Students Participate in Kick Butts Day

On Wednesday March 21 over 100 students and sponsors from all across the state participated in National Kick Butts Day. The theme for the day was "Under the Radar". After two days of training with the Y.E.S. (Youth Extinguishing Smoking) Team board students made their voice heard at the Capitol.

Go RED for Women Kick Off Held February 1st

Wednesday, February 1st volunteers from across Arkansas joined together to kick off the Go Red For Women Survivor Gallery and National Wear Red Day, which was held on Friday February 3rd. Ten ladies who each survived some form of heart disease or a congential heart defect were presented and their Story Boards unveiled. Lauren English, a native Arkansan told her story of survival.

































2012 Go Red for Women Survivors





Hosting the event at the Capitol were House and Senate members. From the House -Representative Kathy Webb and Representative Ann Clemmer and from the Senate - Senator Linda Chesterfield and Senator Cecile Bledsoe. Also joining the activities Frist Lady Ginger Beebe who read a proclamation from Governor Beebe proclaining Friday February as National Wear RED Day in Arkansas.









Members if the Arkanas Legislature and Frist Lady Ginger Beebe

































Winners of the International Pageant organization joined the festivities including Mrs. Arkansas International, Rene Stone. While volunteer nurses lead by Heather Gay, RN, from Arkansas Children's Hospital particiapted and distributed information about congenital heart defects a leading cause in children in Arkansas. State Capital Staff were also invited to participate.

American Heart Association Volunteers “Turn Steps of AR Capitol RED”

On Friday, February 3, 2012, some 100 people joined together to “Turn the Steps of the Arkansas State Capitol RED” for National Wear Red Day an event for the American Heart Association American Stroke Association. The goal of the event was to empower women and men to take control of their heart health and to know the risk factors for a heart attack and stroke.


Lt Governor Mark Darr

Address participants

Joining the activities was Lt. Governor Mark Darr, and Representatives Kathy Webb, Ann Clemmer and Senator Linda Chesterfield, who hosted the event. Volunteers from across the state were attended and were led in the activities by Suzy Fehlig of NW Arkansas and Debi Barnes of Central. Barnes and Fehlig are chairs for the respective area Go Red for Women Luncheon’s that raise funds to support heart disease and stroke research.

Fehlig on left and Barnes on right.

AHA volunteers from Arkansas demonstrate their passion at the White House

The American Heart Association’s advocacy volunteers are called You’re the Cure advocates for a reason. On February 24th, 70 outstanding volunteers brought their passion, stories, and expertise to the White House for the Community Leaders Briefing on Cardiovascular Health. Two volunteers Suzy Fehlig from Rogers and Wonder Lowe of Little Rock attended the event representing Arkansas and the SouthWest Affiliate.

This special event was an important opportunity for high level administration officials to hear from heart disease and stroke patients, caregivers, medical professionals, and community health leaders and discuss the role of public policy in building healthier lives free of cardiovascular disease and stroke.
The most powerful part of the day was the town hall meeting with John Carson, White House Director of Public Engagement, as advocates spoke-up to share their stories, such as:
Wonder Lowe, a congestive heart failure survivor from Central Arkansas has been active all across the state with her message on heart disease and stroke issues. Lowe is a Central Arkansas American Heart Association Board Member, a current member and past chair of the State Advocacy Committee and currently co-chair of the Health Equity committee and served as chair in past years. She is a member of the Go Red for Women Luncheon Committee and has a Heart Walk Team for the Central Arkansas Walk.

Suzy Fehlig, has a family history of heart disease and is committed to the mission of the Association. Suzy was co-chair of the NW Arkansas Go Red for Women Luncheon which had the largest Circle of Red members in the Nation with 64 members. She and her husband Chuck were Heart Ball Chairs for the Gala event in NW Arkansas and she was on the Sweetheart selection committee.
Other event highlights included:
• An East Wing tour of the White House.• Listening sessions on the Million Hearts Initiative, the Affordable Care Act, National Institutes of Health research, and efforts to reduce health disparities. • Roundtable discussions on clean air policy, childhood obesity and nutrition policy, and tobacco control policy.• A “tweet-up” with advocates and John Carson.
The commitment of our volunteers shined throughout the event as they asked the tough questions and spoke about their local advocacy work. The American Heart Association looks forward to a continued dialogue with the administration as we work to advance heart-healthy and stroke-smart legislation and regulations.
See additional event photos on Facebook.

Volunteers Call Congress on Key Issues

Volunteers from Central Arkansas " Popped In" the Central AR Heart Office on National Popcorn Day to make calls to their Congreemen on key issues for the American Heart Association. Tammy Quick (in picture) calls Senators' Pryor and Boozman's and Representaive Tim Griffin's offices urging them to support the FIT Kids Act.

FIT Kids Act is a bill that would integrate Fitness in to Teaching. The bill will work to education children on key lifestyle changes with regards to fitness that will allow them to lead a heart healthy lifestyle. If you have not made a call to your decision maker take five minutes and call them. They need to hear from you the constituent that you want them to support issue related to heart and stroke prevention and research funding.

To find out your decision maker click this link and it will provide assistance. If you are not a member of the American Heart Association YOU'RE THE CURE NETWORK you can join from the link provided.

www.yourethecure.org

Darryl's Story

The American Heart Association and the American Stroke Association work closely with the AR SAVES (Stroke Assistance through Virtual Emergency Services) Telemedicne program in AR. This program has made great strides in treating stroke across Arkansas. Click the links below to learn more.



http://learntelehealth.org/media/explainer/darryls-story-a-telestroke-tale/

Direct link to the Vimeo page.
http://vimeo.com/32145774

National WEAR RED Day KIck Off

On Friday, February 3, 2012, at 12 Noon volunteers and friends of the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association will "Turn the STEPS of the Arkansas State Capitol RED" in support of National Wear RED Day.

Take 15 minutes out of your schedule and join us for a special event. We have a gift for you that could change a lives across Arkansas.

UAMS Takes Leading Role in Newborn Heart Screening

A noninvasive pulse oximeter attached to the right hand of Farrah Clark, a newborn at UAMS, ruled out any critical congenital heart defects.
Jan. 20, 2012 The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) has begun routine screenings for critical congenital heart defects in newborns and is leading the effort to teach other hospitals the screening method via telehealth.
At no additional cost to patients, UAMS this month began using a painless, noninvasive device that detects the first signs of the most serious heart problems. The device, called a pulse oximeter, is about the size of a Band Aid and is placed on a hand and a foot to measure blood oxygen levels.
Critical congenital heart disease affects 1.8 of 1,000 newborns each year and causes up to 10 percent of infant deaths. UAMS, which delivers about 2,500 babies a year, will see about five newborns a year affected by a critical congenital heart defect as a result of the screening.
Critical congenital heart disease occurs when a structural abnormality causes blood to flow incorrectly through the heart and lungs, leading to decreased oxygen levels in the blood. Some congenital heart diseases can be detected before birth or through physical examination after delivery, but about 30 percent of newborns with a critical congenital heart defect may leave the hospital before being diagnosed.
Using interactive video communication (telehealth) and live video streaming on the Internet, UAMS faculty and Arkansas Children’s Hospital have partnered to teach the screening protocol to the 45 other Arkansas hospitals with labor and delivery units.
“The goal of the UAMS Medical Center Congenital Heart Disease Screening Program is simple, to ensure that infants with critical congenital heart disease are detected before they are discharged from the hospital,” said Robert Morrow, M.D., a pediatric cardiologist at UAMS and senior vice president for medical affairs at Arkansas Children’s Hospital.
The decision to begin the routine screenings was based on research of how to detect congenital heart disease using pulse oximetry. In 2011, a national workgroup of experts, including Morrow, developed a screening protocol based on the latest evidence and expert opinion.
The findings and recommendations from this workgroup were published in the Journal of American Academy of Pediatrics in November 2011; Strategies for Implementing Screening for Critical Congenital Heart Disease by Dr. Alex Kemper, et al.
The American Heart Association, American Academy of Pediatrics and American College of Cardiology also support newborn pulse oximetry screening for critical congenital heart disease.
“As a leader in health care and research in Arkansas, we at UAMS have an obligation and a commitment to advocate for universal critical congenital heart disease pulse oximetry screening,” Morrow said. “The Arkansas Legislature has not yet mandated this screening for all newborns, but a group of medical advocates and experts is working to make this a reality for all newborns delivered in Arkansas.”