"Take the stairs" campaign: Promoting health at a military medical treatment facility

Background: Sheppard Air Force Base has a medical treatment facility with employees divided into four squadrons. The employee population is relatively healthy with most participating in organized physical training. A month long “Take the Stairs Campaign” was launched encouraging employees to take the stairs as an easy and healthy alternative to using the elevators. Methods: Motivational posters were used near elevators and inside stairways. A pre-implementation survey was administered during a clinic-wide meeting. Health education was provided on the benefits of stair climbing. The four squadrons were challenged and the squadron with the highest participation rate received a trophy. Weekly participation was monitored with the use of “ticket collections”. Emails were sent weekly to provide encouragement. Stair-usage rates calculated from the pre-implementation survey were compared to the rates at the conclusion of the campaign. In July 2011, an additional survey will be administered. This survey will assess the usage of stairs one year after the campaign's initiation. Results: During the month of the campaign, overall employee usage increase by 57%. Members of the executive staff agreed to leave the motivational posters in place permanently to continue to encourage employees. Conclusion: A stair usage campaign is a relatively easy and low cost program to implement. The campaign can be successful even in a population that is already considered active. In addition to multiple health benefits, stair usage is environmentally friendly and can reduce energy expenditures.