Georgetown, Del., Oct. 13, 2009: The New Year is still three months away, but Sussex County employees are getting a jumpstart on eating right, exercising routinely and living healthier lives.

County government will hold its Second annual Health Awareness Week for employees Oct. 19-23. The weeklong campaign aims to promote steps employees can take now to improve their health, making for a better quality of life and reduced health care costs in the future.

“Our goal here is give employees the tools they need to make better choices for their health,” County Administrator David B. Baker said. “If you have healthier employees, you have employees who are happier, more energized, and living better lives. The ultimate goal is to improve their health, but certainly a fringe benefit for our taxpayers is reduced costs. Obviously, healthy employees are working and not incurring health care-related expenses that affect the bottom line, and that’s a win for everybody.”

This year’s Health Awareness Week will feature at least two dozen vendors who will be in the County Administrative Offices each day offering everything from diabetes and blood pressure screenings to mini-massages and tips on how to manage stress. Many organizations are donating prizes, including a pair of adult bicycles and a variety of gym membership.

Health Awareness Week will conclude Friday, Oct. 23, with an early morning, one-mile walk through downtown Georgetown led by Mr. Baker and Finance Director Susan Webb.

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