Browse by Tags

The American Heart Association is advocating for increased CPR training. Shouldn't all police officers have updated CPR training? Now the NYS Legislature is considering this change...most are surprised to learn it isn't already required. Briana's law, named following the tragic death of an...

What do TX AL, AR, IA, GA, MN, NC, TN, VA, VT, and WA all have in common? They all require that their students learn CPR before they graduate? Do you notice MA isn’t on the list, don’t you think it should be? We do! We need your help, help us share why it is so important to train the next...

As I mentioned, last week, the Massachusetts state legislature heard testimony for legislation that would make screening newborns for critical congenital heart defect (CCHD) mandatory. Pulse oximetry tests — or “pulse ox” for short — measure oxygen levels and can detect serious...

Eat Well, Play More Vermont is taking on childhood obesity in Vermont. The American Heart Association is a leading member of this newly-formed coalition funded by the Y of the USA and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to focus on policy efforts to reduce childhood obesity. Our vision – Vermont...

The American Heart Association and the Vermont Department of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) have launched the HEARTsafe Program, a community-based effort designed to improve the odds of survival for people suffering sudden cardiac arrest events. Residents and visitors will know they have entered a...

Last week the Joint Committee of Public Health heard legislation that would require newborn pulse oximetry screening for congenital heart defects (CHD). We were fortunate to have a mom, Jodi whose son Alex was diagnosed with CHD after a nurse saw that his nail beds were blue and tested him pulse ox share...

Sigh. This picture sums up how I felt yesterday. This legislative session, which started out with much promise, may very well end with the swipe of the Governor’s veto pen. The Governor has vetoed a bill that would have allowed Maine youth, our next generation of heroes, to learn Hands Only...

If we can help save a child’s life, shouldn’t we? With a simple pulse oximetry screening, it really is as simple as that. It’s time for New York to make pulse oximetry a requirement for all babies. It’s quick, painless and inexpensive, but more importantly, it can save lives...

On June 6, 2013, the American Heart Association hosted a Lobby Day/Legislative Reception at the New Jersey State House to bring attention to CPR and AED issues during CPR and AED Awareness Week. Advocates who attended spoke to a number of legislators about Hands Only CPR and the American Heart Association's...

Advocates and heart survivors from the American Heart Association took the time to visit Beacon Hill and educate their legislators on the importance of bystander CPR, access to AEDs, and the importance of screening for critical congenital heart defects. Pulse Ox Now! Congenital heart disease affects...

Dr. Seth Lapuk, a Pediatric Cardiologist and the AHA Connecticut Board President, delivered 268 “CPR in Schools” letters of support, signed petitions and CPR cards to the State Board of Education office. Connecticut residents from though out the state showed their support for the lifesaving...

Working as a volunteer advocate for the American Heart Association has become a real passion of mine. I wear many hats in my professional life and I see firsthand the importance of AHA’s advocacy agenda. I am also a volunteer advisor and trainer for the Ellington Volunteer Ambulance Corp and the...

As we recognize National CPR & AED Awareness Week (June 1-7), we have more good news to share! On May 29 the RI House of Representatives unanimously passed our “CPR in Schools” bill. Prior to the vote, Rep. Joe McNamara, chairman of the Health, Education and Welfare Committee, provided...

Advocates are heading up to the State House today to ask their legislators for support on some of our issues, I am really excited to join them and have their voice be heard. You may not be able to join us in person today, but your voice can still make a difference! Ask your legislators for support of...

This couldn't have happened without your help! Thanks to your help, the bill to screen all babies for heart defects passed the Assembly Hopefully we can keep the momentum going and get the Senate to quickly pass the bill and then send it to the Governor's desk. Thanks for all your help for...

When a baby is born, all parents check to make sure their child is healthy…Ten fingers, ten toes. Brown eyes, dad’s nose… But is she healthy? It’s time for pulse oximetry. When a baby is born, there is so much to be excited about. Is it a boy or a girl? Who does she...

The American Heart Association is advocating for pulse ox screening for all babies...and we are getting closer in NYS thanks to your help! The bill is now on the State Assembly floor and will hopefully be voted on this week. Pulse ox is simple and painless. Why wait any longer?

The Senate successfully completed their budget in two days last week; this takes us one step closer to finishing this long budget process. Thanks to our advocates we were able to have some success! Although it was a tough budget year we were able to secure funding for some of our key priorities. The...

On May 15 You’re the Cure advocates descended on the State House for Rhode Island Lobby Day. Advocates thanked their senators for unanimously passing our “CPR in Schools” bill and urged House members to quickly follow suit. The group was persuasive and successful – this lifesaving...

The Senate will start debating their budget and we are asking for their support for critical funding for key prevention programs. We knew it was going to be a tough budget year we feel that it is still important for the Legislature to make investments in public health and access to care. We are asking...

Rhode Island advocates rocked the State House on May 15th during our annual Lobby Day! The focus of the day was our "CPR in Schools" bill, which would require all high school students to receive hands-on CPR training and an overview of AED use prior to graduation as part of the health education...

Cigarettes, cigars, and the new flavored tobacco that’s recently become the rage among kids, are all addictive products. We were happy with the Legislature’s recent move to increase taxes on tobacco. Raising prices on these dangerous tobacco products is an extremely smart public policy and...

I am sitting here in the Law and Legislative Reference Library on the second floor of the State House. I might as well bring in pictures of my daughter and a plant or two. I spend more time here than I do at the office. So does my friend Hilary (sitting across from me as usual). She is the Government...

In a split second, Bert Carey’s afternoon went from a casual conversation with fellow shoppers in a small men’s shop to a life-and-death scenario—and he was the victim, who was saved, ultimately, by a high school student who recently had learned CPR at school. “One minute we were...

Smoking remains the number 1 preventable cause of death in New Jersey and throughout the U.S. Yet, the State of New Jersey eliminated funding for it's Comprehensive Tobacco Control Program, which funded tobacco prevention and cessation efforts around the state. The elimination of funding places NJ...