(KFVS) - The 5th Annual National Walk@Lunch Day will be Wednesday, April 25.

National Walk@Lunch Day is created to improve personal health and decrease the costs of health care for employers and employees.

The goal is to make Nationa Walk@Lunch Day the start of a new daily walking routine for participants.

Participants are encouraged to bring or wear comfortable shoes and take a walk at lunch, rain or shine.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services estimates the cost to treat illness and chronic disease caused by inactive lifestyles in nearly $1,000 for every family in America, every year.

They say simply getting 30 minutes of moderate physical activity, such as a brisk walk at least five times a week, has significant health benefits, lowering the risk of developing or dying from cardiovascular disease, hypertension or type 2 diabetes, and improving the health of muscles, bones and joints.

STODDARD COUNTY, MO (KFVS) - The County Health Rankings and Roadmaps have been released.

Stoddard County ranked 92 out of 115.

Other Southeast Missouri counties ranked the following out of 115:

• Butler - 110
• Cape Girardeau - 24
• Mississippi - 104
• Perry - 37
• Scott - 82
• Ste. Genevieve - 15
• St. Francois - 87
• Washington - 112
• Iron - 109
• Madison - 101
• Bollinger - 70
• Reynolds - 108
• Wayne - 107
• Carter - 100
• Ripley - 114
• Clay - 10
• Dunklin - 111
• New Madrid - 113
• Pemiscot - 115

Southern Illinois county rankings out of 102 include:

(KFVS) - The Missouri Department of Natural Resources is launching a statewide roundup to rid homes of mercury by sponsoring nearly 50 mercury drop-off locations throughout the state, including nine in Southeast Missouri.

The department says they are working with fire department and county health offices throughout the state to provide drop-off locations where private citizens or nonprofit agencies can leave mercury-containing instruments like thermometers, blood pressure cuffs, thermostats or switches.

According to the department, if you would like to drop off these items at a site, you should first secure the item in two zip-top plastic bags and then place it in a crush-proof sealed container, such as a coffee can, plastic butter bowl or plastic beverage bottle.

A person who is uncomfortable with transporting mercury instruments, or who has large quantities of mercury, can contact the department's spill line at 573-634-2436 to arrange a pick-up.