoes with low fat toppings (low-fat sour cream, low-fat plain yogurt, or salsa)
• Boxed lunches/dinners -- whole grain or pita bread or wraps prepared with low-fat mayonnaise lettuce, sprouts, tomatoes, onions, pickles, mustard, catsup; meats, poultry or marinated tofu (low-fat = 3 grams fat/oz); cheese, request fruit or veggies instead of chips; or if including chips request pretzels or baked chips (7 grams fat or less/oz)

When serving desserts, offer small serving sizes:

• Angel food cake (2” square) with fresh fruit topping
• Low-fat ice cream or frozen yogurt

Ask if it’s really necessary to provide food at the meetings, presentations, and seminars, especially mid-morning and mid-afternoon? If so, here are more suggestions:

• Fresh fruit -- cut up and offered with low-fat yogurt dip
• Tortilla chips -- baked and offered with salsa dip
• Raw vegetables -- cut up and offered with fat-free or low-fat dressing or salsa dip
• Pretzels, hot pretzels cut in pieces or baked chips (7 grams of fat or less per ounce)
• Low-fat cheese, string cheese
• Granola bars -- low fat (5 grams of fat or less per bar)
• “Lite” popcorn (air-popped, or low fat and lightly salted)
• Whole grain crackers
• Dried fruit or trail mix
• Roasted nuts

Having a catered event but still want to keep it healthy?

• Select an entrée with no more than 12-15 gram of fat
• Always offer a vegetarian entrée
• Avoid fried foods or cream sauces
• Fresh fruit -- cut up and offered with low-fat yogurt dip
• Include at least one vegetable -- fresh or cooked, with no butter or cream sauces added
• Choose lower fat/lower calorie desserts: low-fat ice cream or frozen yogurt, sherbet or sorbet, angel food cake with fruit topping

Having a reception but still want to keep it healthy?

• Raw vegetables salads marinated in fat-free or low-fat Italian dressing
• Raw vegetables -- cut up and offered with fat-free or low-fat dressing, salsa or tofu dip
• Pasta, tofu, and vegetable salad with fat-free or low-fat dressing
• Fresh fruit - cup up and offered with low-fat yogurt dip
• Vegetable sushi rolls
• Vegetable spring rolls -- fresh, not fried
• Low fat cheese slice or small cubes
• Reduced or low-fat whole grain crackers
• Salmon (poached or steamed, no breading)
• Lean beef or turkey -- 1 ounce slices
• Miniature meatballs made with lean meat
• Mushroom caps with low-fat cheese stuffing
• Miniature pizzas made with English muffins, tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese, and mushrooms
• Roasted nuts
• Cake -- cut into small 2” squares

Beverages

• Ice water
• Water -- bottled, plain, sparkling or flavored sparkling with no added sugar
• 100% fruit or vegetable juice, avoid large-size bottles
• Skim or 1% milk
• Coffee and flavored coffees -- regular and decaffeinated
• Tea -- regular and herb teas -- hot and cold
• Coffee/tea creamer of skim milk, 1% milk or fat-free half & half

And don’t forget to add a walking break, if possible.

For more information about creating a healthy worksite, visit these websites:

• American Cancer Society Workplace Solutions www.acsworkplacesolutions.com
• Healthy Workforce 2010 Sourcebook for Employers
• www.acsworkplacesolutions.com/documents/Healthy_Workforce_2010.pdf

The Kansas Legislature passed a Clean Indoor Air Ordinance in 2010 for the entire state.  However, local ordinances that are more strict than the state law, (such as Salina's), must be followed in addition to the state law.

Tobacco-free workplace policies
The costs of employee tobacco use to the employer are significant. Direct costs to the employer include healthcare costs associated with tobacco use. Indirect costs include lost productivity, absenteeism and recruitment and retraining costs resulting from death and disability related to tobacco use.

Tobacco-free workplaces can enhance productivity in two ways. The effects of secondhand smoke on nonsmokers is reduced. Additionally, smokers who are motivated to quit as a result of the tobacco-free policy will have reduced absenteeism. Especially for small businesses that have employees who handle a variety of tasks, productivity can be greatly increased by reduced absenteeism.

A smoker who quits could save his/her employer an estimated $960 in excess illness costs each year. Persons who quit smoking before age 65 are estimated to save from 40-67% of the lifetime excess medical costs of persons who continue to smoke. Smokers are absent from work 50% more often than nonsmokers, have twice as many on-the-job accidents, and are 50% more likely to be hospitalized than workers who do not smoke. Recognizing that employees of smoke-free companies may be healthier year-round, many insurers are inclined to give those companies a break on premiums. Some fire and casualty companies, for example, will cut their premiums by 50%.

Finally, managers in tobacco-free workplaces are relieved to have a clear process for dealing with tobacco use in the workplace. Maintenance costs go down when smoke, matches and cigarette butts are eliminated from facilities. Office equipment, carpets, and furniture last longer. Besides being wise for health-related reasons, being a tobacco-free workplace just makes good business sense!

For more information on smoke-free policies in your workplace, visit:

• World Health Organization Tobacco Free Initiative www.who.int/tobacco/mpower/tobacco_facts/en/index.html
• American Lung Association www.lungusa.org www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Tobacco/cancer
• Clean Air Kansas City www.cleanairkc.com/ventilation.asp
• Tobacco Free Kansas Coalition www.tobaccofreekansas.org
• Healthy Workforce 2010 Sourcebook for Employers www.acsworkplacesolutions.com/documents/Healthy_Workforce_2010.pdf

Smoking calculators

In this country, lung disease is responsible for one in seven deaths. Quitting smoking not only greatly reduces serious risks to your health but it also can greatly increase your disposable income. Smokers in the US spend nearly $50 million annually on cigarettes.

How much of that money did you kick in?

• American Lung Association of Idaho/Nevada Cost of Smoking Calculator www.lungs.org/cos.htm
• American Heart Association Cost of Smoking Calculator www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=3050785