The American Heart Association recently recognized Lehighton Area School District and Pleasant Valley School District as Gold-Level Award recipients in the Fit-Friendly Worksites recognition program.

The program is free and offers companies tools to create a healthier workplace environment.Fit-Friendly companies are recognized for carrying out wellness activities such as a company walking program and routes, gym access, allowing staff to wear athletic shoes on designated "sneaker days" or making sure healthy foods and beverages are in company meetings and vending machines.Heart disease is the No. 1 killer in the U.S., and physical inactivity doubles the risk. Adult Americans spend most of their waking hours at work, many of them sitting at a desk. Studies show that worksite physical activity programs can help improve health, increase productivity, reduce absenteeism, lower turnover and reduce health care costs.Benefits of the program include employee access to resources and tracking tools; materials to help promote company wellness programs to employees; newsletter templates and a free, quarterly worksite wellness e-newsletter; consultation on CPR/AED programs; recognition on the American Heart Association's Fit-Friendly program website; the right to use the program's recognition seal for internal communications and employment recruitment; and an official recognition letter and plaque from the American Heart Association.