August 21, 2015

OUTDOOR OPPORTUNITIES IN JEFFERSON COUNTY FOCUS OF STATE SURGEON GENERAL VISIT

Contact:
Communications Office
NewsMedia@flhealth.gov
850-245-4111

Wacissa, Fla.— Today, State Surgeon General and Secretary of Health Dr. John Armstrong visited Jefferson County to highlight their commitment to leading healthy lifestyles. During the event at Wacissa Springs Park community leaders and residents joined Dr. Armstrong to highlight the importance of getting active. Dr. Armstrong led the group on a canoe ride down the Wacissa River to highlight the many beautiful outdoor opportunities available in Florida.

The Health in All Places Tour is a chance for state, local and community leaders to come together to highlight what each coastal county has to offer when it comes to health. County Health Departments are located in each county and are charged with promoting health and providing necessary health services to their communities. This tour is a chance to highlight those services and how they move health forward in communities across Florida.

The department is offering free, broadcast-quality video for use by the media from this event. You will find 40 seconds of video followed by two interviews at the FTP link https://ww10.doh.state.fl.us/pub/dohcomm/HIAP_JEFFERSON.mp4. Below is a suggested script followed by verbatim from the soundbytes.

JEFFERSON COUNTY IS BEING HIGHLIGHTED BY THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AS PART OF THE HEALTH IN ALL PLACES TOUR. TODAY, STATE SURGEON GENERAL AND SECRETARY OF HEALTH DOCTOR JOHN ARMSTRONG JOINED COMMUNITY LEADERS AND RESIDENTS AS THEY PADDLED DOWN THE WACISSA RIVER HIGHLIGHTING THE IMPORTANCE OF NATURE AND WELLNESS. THIS IS ONE STOP IN A COMPREHENSIVE COASTAL TOUR TO DRAW ATTENTION TO THE MANY ACTIVITIES FLORIDA HAS TO OFFER THAT ALLOW RESIDENTS THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET AND STAY HEALTHY.

NAME: Dr. John Armstrong/State Surgeon General/Florida Department of Health

LENGTH: 22                

OC: “nature in Florida”

“Delighted to be here in Jefferson County where on our Health in All Places Tour we are emphasizing healthy choices in the outdoors. We are here at the Wacissa River about to do a canoe trip highlights that we can be active, get some upper body workout with some paddling and enjoy amazing scenery in nature in Florida.”

NAME: Sheriff David Hobbs/Jefferson County

LENGTH: 20                

OC: “the doctor here”

“The good thing about a resource like we have in Jefferson County not only can you enjoy it but it’s good for physical fitness to get health you have alternatives and stuff. Some of the things we normally do, you know, sit around, eat and watch TV but this is a great river, great park and it’s a pleasure to have the doctor here.”

TAG: TODAY WRAPS UP THE FIRST LEG OF THE TOUR THAT SPANNED FROM ESCAMBIA TO TAYLOR. THE TOUR STARTS BACK UP SEPTEMBER 3 IN DIXIE AND WILL WRAP UP IN NOVEMBER IN NASSAU.

About the Florida Department of Health

The department works to protect, promote and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county and community efforts.

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