A Message from Your Hometown Health Manager
We are very pleased to announce the Florida League of Cities is one of only two recipients of the United Healthcare Honorable Mention Award in the state of Florida! This is the fourth consecutive year the League's Hometown Health wellness program has been honored with this prestigious award.

United Healthcare worked with an external broker review panel to review and judge all applicants. This award is given to organizations that have demonstrated their commitment to creating a healthier culture and for implementing an innovative, industry-leading workplace wellness program. 

The Hometown Health wellness program is currently offered to 64 municipalities throughout our state. A huge thank you to all of our program participants for engaging in our many program offerings every year!

To see the full press release, please click here . 

All the Best,

Gwen Mahabir
Look Here — to Help Spot Skin Cancer
Well, check you out!

No, seriously. Take a look at your skin. Check it. All of it. See anything unusual? Any new spots? Any moles that look different than you remember?

Knowing how your skin normally looks is the first step to spotting a potential problem. And that’s a good thing. Skin cancer is highly treatable when caught early, according to the American Academy of Dermatology.

Take a good, long look
The key to a good skin check is thoroughness. Inspect your skin on a regular basis. Area by area, look at your:

  • Trunk — front, back and both sides
  • Face, neck, ears and scalp
  • Fingernails, palms, and upper and lower arms
  • Legs, buttocks and genital area
  • Feet, including toenails, soles and between the toes

Some areas, like the scalp, can be difficult to check by yourself. Use a handheld mirror for those hard-to-see areas — or ask a loved one to help you out.

Staying Hydrated - Staying Healthy
When the temperatures rise, getting enough to drink is important whether you’re playing sports, traveling or just sitting in the sun.

It’s critical for your heart health.
Keeping the body hydrated helps the heart more easily pump blood through the blood vessels to the muscles. And, it helps the muscles work efficiently.

“If you’re well hydrated, your heart doesn’t have to work as hard,” said John Batson, M.D, a sports medicine physician with Lowcountry Spine & Sport in Hilton Head Island, S.C., and an American Heart Association volunteer.

Dehydration can be a serious condition that can lead to problems ranging from swollen feet or a headache to life-threatening illnesses such as heat stroke

How much water do you need?
What does being well hydrated mean? The amount of water a person needs depends on climatic conditions, clothing worn and exercise intensity and duration, Batson said.

Success Strategies: The Food Ritual 
One secret to success in body transformation is keeping it simple. Thinking less. Making fewer decisions. And letting your environment do much of the work for you.

If healthy food is around you and convenient, you're more likely to eat it. If you have a trusted system for making healthy food available, you don't have to decide to eat well… you just show up and do it.

Enter the food ritual.

No, this ritual doesn't include lamb's blood or any special Kool Aid.
A food ritual just means you set aside a bit of time to prepare some healthy food in advance so that it's ready, available, and convenient when you need it.

Florida League of Cities | www.floridaleagueofcities.com | 850.222.9684