Start a workplace fitness club to promote exercise, share fitness goals, and encourage others. Emily Stewart, a paramedic in Central Wisconsin, 
contributed these Everyday EMS Tips for how she helped start the Gold Cross Ambulance Heart Starters fitness club.
1. We wanted to support a co-worker who was attempting to lose a lot of weight.
2. Our club showcases the diverse ways employees are exercising. Our members regularly walk, run, bike, weight lift, and or swim. We are able to learn about exercise activities and events from each other.
3. The Heart Starters uses the company intranet to share tips, announce meetings, and congratulate members for meeting goals.
4. We asked our employer to support the club. Gold Cross Ambulance has purchased t-shirts, paid event entry fees, and allowed us to use company vehicles to travel to events together.
5. Motivate others. It is not easy to go running at 7 a.m. after a 24 hour shift, but knowing others are ready to run with you helps keep us all on a schedule.
6. Schedule guest speakers for club meetings. We have had speakers from local events and health clubs talk to us about different health and fitness topics. Many of the health clubs have offered our members free trial memberships and membership plan discounts.
7. Have fun. Exercising with co-workers has been a lot of fun.
