Support programs that encourage physical activity such as Safe Routes to School

Spring is officially here and Jefferson County Public Health encourages everyone to get outside and get active. Physical activity can help improve your health. Check out the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Physical Activity Guidelines and the national “Let’s Move” campaign.

Everyone can benefit from physical activity. Unfortunately, most children in Jefferson County are not getting the recommended amount of physical activity per day. Our 2013 community health assessment data showed that in 2009, only 39% of children ages 5-14 met the physical activity guidelines of 60 minutes of activity a day.

Safe Routes to School Programs SRTS programs provide educational opportunities and infrastructure support for people to increase their physical activity by making it easier and safer to walk and bike in their community. All kids deserve safe routes to school in their community. HB14-1301, is a measure currently in the state legislature to increase walking and bicycling in Colorado through Safe Routes to School (SRTS) programs. The Colorado SRTS program is at risk without passage of House Bill 1301. Consider emailing your elected official to educate them on the importance of creating environments around schools that allow students and parents to walk, bike or scoot safely to school. Click here to sign up for updates and for more information on the bill.

Get ACTIVE . . . Regular physical activity can help lower blood pressure and improve health

Products that claim to lower blood pressure and cholesterol may or may not work, but regular physical activity has been proven to prevent and control these conditions. Just 30 minutes a day is enough to make your heart more efficient at pumping blood, and when your heart is better at pumping blood your blood pressure will decrease. Moderate to vigorous physical activity also lowers LDL (bad) cholesterol, and raises HDL (good) cholesterol. If 30 minutes at a time is too much, you can break it up and do 10 minutes at a time throughout your day.  Kids need at least 60 minutes of active and vigorous play each day to stay healthy, and one of the easiest and most enjoyable ways to meet this goal is by playing outside.  Jefferson County partners with Jeffco Open Space to encourage physical activity.

Check out the Open Space Parks and trails web page. 
View the national Let’s Move web site.

Take a Hike Day

November 17, is National Take a Hike Day. 

Although this may be something you’ve been trying to tell your unwanted house guest, we mean get outside and go for a hike!  Outdoor physical activity can improve your health.  It can lower your blood pressure, your risk of heart disease and even some cancers.  It may even be the answer to your sleepless nights and low energy levels. Did you know that, according to the US Department of Health and Human Services, less than half of all adults get enough physical activity to improve their health.  Here’s the answer.  Get Healthy. Stay Health. Go for a Hike. Visit Jeffco Outdoors.org for more hiking ideas and here for hiking maps in Jefferson County!

Get ACTIVE in April

Spring is officially here and Jefferson County Public Health encourages everyone to make the most of it. Get outside and get active. Physical activity can help improve your health, make a commitment to move more this April! Check out the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Physical Activity Guidelines and the national “Let’s Move” campaign.