Monday, April 11, 2011

NW Arkansas Heart Walk

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NORTH WEST ARKANSAS HEART WALK


Walkers moving for Heart Health

Over 2,500 Heart Walk participants and volunteers joined forces and walked in the North West Arkansas Heart Walk, Saturday, April 9th. The event was held at the Arvest Springdale Ball Park home the Arkansas Natural's Baseball Team. Cindy Hudlow and staff Stephanie Daniels, Shawna Still and Christina Hinds all worked hard along with volunteers to make the days activities a success. From th elast account the event had raised over $630,000 for heart and stroke research and education programs.



Participants sign up for You're The Cure Network and send message to Congress

Participants enjoyed the bright sunny day although very windy fun was had by all. Many local vendors provided goodie bags and there was a special area just for children. Many stopped by the Advocacy Booth to sign up for the You're the Cure Network and also sent a personal message to Congress to increse the National Institiute of Health's budget to $35 million for the coming year. A bright sunny day to enjoy a walk and to change lives by supporting heart and stroke reseach. Special thanks to all the volunteers who help make the event a success.

Thursday, April 7, 2011

National START Walking Day in Central AR

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Wednesday, April 6, 2011 city employees from North Little Rock and Little Rock along with American Heart Association volunteers from around the downtown area joined together to particpate in National START Walking Day. Also joining the event was Lt Governor Mark Darr.










Little Rock volunteers gather for Walk


North Little Rock employees gather for Walk


The event held on the Junction Bridge, which links the two cities together designed for walking and cycling, was held to celebrate and encourage people to get out and walk. Walking is the best exercise and does not cost anything or require any equipment. Walking is a key activity for leading a heart healthy lifestyle.





Mayor Hays (in hat) Lt. governor Mark Darr (blue shirt) and Vice Mayor Dr. Kumpuris


Over 100 people participated and were ecnouraged to walk on their lunch time and to live a healthy life style. Mayor Patrick Hays and Vice Mayor Dr. Dean Kumpuris both issued proclamations proclaiming April 6th as National START Walking Day in their respectitive cities. Lt. Governor Darr also urged Arkansans to get out and walk and to enjoy our great state and its beauty. National START Walking Day is an event to compliment the Association's START! Heart Walks, which are held around the state each year. The Walks rasise revenue to support heart and stroke research and education programs.


The North West AR Walk is April 9th at the Arvest Springdale Ball Park. For information contact cindy.hudlow@heart.org


The Central AR Walk is April 16th in NLR at the Riverfront Park. For additional information contact lloyd.webre@heart.org

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Public Health Week in Arkansas is April 4-10

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Trauma System is Key to Treatment of Traumatic Injury and Heart Attacks and Stroke Issues Across State


(Little Rock) — The state’s new trauma system will save hundreds of lives lost to accidents every year, and an emergency call center to respond to accidents is a key component of that system. Guided tours of the new statewide call center were the highlight of a news conference held April 5, 2011, to kick off Arkansas Public Health Week.


A coalition of national, state and local organizations are focusing on injury prevention during Arkansas’s Public Health Week this year, promoting the national theme: “Safety is NO Accident: Live Injury-Free.” According to Joseph Bates, MD, deputy director and chief science officer at the Arkansas Department of Health (ADH), “Creating a healthier Arkansas must include creating a safer Arkansas,” Bates said. “That means taking steps to protect neighbors, families and communities from harm. Injuries, unexpected events and violence affect people at home, at work, and in their communities.”





Barbara Kumpe, Government Relations Director for the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association highlights injury prevention with regards to heart disease and stroke. Living healthy can prevent injury to brain and heart. The new trauma system will assist with faster and more effective response to heart attacks and strokes across the state as well as traumatic injuries.




The trauma call center will operate 24 hours a day, 365 days a year providing support by radio to ambulances and emergency medical services statewide. When an accident, heart attack, stroke or other injury occurs, the center will coordinate communications between first responders and trauma center hospitals to provide appropriate care to patients. As a part of the state’s trauma system, a new injury prevention program has also been established to prevent accidents from happening. Mary Aitken, MD, director of the Injury Prevention Center at Arkansas Children’s Hospital, and professor of Pediatrics, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences said that the program will help reduce the numbers of accidents in the state and the costs associated with them. “As Arkansas continues to establish its trauma system, it is important to recognize that trauma systems involve not only providing critical care once a trauma has occurred but also require primary prevention efforts,” Dr. Aitken said. “Primary prevention includes providing education to individuals and families and -MORE- empowering them with resources that have been proven to prevent injuries and reduce injury risks.” “According to our research, if Arkansas could reduce its injury death rate to the U.S. average, we would save 458 lives each year. It is estimated that for every life saved, there would be 40 individuals not requiring hospitalization, and 1,000 less emergency room visits,” said Aitken.


Partners for Arkansas Public Health Week celebrations in the state are:

American Heart Association/ American Stroke Association

Arkansas Center for Health Improvement (ACHI)

Arkansas Children’s Hospital (ACH)

Arkansas Department of Health (ADH)

ADH Hometown Health Improvement (HHI)

ADH Office of Minority Health and Health Disparities (OMHHD)

Arkansas Public Health Association (APHA)

Arkansas Minority Health Commission (AMHC)

Metropolitan Emergency Medical Services

University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS)

College of Public Health (COPH)

UAMS Regional Programs/Arkansas Health and Education Centers (AHEC)


Find out more about Public Health Week at http://www.healthy.arkansas.gov/ or http://www.nphw.org/nphw11/ ###

Monday, March 28, 2011

RED CAP Rally for Survivors

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On Thursday, March 24th, survivors of heart disease and stroke joined together to celebrate life. The event was held at the Governor's Mansion in the Great Hall. Joining the some 100 heart disease and stroke survivors was Governor Mike Beebe. Beebe welcomed the survivors and spoke of the importance of heart and stroke research and the efforts of the orgnaization with regards to legislation. Beebe also acknowledge the survivors and spent time visiting with many of them.




Governor Beebe (second from left) visits with survivors


The Survivor RED CAP Reception is a prelude to the Central Arkansas START! Heart Walk on Saturday, Arpil 16th. The walk is held in North Little Rock along Riverfront Park. The event begins at 8:00 am and is a family event for employees of over 65 compaines that will be participating in the event this year.




Survivors enjoy the beauty of the Governor's Great Hall and heart healthy menu.







Also joining the event were committee members for the Walk and Heart Walk chair Mike Brown, Executive Vice President and COO of Blue Cross Blue Shield.


Survivors are the reason we walk. Join the AHA April 16 at the North Shore River Walk for the Central Arkansas Heart Walk. For more information visit Central ArkansasHeartWalk.org or stay connected at Facebook.com/ahaarkansas.

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Students Wear Red Day Activities

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Ms. Barbara Crone's 3rd Grade Class
Sugar Creek Elementary, Bentonville, Arkansas

Students Support National Wear Red Day




The Sugar Creek Elementary 3rd Grade class, guided by their teacher Ms. Barbara Crone studied about Heart Health during American Heart Month and completed Wear Red Day Activities with her students. According to Crone, they learned about eating healthy food, doing activities that give our bodies exercise, and avoiding unhealthy things like cigarettes and drugs. At the end of our lessons, we stood up, crossed our hearts with our arms and repeated the pledge on the poster: “I pledge to eat healthy, play healthy, and be healthy.” Every morning we eat a healthy snack and do our “morning jog” which consists of jogging in place for a few minutes.




Students Heartfelt support for National Wear Red Day









As a final activity, we wore red shirts and red caps while sitting down in the shape of a heart. One of the parents, Mrs. Tandy, took pictures of the students in their red shirts that were donated by Jem Sports Wear through Ms. Maienschein, and Outdoor Cap, a local business, gave the students each a red caps.
Special Thanks to the students and their teacher
for their support of National Wear Red Day.

Thursday, February 3, 2011

Arkansas Kicks-off National Wear Red Day

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Guest 2011 Wear Red Day Kickoff Arkansas State Capitol
On Wednesday February 2, the American Heart Association kicked-off National Wear Red Day at the Arkansas State Capitol. First Lady Ginger Beebe, read a proclamation from Governor Mike Beebe proclaiming Friday, February 4th as National Wear Red Day across Arkansas. Legislative hosts for the event were Senator Mary Anne Salmon and Representative Linda Tyler.




Wonder Lowe, chair of the state advocacy committee was the MC for the event and was joined by Vicki Wingfield, GRFW Survivor Chair for 2011 and Sharon Helflin, Chair for the May event to be held in Little Rock.



Highlights of the day's activities were the Go Red for Women Survivor gallery participants and included the following surivors from across central Arkansas: Brooklyn Skelley, joined by her mother Dr. Kim Skelley, who presented Brooklyn's congenital heart defect story; and 24 year old Glynn Dugan who suffered a heart attack at 23. The other survivors included Susan Fell, Trish Roberson, Rebecca Moreno, Angela Wright, Erin Thomas, Kathy Holt, Ellie Reaves, Julie Cavenaugh and Sarah Wasson.




Supporting the days activities included International pagaent winners and volunteer Quhyn Phan. Contestants from the International Pageant community support the Go Red For Women Movenment that is designed to empower women to take control of their heart health. The Kick off on Wednesday, February 2, is a highlight of American Heart Month activities all across the state.
 

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