KING COUNTY, WASHINGTON - Hundreds of Public Health – Seattle & King County employees are celebrating national Public Health Week by showing that the best way to better health is often simply by going for a walk. King County Executive Ron Sims, the King County Council and Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels have issued proclamations signifying April 4-10 as Public Health Week.

“The experts tell us exercise improves our health and that’s why King County is doing everything from developing more trails to adopting land use policies that make neighborhoods more pedestrian friendly,” said Ron Sims, King County Executive. “Walk your neighborhood, or explore our parks and extensive trail system. Walking is the perfect way to get into shape and have fun at the same time.”

“One of my top priorities has long been the health of our community,” said Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels. “Walking is a simple but effective approach to better health.”

Members of the King County Council and Seattle City Council are launching a month-long challenge this week to see which Council can log more miles, on average. Members of both councils will be on hand to discuss their walking challenge at an event featuring Public Health employees taking a walk through downtown Seattle, along with members of the City and County Councils:

Public Health Week walking event
Wednesday, April 6th at 1:00 p.m.
Bertha Knight Landes Room
Seattle City Hall, 600 5th Avenue

“Increasing physical activity is essential to overcoming the obesity epidemic facing King County and our nation,” said Carolyn Edmonds, Chair of the King County Board of Health. “Walking is an easy and no-cost way to improve health and feel good too.”

“Seattle was just named one of the country’s most walkable cities,” said Seattle City Council President Jan Drago. “I encourage all of Seattle to get out and walk. You’ll meet neighbors and get healthier at the same time."

This week at Public Health locations county-wide, employees will be “walking the talk” of walking to better health by holding walking or other physical activity events at their worksites.

Empowering Americans to live stronger and longer is the theme of this year’s national public health week, and one way to get there is through consistent exercise, research shows. “Often times, the most successful way to get healthier is to make small but sustainable changes in our behavior, such as taking a 20 minute walk each day,” said Dr. Alonzo Plough, Director and Health Officer for Public Health – Seattle & King County. “With obesity on the rise in our country, rivaling smoking as a cause for ill health and early mortality, I applaud our employees, King County and Seattle officials, and any King County resident who takes on the challenge and adds a daily walk to their routine.”

While walking is an easy and enjoyable way to exercise, it is important to remember to do it safely. Walkers should walk on the sidewalk. If there is no sidewalk, walk facing traffic. Only cross at crosswalks, and consider wearing reflective clothing if walking at night.

Pedestrian advocates have tips for drivers, including:

Additional tips may be found at the Feet First website: www.feetfirst.info

Living longer and stronger is not just the theme for Public Health Week, it is the goal held by each Public Health activity and program. To learn more about how Public Health helps residents achieve better health visit the following websites:

To learn more about King County Parks and trails, visit: www.metrokc.gov/parks

King County and Seattle join the American Public Health Association, the Washington State Public Health Association, and the Washington State Association of Local Public Health Officials in celebration of Public Health Week Internationally, April 7th has been declared World Health Day.