Energize!-Wilkes Begins with 30!

Energize!-Wilkes began on March 4th with 30 kids and their families! Energize!-Wilkes lasts for 12-weeks and ends on May 31st. Parents and children meet two night per week and on Saturdays at the YMCA. Kids received blood work in late February and will get free blood work again in June and next February. They also learn how to eat better, how to enjoy exercise and ways to set personal, physical, and nutritonal goals. Energize!-Wilkes is a collaboration between the Wilkes County Health Department and the Wilkes Family YMCA. Referrals to the program were provided by local physicians' offices.

Watch future posts to see how the kids are doing. For more information about this program contact Josh Swift, Program Coordinator at 336.651.7449 or e-mail at jswift@wilkescounty.net.

STREET SURVIVAL PROGRAM TO REDUCE NUMBER-ONE KILLER OF TEENS COMES TO WILKES COUNTY

In 2006 alone, 7,463 people died behind the wheel of a car due to crashes involving drivers aged 16 - 20. To reduce that number in this area, the Tire Rack Street Survival™ program, will be coming to the Wilkes Family YMCA in Wilkesboro on May 17, 2008.
Tire Rack Street Survival™ is a national driver education program aimed at teaching teens the skills they need to stay alive behind the wheel. The Tire Rack Street Survival™ program improves driver competence through hands-on experiences in real-world driving situations. Teenagers learn from professional driving instructors how their actions can control a car’s responses, what the limits of their vehicles are, and how to avoid accidents entirely. Unlike other advanced driving schools, students use their own vehicles so that the skills they learn can be directly translated to their own daily driving experiences.
Statistics show that more teens die in car crashes than by drugs or violence. Bill Wade, National Street Survival™ Program Manager says, “handing the keys to an improperly trained driver endangers not only the teens but others on the road as well. Street Survival’s goal is to prepare young drivers for the hazards they will face on the road and how to deal with them in a safe, effective manner.”
“As members of this community, many of us have teenagers who are just beginning what we hope will be a long life as a safe driver,” said Beth Lovette, Wilkes Health Director “That’s why we’ve volunteered to bring this program to Wilkes County—in order to reduce the number of deaths that result from teenage driving fatalities.”
The class runs from 9am to 3pm, and is open to permitted and licensed drivers ages 16 – 21. Registration forms can be found online at www.streetsurvival.org. The cost is $60 per student and some insurance companies offer premium discounts to graduates.

About Street Survival™
Formed by the BMW Car Club of America Foundation (www.bmwccafoundation.org), the Street Survival™ safe teen driving program (www.streetsurvival.org) was launched in April 2002 with the help of several corporate sponsors. Street Survival™ is built on the principle that 'safe driving is learned by doing', and teaches students to avoid accidents by thinking and looking ahead. Street Survival™ is unique in that it offers students instruction in their own cars so that they learn the limitations of their every day vehicle. Street Survival is sponsored by the Wilkes Child Fatality Prevention Team, the Wilkes Family YMCA, and the BMW Car Club of America.

More Information
For more information about Street Survival or to register go to www.streetsurvival.org and click “School Schedule/Registration,” and fill out a registration form. Only 30 slots are available and scholarships may be offered to those unable to afford the registration fee. Please call Josh Swift, Health Promotion Coordinator at 651-7449 if you have any questions about the Street Survival safe teen driving program.

Families Eating Smart Moving More

Throughout the months of January and February several churches in Wilkes County participated in a 4 class series called Families Eating Smart Moving More (FESMM). The classes focused on ways families could make healthier food choices at home and when eating out. Participants also looked at ways to add more physical activity into their daily lives. Churches involved with the program included Baptist Home Church (pictured at right), Millers Creek Baptist Church, and Oakwoods Baptist Church. If your church is interested in hosting FESMM classes call Josh Swift, Health Promotion Coordinator at the Wilkes County Health Department 651.7449.

Be Good to Your Heart (and the rest of your body)

We just finished celebrating Valentine's Day, and most of us indulged in candies, cupcakes and any other food item that a heart could be placed on or be the color pink. I wanted to ask a quick question. How are those New Year's Resolutions going? To be honest most people have already given up on them. The problem is that most people try to make too many changes at once.

Over the next few days take some time to think about your health and what you could do to be healthier. Maybe that marathon resolution was a bit of a stretch. How about walking for 20 minutes 3 days a week? Or taking a class at the YMCA? Giving up regular sodas for diet? Eating 100 less calories at a meal? Almost all of us can do that. The great thing about small changes is they add up to make a big difference.

Remember this equation:

small changes + time = big results

Walking Logs Work Wonders

Hello. It's a new year and time to take care of those New Year's Resolutions. The #1 resolution for most Americans is to lose weight, and one of the best ways to take off those pounds is to get moving.

Walking is one of the most popular forms of physical activity. It is an activity that only requires a comfortable pair of shoes and the outdoors (or a gym). Even on cold days it is a good idea to get outside and walk for your exercise. The cold, crisp air will not only wake you up but it helps you burn more calories because your body has to work harder to keep your body temperature at 98.6 degrees.

For a printable walking log go to the links section of this blog and click on Walking Log.

Remember to wear comfortable clothing, drink plenty of water (even in the winter), and be safe.

Fitness Challenge Winners Announced

From September 23rd to November 3rd the Wilkes Healthy Carolinians Council (formerly the Wilkes Community Health Council) sponsored the 1st Annual Fall Fitness Challenge. Persons living and/or working in Wilkes County were encouraged to track their minutes of physical activity for 6 weeks and then mail their log to Josh Swift, Health Promotion Coordinator at the Health Department.

Swift stated, “Our goal was to encourage people to ‘Choose to Move More Everyday.’” During the Fall Fitness Challenge group walks were held during “Walktober” to encourage increased physical activity in a group setting. “We are promoting a healthy, active lifestyle where individuals and families make decisions to eat smart and move more,” said Swift.

Over 35 participants sent their physical activity logs to the health department. Six participants were drawn and given the following prizes:

Grand Prize – Lisa Wright (pictured with Josh Swift above)(heart rate monitor, t-shirt, pedometer, fitness book, license plate, 1-month membership to the Wilkes Family YMCA, and a $25 Wal-Mart gift card)

First Place Winners:
Tamera Shew
Susan Brown
Sandra Lambert
Penny Barlow
Tony Marin

All five received a pedometer, fitness book, and 1-month membership to the YMCA.

All total over $400 in prizes were awarded for participating in the Fall Fitness Challenge. Swift stated, “We are excited about the results of the 2007 Fall Fitness Challenge and are looking forward to planning the 2008 Challenge.

For more information on fitness, nutrition and other health topics call Josh Swift, Health Promotion Coordinator at the Wilkes County Health Department at 336-651-7449.

Energize Classes to be Offered in March

ENERGIZE! is a 12-week program offered March 2008-May 2008 and presented by the Wilkes County Health Department and the Wilkes Family YMCA. During these 12 weeks, kids learn how to lead active, healthy lives as they enjoy fun-filled activities.

Highlights include:

• Individual assessment: Parent and child meet one-on-one with
a professional staff person to discuss risk factors for type 2 diabetes.

• Focus on Food: Learn important nutrition and health concepts
through fun and informative activities.

• Emotional Issues: Explore how emotions and self esteem affect
our health and the choices we make.

• Behavioral Changes: Learn to identify and help change unhealthy
behaviors and set lifestyle goals.

• Exercise for Fun & Fitness: Kids become more fit with a fun fitness
program full of a variety of activities. Parents are given the opportunity to
get active by exercising at the community location.

• Parent sessions: Parents attend ENERGIZE! sessions to learn about
nutrition, exercise and being a role model. Parents also learn how to support
their child emotionally through encouragement.

Medical follow-up: Children are seen every six months at the Wilkes County Health Department for the next year to continue setting goals, and to evaluate risk factors.

If you think your child may be at-risk of type 2 diabetes ask your physician or Call Josh Swift at 336-651-7449 for more information.

Risk Factors for diabetes include:

-Overweight or at-risk of becoming overweight
-Family history of diabetes
-Race (African-American, Native American, Hispanic, Asian)
-High Fasting Blood Glucose (100 or above)
-Acanthosis Nigricans (dark, velvety patches around neck, elbows, fingers)
-High blood pressure