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North Carolinians need to take better care of their health, especially with rising health care costs. That advice goes for state employees, too.  Yesterday, nearly 4,000 state employees gathered at the state fairgrounds for the 2010 State Employees Wellness Expo to learn more about taking charge of their health and keeping the cost of health care down.

More than 100 exhibitors offered health, wellness and safety resources to assist state employees in achieving their personal best.  Nutritional information, exercise demonstrations, financial wellness tips and health screenings were just a few of the many services offered to expo attendees.

State employees also had the opportunity to give back.  Expo attendees donated 30 pints of blood to the American Red Cross and filled seven collection towers of food for the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina.

The Wellness Expo is just one of the initiatives offered by the Statewide Wellness Program in the Office of State Personnel. The wellness program works with partners across the state to help state employees live well inside and out by raising awareness of such health issues as obesity, high blood pressure and diabetes. The program’s second pedometer-based Miles for Wellness activity will get underway this fall when teams of employees will compete to arrive at a virtual destination.

Infirmary Pacemakers A of Murdoch Developmental Center

Late this spring, Gov. Perdue kicked off San Diego in 60 Days, a virtual pedometer-based team competition. State employees from the mountains to the sea joined in the fun and 243 teams began the trek to the West Coast via the Gulf States.   At journey’s end, state employees had walked their way toward a healthier lifestyle with a total of 501,152 miles.

Under the leadership of Captain Billie Akers, Infirmary Pacemakers A, of Murdoch Developmental Center in the Dept. of Health and Human Services, led the way with 4,655 miles.  Close on their heels was a second team from Murdoch, Infirmary Pacemakers B.  Third place was garnered by The Little Engineers That Could from the Division of Water Quality in the Dept. of Environment and Natural Resources.

All 2,400 state employees who participated in the San Diego in 60 Days wellness event were winners and the Office of State Personnel invites you to join us this fall as we walk to the destination of your choice.

Congratulations to the Infirmary Pacemakers A of Murdoch Developmental Center!  Keep up the good work of being healthy inside and out.

Office of State Personnel employees wore red today, National Wear Red Day, to show their support for women’s heart disease awareness.

Heart disease is the number one killer of women in the United States.  One in four women dies of heart disease, while one in 30 dies of breast cancer.

Love your heart and the heart of your loved ones by:
• Avoiding the use of tobacco;
• Eating foods low in salt and saturated fat;
• Drinking plenty of water;
• Keeping your weight in a healthy range
• Being as physically active as possible; and
• If you are at risk for heart disease, discussing risk reductions options with your doctor.