This summer, count your steps...to better health!

“Count Your Steps…To Better Health” is the Halton-wide library pedometer lending initiative that encourages adults to borrow a pedometer and walk 10,000 steps per day with 2,000 to 4,000 steps at a brisk pace to improve cardiovascular health. The pedometer lending initiative is a partnership between Halton Region and public libraries in the region.

“We are very pleased with how well the Count Your Steps partnership is working,” said Halton Regional Chair Gary Carr. “Working together with public libraries in Burlington, Halton Hills, Milton and Oakville, we are taking steps to create and promote safe, healthy and liveable communities. Now that summer is here, consider visiting your local library branch. In addition to borrowing a book or DVD, sign out a pedometer, and start counting your steps to better health!”

Since the pedometer lending program began in 2007 with Milton Public Library, there have been over 2,300 circulations of the 350 pedometers now available. The program expanded to public libraries in all four Local Municipalities last summer.

Over the past year, people who borrowed a pedometer from their local branch were asked to complete an online survey for the first full year of the program to help evaluate the initiative. Their names were entered into a draw to receive a free pedometer and a copy of “Halton Hikes” and a cookbook, “Suppertime Survival.” The winners were Lorraine Voorberg of Burlington, Linda Marshall of Halton Hills, Lauren Hughes of Milton and Cheska Jackson of Oakville.

Through the survey, a number of residents commented that the Count Your Steps program was a great way to ‘test drive’ a pedometer. Purchasing their own pedometers helped them to continue tracking the accumulation of at least 30 to 60 minutes of moderate activity (about 3,000 to 6,000 steps) most days of the week as recommended for adults by Canada’s Physical Activity Guide to Healthy Active Living.

In the first Count Your Steps survey, 81 per cent of respondents said they were now much more or somewhat more active. Commented one resident: “Wearing the pedometer makes me much more aware of my physical activity level and encourages me to choose to be more active.”

A survey for residents who participate in the second year of the program is now online at www.halton.ca/countyoursteps. It closes September 20th, 2010, with four iPod shuffles available as prizes.

For more information on the Pedometer Lending Program, dial 311 or call Halton Region at 905-825-6000, toll free 1-866-442-5866, TTY 905-827-9833, or visit www.halton.ca/countyoursteps.

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