Colorado

June 1-7 was National CPR/AED Awareness Week and that means a lot of Heart Association volunteers getting the word out about how to save lives through CPR and AEDs.  In Arkansas, You’re the Cure advocate Diana Boulton took it upon herself to educate Congressional offices near her home town.

Diana visited the in-district offices of Senator John Boozman and Senator Mark Pryor to teach their staff members just how easy it is to learn the basics of CPR.   The staff members took part in hands-on CPR training and learned how to give chest compressions to someone suffering from a sudden cardiac arrest.
 
During the training session a short advocacy presentation was given asking for Congressional support for NIH research funding and rural/community AED placements.  The Congressional staff members in each office were also given a brief overview of state activities surrounding CPR/AEDs and other legislative priorities.

Thanks to Diana and all the other volunteers for spreading the word during National CPR/AED Awareness Week!!

Each day, the human heart is responsible for pumping about 2,000 gallons of blood. The human heart also has a complex electrical system that regulates and synchronizes the beating of the heart. When this system malfunctions, the heart can be sent into a dangerously erratic rhythm, this is known as a Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA). We need you to email your legislators and educate them on what can be done to address SCA.

Click here to email your Lawmakers about this issue.

Unlike a heart attack, SCA strikes without warning and the causes are unknown. Treatment of SCA is a race against the clock. The combination of early, immediate CPR and automatic external defibrillation (AED) can more than double a victim’s chance of survival.

The American Heart Association and its You’re the Cure advocates; support a comprehensive approach to addressing sudden cardiac arrest. These approaches include:

• More research into the causes of SCA
• Championing policy change that encourages bystander CPR, as well as CPR and AED training of students prior to graduating from high school
• Increasing public awareness of SCA and its causes through activities such as CPR and AED Awareness Week in June.

Please click the link above and ask your legislators to make issues that will improve the health of all Coloradans a priority during this interim period.

It’s finally summertime!  This is the season for activities in the backyard and cookouts with neighbors. However, would you know what to do if a family member or friend experienced sudden cardiac arrest (SCA)? Eighty percent of SCAs happen outside of the hospital- and unfortunately, the majority of Americans do not know how to help or are uncomfortable doing so. The American Heart Association is trying to change that this summer!

During National CPR Week (June 1^st -7^th) and throughout the entire month of June, we’re shining a spotlight on the importance of learning Hands-Only CPR.  In just two simple steps- calling 9-1-1 and pushing hard and fast in the center of the victim’s chest- you could help save a life.  Watch our new PSA and don’t forget to share the link with family and friends (www.heart.org/handsonlyCPR).

Additionally, You’re the Cure advocates like you have been working hard in states across the country to advocate for Hands-Only CPR to be taught to all students before they graduate.  In the time it takes to watch a TV sitcom, students can learn the life-saving skill.  10 states now have CPR in Schools laws, adding over 500,000 life-savers to our communities each year.  But we still have 40 states to go!  Pledge your support for teaching all students to be ‘CPR Smart’ at www.BeCPRSmart.org. 

Thanks for your help to make CPR awareness a priority this summer!

PS- Are you trained in CPR?  Post our “CPR Ready” image as your profile pic on Facebook and Twitter this month to let others know you’re ready to save a life.

May is National Stroke Month, and we need you to raise awareness for, and educate others in the community on stroke and what can be done to prevent it. 

Stroke is our nations number four killer and the leading cause of long term disability.  On average someone in the United States has a stroke every 40 seconds. Additionally, certain segments of the population in the U.S. have a disproportionately high risk for stroke. In fact, African Americans and Hispanics have almost twice the risk of experiencing a stroke. 

Despite these sobering statistics, the good news is that stroke can be prevented by creating awareness and reducing some of the known, changeable risk factors such as smoking, high blood pressure and lack of physical activity.

The American Stroke Association, a division of the American Heart Association, advocates in support of the following policy priorities in order to prevent stroke and improve the quality of care received by those who experience stroke:

• Protect investments in stroke prevention
• Support the development and implementation of stroke systems of care
• Increase the National Institutes of Health investment in stroke research

 Let's work together in fighting heart disease and stroke in Colorado by raising awareness this month and every month about what can be done to prevent this life threatening emergency.

Throughout the summer months, Members of Congress return to their home states for in-district work periods, or recesses, which present an important opportunity for advocates to talk with their Representative and Senators about pressing heart disease and stroke policy issues.  Here are some tips for getting the most out of the summer recesses…

1)      Make a note of when the recesses are scheduled:

2)      Contact the American Heart Association Advocacy staff in your state to let them know you’re interested in helping during the summer recesses.  They will be able to provide you with information on the hot heart and stroke issues we’re urging Congress to act on and recommend ways to connect with your legislators.      

3)      Visit your legislators’ website to sign-up for their e-newsletter and follow them on Facebook and Twitter.  These are great ways to know about the events your Members of Congress will be attending or hosting during the various recess periods.  From town hall meetings, to summer office hours, to parades they’ll be marching in, there are many opportunities to chat with your lawmakers about their support for key heart and stroke issues. 

Have you visited with your Members of Congress during recess periods in the past?  Tell us about it in the comments below!

Proactive. That's Kinnie Douglas. As the Program Coordinator for Community Health Education at Nacohdoches Memorial Hospital in Texas, she knows the importance of public health and advocacy- and has become a champion for advancing You're the Cure priorities.

In addition to responding to calls to action and serving on the TX State Advocacy Committee, Kinnie always reaches out to her AHA Advocacy staff partner when she is going to be in Austin, the state capital, to ask what she can do to help. In fact, in January, she made the rounds in the state legislature to introduce herself to new state representatives and share important information about AHA's priority legislative issues, including CPR in schools, pulse oximetry screening for newborns, and Smoke-Free Texas. She came prepared with stories and data from her hometown to help make the case.

Thank you, Kinnie, for your commitment to You're the Cure

As the legislative session comes to end we have some life-saving news to report.  On Monday afternoon Senate Bill 225 passed its third and final reading on the House floor and it now awaits the Governors signature. 

Senate Bill 225 allows for public recognition of hospitals that give the best care to those who experience a STEMI heart attack or stroke.  This bill will improve outcomes and save lives by streamlining the care received by those who experience a heart attack or stroke. 

By recognizing hospitals that have been designated as primary or comprehensive stroke centers or STEMI receiving/referring centers, we will be ensuring that those who experience these life threatening emergencies receive:
• Highly specialized treatment
• Increased access to hospitals that specialize in heart attack and stroke treatment
• Improved outcomes for those who experience a heart attack or stroke

Thank you to all of our volunteers who came to the capitol to testiy on this bill, and thank you to all of you, our You're the Cure Advocates, for contacting your legislators to let them know about the importance of this bill. 

We could not have done this without all of you!

We continue to have good news to report.  Senate Bill 225 has passed through its second committee hearing!   The bill is now headed to the Senate Floor and we need you to continue to urge your legislators to support this bill. 

SB 225 is a monumental step towards improving outcomes for those who experience heart attack or stroke in Colorado.  It allows for public recognition of hospitals that have been nationally accredited as STEMI receiving/referring and primary or comprehensive stroke centers.

This bill will:
• Ensure that highly specialized treatment is received by those who experience a STEMI heart attack or stroke.
• Increase access to hospitals for heart attack and stroke care.
• Give Colorado hospitals the opportunity to be recognized as facilities that can give life-saving diagnosis and treatment.
• Foster better outcomes for those who experience heart attacks or stroke in the state of Colorado. 

Thank you to all of our advocates who have been contacting their lawmakers about this issue.  Let's continue to work together to build a healthier Colorado free of heart disease and stroke!

First, thanks to everyone that responded so quickly in support of improving the care received by those who experience a heart attack or stroke in Colorado.  Unfortunately, SB 225 has not yet been heard in the Senate Health and Human Services Committee.  However, we do expect the bill to be heard very soon, and we need you to continue to let your legislators know how important this issue is.

 I would also like to provide you with an update on where the other legislation we have been supporting this session stands. 

Senate Bill 185 – A bill that will strengthen tobacco prevention efforts in our state by allowing grants for tobacco education, prevention and cessation to continue for local, community-based initiatives.  This bill passed through the Senate State Veterans and Military Affairs committee and we are waiting for it to be heard on the Senate Floor (Alert Link)

 House Bill 1144 – A Bill that will permanently repeal the sales tax exemption placed on cigarettes in the state of Colorado.  This bill moved smoothly through the legislature and should be heard soon on the House Floor for concurrence on amendments made in the Senate. (Alert Link)

Senate Bill 225 – As mentioned above the American Heart Association supports measures that will improve the care received by those in the state of Colorado who experience a STEMI heart attack or stroke.  This bill allows the department of health to publically recognize hospitals that have been designated as STEMI receiving/referring centers and primary and comprehensive stroke centers.  Additionally, this bill will set up a statewide registry so we can begin to paint a better picture of what heart attack and stroke looks like in Colorado.  We hope this bill will be heard in committee this week.  (Alert Link)

 With only 27 days left in the legislative session, we need to continue to act quickly to make sure our law makers ensure the fight against heart disease and stroke is a top priority for the remainder of this legislative session.   Be sure to check out the Action Center to take action on these alerts and urge your legislator to join us in this fight!

Every day, we take thousands of steps to get where we need to go; now it is time to take steps towards improving heart health.  April 3^rd is National Walking Day, a day to challenge ourselves and our state to get heart healthy and fit! 

These days, adults are spending more time at work than ever before. An unfortunate side effect is that, as a nation, we're becoming more inactive. Statistics show that 50% of men and 33 % of women are at risk for heart disease, and research shows that poor lifestyle is a major contributor.  In fact, physical inactivity doubles the risk of heart disease.  

But take heart! This is a problem we can fix, by lacing up our sneakers and walking at least 30 minutes a day.  Walking is the easiest form of physical activity and has the lowest dropout rate.

 A regular walking program can improve your cholesterol profile, lower blood pressure and prevent weight gain

We hope you will join us on April 3^rd, and every day, by lacing up for 30 minutes and taking the steps necessary to build a healthier state.

Click this link for more information on National Waling Day and for some tips on how to make walking and other physical activities more fun!

http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/GettingHealthy/PhysicalActivity/National-Walking-Day-2013_UCM_448665_Article.jsp.