FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH IN

GULF COUNTY
Mission: To protect, promote & improve the health of all people in Florida
through integrated state, county, & community efforts.

WELLNESS NEWSLETTER APRIL 2015

FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH CELEBRATES NATIONAL PUBLIC HEALTH WEEK
April 612 is National Public Health Week 2015. Florida's public
health community is rallying around the national goal of showing
the world how individuals, families and communities are
committed to making the U.S. the Healthiest Nation in
One Generationby 2030.
As part of National Public Health Week, the Florida Department
of Health is encouraging all Floridians to make healthier choices
and incorporate exercise as part of their daily routines to help
combat obesity, reduce risk of disease and improve overall
health.

What does public health do

for you and your community?

Please click HERE to watch a

short video!

Kick Butts Day Beach Cleanup

SUCCESS
On Sunday, March 22, 2015, SWAT youth and community
members volunteered to clean-up roadways and beaches in honor
of Kick Butts Day. Among other forms of debris, it was estimated
that over 2,000 cigarette butts were collected in just a small
stretch of land in St. Joe Beach. Imagine what that could mean for
all of the roadways that border our beautiful beaches?

The Wewahitchka Elementary SWAT team

took on the task of sorting through the butts
and creating a display of what they
collected during the Kick Butts
Clean-up. Please look for their display at
both health department locations.

Quit Smoking Completely.

For many, it is a chance to quit tobacco.
Fortunately, Gulf County residents dont have to do it
alone. The Florida Department of Health in Gulf
County and the Tobacco Free Florida program have
free, proven-effective resources that can double a
tobacco users chances of quitting.
For more information, contact Jessie Pippin, Tobacco Prevention Specialist, 850-227-1276 x 168.

FITNESS
CHALLENGE 2015
After twelve weeks of dedication, inspiration and more than a bit of competition, the Community Health
Improvement Partners would like to congratulate all of the Fitness Challenge 2015 participants.

As a team, we have lost 606 pounds! Each and every one of you need to be proud of
your accomplishment in taking the first and hardest step toward a healthier YOU.
TOP 10 Participants:
1-James Wiley 18.6%
2-Jennifer Williams 16.5%
3- Kathie Sarmiento 15.9%
4- Mary Clayton 15.3%
5- Christa Gray 14.2%
6- Melissa Rushing 13.2%
7- Steve Kerigan 12.6%
8- Bob Johnson 12.3%
9- LeAnne Blackman 11.7%
10- Dona Sander, 10.8%

April is National Distracted

Driving Awareness Month
Nearly 50 percent of teens text while driving.
And 8 teens die every day in traffic accidents.
To raise awareness, DOH-Gulf and Franklin
health educators have presented Distracted Driving
school assemblies in all county Jr./Sr. High Schools.
Dont talk or text while driving.
One Text or Call Could Wreck It All.
Picture Above: I pledge to not text while driving poster signed
by Franklin 9th-12th grade students.

April 18-25, 2015

April 18-25, 2015

Help him fight measles with

the most powerful defense.
Giving him the recommended
immunizations by age two is the best
way to protect him from
14 serious childhood diseases, like
measles and whooping cough. For
more reasons to vaccinate, talk to
your childs doctor or go to
http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines or call
1-800-CDC-INFO.
Immunization. Power to Protect.
To schedule immunizations for your
child at the Florida Department of
Health in Gulf County, call
(850)227-1276 for Port St. Joe or
(850)639-2644 for the Wewahitchka
clinic.

Need a FREE ride to the farmers market?

Program Details:
FREE transportation available within City
of Port St. Joe only.
1st Round Trip: 9:30-10:30 am EST
2nd Round Trip: 10:00-11:00 am EST
To reserve your seat, call (850)229-6550
by noon on the Thursday before the next
farmers market.
*Please be ready by your
pick up/drop off times.
This project is brought to you by:
Gulf County Community Health Improvement Partners
(CHIP), Gulf Public Transportation, Salt Air Farmers Market in Port St. Joe and the
Florida Department of Health in Gulf County.

Healthy Cooking Demonstrations

Still Going Strong!
Learn how to cook a healthy recipe at the following grocery outlets this April:
Piggly WigglyApalachicola
April 1st and 8th, 2015 2pm-5pm
Dollar General MarketPSJ
April 15th and 22nd, 2015 2pm-5pm
For more information, contact Talitha Robinson, Closing the Gap Program Coordinator, 850-653-2111 x 102.