Missouri Advocacy Beat

CPR and AED Awareness Week - Got a Minute?

2011-06-01T09:52:00.002-05:00

Got a minute? Then you can learn how to save someone’s life during CPR/AED Awareness Week which starts today!

CPR saves lives, it's that simple. If someone you loved suddenly collapsed and needed CPR, would you know what to do?

Simply put: The life you save with CPR is most likely to be someone you love. Sadly, 70 percent of Americans may feel helpless to act during a cardiac emergency because they either do not know how to administer CPR or their training has significantly lapsed. This alarming statistic could hit close to home, because home is exactly where 80 percent of cardiac arrests occur.

TAKE ACTION: Please encourage your legislators to learn and support Hands Only CPR in your community!

While we hope you never have to use it, it is good to know you could respond in an emergency if necessary. After you click on the Action Alert above, please take a minute to visit www.heart.org/CPR and learn how to perform Hands Only CPR. Once you have learned CPR, give 5 people you care about the power to save lives by sharing the video with them.

It could save the life of someone you love.

Legislative Update: Heart Healthy Victories at the Missouri Capitol!

2011-05-19T09:47:00.003-05:00

Legislative session ended on May 13th in Missouri and with it comes many victories to celebrate in the Show Me State! Even with all of the significant cuts in the Missouri budget, several key health programs were maintained, thanks to the great work of our You’re the Cure Volunteers and Staff. Your countless letters of support, e-mails, phone calls, and visits with legislators were vital in helping us pass heart healthy policies in Missouri.

The following report from our American Heart Association Missouri Government Relations Director, Jace Smith, outlines these victories:

Passed! Farm to Table Bill (HB 344)
This law creates a Farm-To-Table Advisory Board assigned to explore and create opportunities to enable farmers to more easily provide fresh fruits and vegetables to Missouri’s Public Schools, as well as state institutions. The board will also work on promoting healthy communities and healthy lifestyles throughout the state of Missouri.

TAKE ACTION - This bill is currently in the Governor’s Office awaiting his signature. Please follow this link to encourage him to support and sign HB 344.

Funding Protected for Heart Health Programs!
The Show Me Healthy Women Program is set to receive $500,000. This program funds Missouri's WISEWOMAN Program that helps underinsured and low income women obtain life-saving screenings to help them prevent heart disease and stroke.

TAKE ACTION - The current budget bills are currently in the Governor’s office, awaiting his final approval. Follow this link to encourage him to keep the funding that is allocated for the Show Me Healthy Women Program in HB 10.

The State Tobacco Cessation Program has expanded to cover ALL Missouri Medicaid Patients. The current funding is at $3.2 million. The program will receive a match from the Federal Level of 5.3 million, which will allocate over $8 million to assist in helping Missourians on Medicaid quit smoking.

Passed! Complete Streets Resolution (HCR 23)
We continued to make great strides in the area of Complete Streets policies at the local and state level. The American Heart Association worked with the Missouri Bicycle Federation in the passage of HCR 23. This resolution declares support for Complete Streets Policies throughout Missouri, and urges their adoption at all levels of Missouri Government to create roads, streets, and communities where all road users can feel safe and secure, while encouraging Missourians to get more physical activity by using them.

Negative Physical Education & Smoke-free Provisions Defeated!
Provisions to allow Missouri High School students to obtain physical education credit through participating in ballroom dance, was defeated in several bills this session. The valuable lessons Missouri students can learn in a physical education class on eating the right foods and exercising appropriately cannot be duplicated, and should not be substituted by ballroom dance. We’re also working to ensure our current physical education standards in Missouri remain in place. Please stay tuned to your e-mails for future physical education updates, and how you can help.

Also defeated were several bills that included an amendment that would have provided businesses throughout Missouri with the option to purchase a “smoking permit”. This law would have undermined all of the great progress we’ve made at the local level in regards to smoke-free public places. Thankfully this amendment was defeated, and the Missouri communities that went smoke-free this year will continue to have the same protections from secondhand smoke.

Legislation Failed
CPR Graduation Requirement for High School Students
One of our asks this year included legislation that would require Missouri Public High School students in grades 9-12 to participate in one-45 minute CPR training before graduation from high school. The CPR training would have used nationally recognized, evidence-based guidelines for cardiopulmonary resuscitation and incorporates psychomotor skills to support the instruction. The training could be implemented in any health or PE class, and can be taught by any teacher, regardless of CPR certification.

The bill passed the Missouri House of Representatives three separate times in SB 226, SB 17 & SB 238. However, the Senate continued to deny this requirement, because a few Senators felt it was an unfunded mandate on schools, even though we explained the costs for conducting these trainings are very minimal, if any, for Missouri schools. Besides, we know that lives saved, far outweigh any minimal costs!

But not all is lost. We made great strides in passing this legislation in the Missouri House of Representatives! We now focus our attention towards the state Senate, and will work to further educate them on the life-saving benefits of CPR.

Please stay tuned to your e-mails on how you can help us with our life-saving mission. As always, thank you for everything you do. We appreciate your support of the American Heart Association.

Sincerely,

Jace Smith, Missouri Government Relations Director

Legislative Update - There is Still Time to Make Your Voice Heard!

2011-05-12T12:34:00.000-05:00

Update and Calls to Action During These Final Days of the 2011 Legislative Session!

In the final days of the 2011 session, we wanted to provide you with an update on what is happening under the dome:

CPR in Schools
A BIG THANK YOU goes out to all of our You’re the Cure advocates who took action by making phone calls to the conference committee members that heard SB 226 yesterday in regards to CPR in Schools legislation. Within hours we generated over 200 calls to the Capitol asking legislators to support teaching MO children lifesaving skills. Although our CPR language was removed from that bill, we did make a lot of progress towards educating legislators and gaining support. There is still hope…we were able to get the language added to SB 17! Contact your legislators TODAY to ask for their support.

Farm to School
We are also keeping a close eye on our Farm to School legislation that is advancing. Bills introduced in both the House (HB 344) and the Senate (SB 162) contain language that would enable Missouri farmers the ability to provide Missouri public schools with fresh fruits and vegetables grown locally. Schools report a 3 to 16 percent increase in school meal participation when farm-fresh food is served through farm to school programs. School programs that promote healthy eating habits with fresh fruits and vegetables are a great way to combat the obesity issue that is becoming a nationwide problem. Reach out to your legislator TODAY and ask for their support.

TAKE ACTION – Follow this link to ask your legislators to support SB 17 to arm our children with lifesaving skills and to support efforts to allow farmers to easily distribute their food to schools and other institutions!

PE Minutes
There was an overwhelming response to our action alert in regards to PE requirements in Missouri schools being in danger! Since then, DESE has formally withdrawn the MSIP5 and are making revisions. Thank you to everyone who contacted them during the public comment period. This was a perfect example of how you, as a You’re the Cure advocate, can make a real difference!

There is still time to make your voice heard! Thank you for your support throughout this legislative session…we will keep you posted!

CPR/AED Training at MO State Capitol a Huge Success!

2011-04-28T11:34:00.007-05:00

Over 200 legislators and staff members received CPR and AED training today at the Missouri State Capitol! The American Heart Association partnered with AT&T, Missouri Society of Anesthesiologists, and Pelopidas, LLC to provide the training to the Missouri House of Representatives, Senators and Capitol Staff. Thank you to all the You’re the Cure advocates that contacted their legislators and encouraged them to attend the training – it was a huge success!

According to a recent American Heart Association survey, 70% of bystanders who respond to a cardiac emergency have either never received CPR training or their training was more than five years ago.

Representative Rick Stream (pictured on the left along with Jace Smith, MO Government Relations Director) started the morning off by speaking about the need for more CPR training and current legislation that would address this need stating, “Because we recognize the need for more trained bystanders, I am proud to support legislation that is moving forward in the House and Senate that calls for CPR instruction for all students in grades 9-12 throughout Missouri schools.”

This instruction may be included as part of any health education course and shall include hands-on practicing and skills testing to support cognitive learning. Instruction shall be provided through a nationally recognized program that is based on the most current national evidence-based emergency cardiovascular care guidelines. If passed and signed by the Governor, this instruction shall become a requirement for high school graduation, beginning with students graduating in the 2014-2015 school year.

Thank you to all the legislators and staff that participated in the training today! We appreciate your efforts to learn lifesaving skills and for your support to assist high school students to do the same.

Check out a few pics from today's trainings as legislators and Capitol staff are trained in CPR!

Congratulations - MO Clean Indoor Air Victories!

2011-04-06T15:09:00.003-05:00

Congratulations to the Cities of O'Fallon and Springfield!

Last night was a historic evening for the communities of O’Fallon and Springfield. By a vote of the people, both communities passed comprehensive smoke-free laws that prohibit smoking in ALL enclosed public places and some outdoor areas with public playground equipment. O’Fallon passed by a 73% margin, and Springfield passed with a 53% margin. Both of these ordinances will go into effect on June 5th.

In other news, we narrowly missed another victory in Cape Girardeau falling around 300 votes short. Despite not winning in Cape Girardeau we made significant strides in educating the community about the dangers of secondhand smoke. We were certainly hoping to achieve smoke-free air in all three of these communities, but we’re excited to have an additional 225,000 Missouri residents covered by comprehensive smoke-free ordinances! These two victories, along with previous victories this fiscal year, mean that more than 318,000 Missouri residents are now enjoying smoke-free air in virtually all public workplaces, restaurants and bars. This is a great win for You’re the Cure advocates throughout Missouri!

Also, while not binding, clean air advocates also won a “test” vote in Webb City, MO. According to the Mayor of Webb City he expects the City Council to adopt a smoking ordinance based on the public support shown during last night’s “test” vote. If the council follows through on the public support shown last night another 12,000 residents will soon be enjoying smoke free air.

As you know, an estimated 35,000 nonsmokers die from coronary heart disease each year as a direct result of exposure to secondhand smoke. Numerous studies show that heart attack rates tend to decline after the implementation of strong smoke-free laws. We look forward to continue our work in these communities as the implementation process moves forward.

Congratulations to everyone in Missouri who played a role in helping secure these victories. This really is YOUR VICTORY and each of you should be proud of the role you played in improving the health of thousands of Missourians' last night.

With heartfelt thanks,

Jace Smith, Government Relations Director

Christy Dreiling, Regional Grassroots Advocacy Director

A Little Girl Lost in a Cloud of Smoke

2011-03-09T13:39:00.005-06:00

Check out this editorial that ran in the Christian County Headliner News today that was written by Donna Osborn...such a powerful story about why smoke free laws are so important!

There I was, just a little girl lost in cloud of smoke almost every night. Just as soon as dinner was over, Dad, Mom and Mam-ma would light up and blow smoke across the supper table at each other. Visibility reduced to inches and the coughing and sputtering replaced generally interesting conversation.

After the last drags of the first cigarettes, the air would begin to clear and we could talk again, until the second round. It was the way we were then. It was before the science that confirmed how dangerous smoking is for the smoker. It would be a long time before the science would confirm what any one with an ounce of common sense should have known then too—that even nonsmokers suffer damage.

I never smoked a day in my life. But I certainly was exposed to it and may have suffered long-term damage, I don’t know. I hope not. Because I know my parents, or my grandmother, would have never knowingly put me in that danger. Just like I would have never subjected my children to second-hand smoke either, if I had really known.

Eventually common sense influenced my father and he gave it up when I was still young; lung cancer claimed my grandmother and after watching her die, my mother never wanted another cigarette. But my husband Bill smoked up until two years before he died. It wasn’t until he contracted pneumonia while battling a blood cancer that he understood how important breathing really is.

And until I watched him die, I still believed in smoker’s rights. That changed me. Just like it changed my mother. Smokers do not have the right to pollute my air or your air. Smoking is not a civil liberties issue; it is a public health issue.

Advocates for a smoke-free environment are winning small battles everyday. Drury University recently went smoke-free on its campus. There’s a ballot issue for Springfield voters. Eventually all communities may have the opportunity to elect to go smoke-free in all public and work places. That too is common sense.

I am not a Nazi nor a do-gooder. I have friends and relatives who smoke. But I hope they quit.

I am a realist and after being a slave to someone else’s habit, I’ve reached a firm and unchangeable opinion about the dangers of smoking. It causes irreparable harm and there is no safe level of second-hand smoke. People in public and workplaces should not be forced to breathe it. And children should never be subjected to it, at home, in an automobile or at a bus stop.

To me, freedom means never having to breathe second-hand smoke anywhere.

This Editorial was originally published to in the Christian County Headliner News. To be directed to the original post, click here.

Legislators Support American Heart Month by Wearing Red!

2011-02-10T21:37:00.010-06:00

What a great day at the Capitol on Wednesday! Legislators wore RED to show their support of American Heart Month and presented a Go Red Month Resolution to Jace Smith, Government Relations Director with the American Heart Association - A big THANK YOU to everyone who participated! Check out the pictures...

Jace Smith, Government Relations Director with the American Heart Association and Senator Robin Wright-Jones (District 5) holding the Go Red Month Resolution.

House and Senate members join together on the steps of the Capitol building in Jefferson City to pose for a photo on Wear Red Day at the Capitol.

Jace Smith, Government Relations Director and our Go Red Month Resolution Sponsors in the House- Representative Anne Zerr (District 18) and Representative Jeanne Kirkton (District-91).

Once session adjourned, several House members thought it would be nice to take a group photo on the House floor.

Two New Studies Show Smoke Free Policies Benefit Employees, Patrons and Businesses

2011-01-23T17:23:00.006-06:00

Research Examines Economic Impact of 2008 Kansas City, MO Smoke Free Ordinance

A recent study funded by HCF determines that there was no negative effect on sales or employment following the adoption of the 2008 smoking ban. The research was conducted by John A. Tauras, Ph.D. and Frank J. Chaloupka, Ph.D., of the University of Illinois-Chicago who have authored similar studies on smoking bans throughout the county.

Data from the study was provided by the Missouri and Kansas Departments of Revenue. Specifically, the researchers used monthly taxable sales in restaurants and bars for cities throughout Kansas and Missouri with populations of 25,000 or more for the period of July 2000 through March 2010.

The data showed no difference before and after the implementation of the Kansas City, MO comprehensive smoke-free policy.

Read the rest of the article by clicking here.

Air Quality Testing Confirms Need for Secondhand Smoke Protections

A new sampling of air quality in metropolitan area bars and restaurants showed mixed results in the rates of indoor air particle pollution from smoking. Air quality levels improved dramatically in Kansas City, Kansas since the enactment of the Kansas statewide public smoking law, while dangerous levels of indoor air quality was reported in two Missouri suburban communities with weak or nonexistent public smoking policies.

Indoor air quality was sampled in 22 bars and restaurants in Kansas City, KS, Blue Springs and Raytown, MO in 2010. The study analysis was conducted by nationally recognized air quality researcher Mark Travers, PhD, MS of the Roswell Park Cancer Institute.

The results of Kansas City, KS testing also were combined with air quality testing in bars and restaurants in six other Kansas communities. The statewide report confirms that customers and employees in Kansas City, KS and all areas of Kansas are protected now from the dangers of second hand smoke in public places.

Read the rest of the article by clicking here.

Executive summaries from both studies can be found on HCF’s website – www.healthcare4kc.org.

Secondary students should be required to receive CPR training

2011-01-12T21:10:00.002-06:00

American Heart Association Science Advisory:

All secondary school students should be required to be trained in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and receive an overview of automated external defibrillators (AEDs), according to an American Heart Association science advisory.

The advisory, published in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association, calls for state legislatures to mandate that CPR and AED training be required for graduation, and to provide funding and other support to ensure the educational standard is met.

Last school year, 36 states had a law or curriculum standard encouraging CPR training in schools, according to the advisory. School districts have developed various models for providing and paying for the training and equipment, including using volunteer instructors or video-based programs, and drawing support from businesses, foundations, civic organizations and public agencies.

Challenges include finding time in the curriculum to teach the courses and providing and maintaining CPR manikins, which are vital for training. Schools can keep reusable manikins, replacing key parts for sanitary reasons, or can work with a local agency that provides manikins and training. Some schools provide personal training kits that include DVD-based instructions and an inflatable, reusable manikin.

The statement authors report that the benefits far outweigh the costs. “Training of all secondary education students will add a million trained rescuers to the population every few years,” said Mary Fran Hazinski, R.N., M.S.N., co-author of the advisory and professor at Vanderbilt University School of Nursing in Nashville, Tenn. “Those students will be ready, willing and able to act for many years to come, whenever they witness an emergency within the community.”

Students trained as rescuers might help save lives at home, where most sudden cardiac arrests occur. Trained students could also respond to cardiac arrests at school and at public places such as malls, health clubs, or swimming pools, or at events such as family reunions.

Cardiac arrest is a leading cause of death in the United States. The American Heart Association reports that emergency medical personnel respond to nearly 300,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests in the United States annually, so CPR can help save many of these victims’ lives, the authors said.

Effective CPR circulates a small but vital amount of oxygen-rich blood to the heart and brain, which can help keep a victim alive until an AED is available. The AED can give an electric shock to the heart to stop the abnormal heart rhythm and allow a normal heart rhythm to return. AEDs are portable medical devices that can be used with minimal training and are often available in public places.

“Bystander CPR can double or triple survival from cardiac arrest. Currently, only about 30 percent of victims of out-of-hospital sudden cardiac arrest receive any type of CPR,” Hazinski said.

According to the statement, most untrained bystanders hesitate to help a cardiac arrest victim. Research has shown that when bystanders have CPR training, they are much more likely to take action.

Bystanders who phone 911 and begin CPR provide the first essential links in a strong, interdependent “chain of survival,” Hazinski said. “With activation of 911, early bystander CPR, rapid defibrillation, effective advanced life support and integrated post-resuscitation care, survival rates following sudden cardiac arrest can exceed 50 percent. That’s dramatically higher than the 7 percent to 9 percent average survival rate in the U.S. However, nothing is going to happen unless there’s a bystander who recognizes the arrest, phones 911 and begins CPR to start that chain of survival. Research has shown that any attempt at CPR can improve the odds of survival for someone who has a cardiac arrest,” she said.

CPR training in schools should cover several key areas, including how to recognize an emergency, an emphasis on high-quality chest compressions and skills practice, according to the advisory. At a minimum, AED training should cover the purpose, simplicity and safety of the devices.

“Many schools have overcome barriers to training and begun teaching CPR,” Hazinski said. “But I think a legislative mandate and support for training in schools would go a long way.”

Co-authors are: Diana Cave, R.N., M.S.N.; Tom P. Aufderheide, M.D.; Jeff Beeson, M.D.; Alison Ellison, B.S.N.; Andrew Gregory, M.D.; Loren F. Hiratzka, M.D.; Keith Lurie, M.D.; Laurie J. Morrison, M.D., M.Sc.; Vincent N. Mosesso, Jr., M.D.; Vinay Nadkarni, M.D.; Jerry Potts, Ph.D.; Ricardo A. Samson, M.D.; Michael Sayre, M.D.; and Stephen M. Schexnayder, M.D. Author disclosures and sources of funding are on the manuscript.

It’s that time again…time to make those New Year resolutions

2010-12-21T16:03:00.002-06:00

*Guest blogger Kevin Harker, Executive Vice President, Midwest Affiliate

It’s that time again…time to make those New Year resolutions. I admit there’s something rejuvenating about taking down the old calendar and hanging up a new one. It’s like a fresh start, the perfect time to consider the potential that exists with a brand-new, blank slate. How do we improve ourselves – as parents, as spouses, as sons and daughters, as employees, as business leaders, as Americans?

At first, it may seem a daunting task to improve yourself in all those areas. It did to me. But then I started to think about what I could realistically do to get better in just one way and I had an amazing revelation. By changing just one thing, by making just one commitment to myself and sticking with it, I will get one step closer to my potential. I don’t have to be perfect, just…better.

That is the same philosophy employed by the American Heart Association when we announced our 2020 goal last January: to improve the cardiovascular health of all Americans by 20 percent while reducing deaths from cardiovascular diseases and stroke by 20 percent. The association identified three categories of cardiovascular health – poor, intermediate and ideal – and then set out to help Americans make strides to move from one category to the next. How? Our science and research volunteers identified seven factors, called Life’s Simple 7, as the key elements to living a healthy life: get active, control cholesterol, eat better, manage blood pressure, lose weight, reduce blood sugar and stop smoking.

These measures have one unique thing in common: any person can make these changes, and even modest improvements to your health will make a big difference.

I encourage you to find out where you stand with the simple seven by taking the My Life Check assessment at mylifecheck.heart.org. In just a few minutes, you will know how you’re doing with each one of Life’s Simple Seven, and get your own personal heart score. Your results will include recommended areas of focus and an action plan customized to fit your lifestyle and health outlook.

As our past national president, Clyde Yancy, MD, said, “The last step is a promise: a resolution to make healthy positive changes step-by-step, for a long, healthy future.” And isn’t now the perfect time of year for that?

All the best for a joyous holiday season and a healthy 2011!

AHA Statement on Surgeon General's tobacco report

2010-12-13T11:43:00.000-06:00

American Heart Association CEO Nancy Brown says U.S. Surgeon General Report Stresses Importance of Cessation Strategies to Reduce Tobacco’s Deadly Toll

The U.S. Surgeon General’s report, “How Tobacco Smoke Causes Disease,” sheds new light on the damaging effects of tobacco use on the health of all Americans. This comprehensive scientific report shows that even brief exposure to tobacco smoke can trigger acute cardiac events and potential sudden death. The evidence clearly states that tobacco products are lethal weapons capable of shortening the lifespan of smokers and nonsmokers alike. However, tobacco companies will stop at nothing to addict a new generation of smokers. They are ramping up efforts to fight regulations that restrict marketing campaigns and the sale of cigarettes and smokeless tobacco products and designing new cigarettes to make them more addictive. This report provides more ammunition to fight their deceptive and deadly campaign.

We strongly believe the findings will support implementation of new federal tobacco regulations, including the development of graphic warning labels for cigarette packages. We also urge state officials to fund smoking prevention and cessation programs at CDC recommended levels, enact strong smoke-free policies and boost tobacco excise taxes. Policymakers must not allow complacency to rule in the fight against tobacco. Bold, aggressive measures are needed to save lives, reduce the burden of disease and improve quality of life.

For more information, visit www.surgeongeneral.gov/library/tobaccosmoke/index.html.

Springfield One Air Alliance to Host Health Event

2010-10-29T14:12:00.009-05:00

The American Heart Association would like to invite Springfield residents to the following event!

On Monday, November 1, the One Air Alliance is hosting a "Shine A Light on Lung Cancer" Event. We would like to have supporters of the American Heart Association in representation at Monday evening’s event. This event supports the overall advocacy efforts of the American Heart Association – promoting smoke-free environments for the health and well-being of all.

Come hear from speakers in the medical profession and local survivors. We will have multiple light displays to truly “shine a light” on lung cancer awareness in Springfield. A drawing will be held for free gift certificates to the newly smoke-free Touch and Metropolitan Grill!

When: Monday, November 1, 2010; 5:30pm-6:30pm

Where: C. H. “Chub” O’Reilly Cancer Center2055 S. Fremont, Springfield, MO (St. John’s campus)

RSVP: Please RSVP to lochhaas1013@gmail.com or the One Air Alliance Facebook page.

*For more information, please call Theresa Lochhaas at (417) 380-3894.*

Thank you for everything you do!

Ask Missouri Legislators to Support Heart Health!

2010-10-22T13:35:00.007-05:00

Dear You're the Cure Advocate,

In less than two weeks, Americans like you will go to the polls and make important decisions for the future of Missouri and our country.

As a You're the Cure advocate, you already know the power of your voice when it comes to communicating with decision-makers about important policy issues that help us build healthier lives free from cardiovascular disease and stroke. Now, you have the power to choose the decision-makers you want representing you at the local, state and federal levels.

Remember to exercise your right to vote -- to be heard.

Watch for opportunities to contact your newly elected officials. After the election, we will ask you to introduce yourself as an American Heart Association volunteer and encourage your legislators to make heart disease and stroke a priority!

Follow the link below to take action!

http://www.capitolconnect.com/yourethecure/fastaction.aspx?AlertID=18080

Thank you for everything you do!

AHA Releases Policy Statement to Discourage Use on Smokeless Tobacco

2010-09-15T08:41:00.011-05:00

Social media account holders –

The American Heart Association just released a policy statement on smokeless tobacco.

Read policy statement here.

Learn more about AHA resources to help you quit: http://www.heart.org/quitsmoking

Here are some social media messages you can use on your accounts online to help us spread the word about these products as well as links to learn more about resources to help you quit:

TWITTER:

· Smokeless tobacco products not a safe option, won’t help smokers quit. http://bit.ly/ajYHGm

· An est. 7% of adults uses smokeless tobacco. AHA advises against smokeless tobacco products to quit smoking. www.heart.org/quitsmoking

· To help Americans quit smoking, AHA supports tobacco excise taxes to fund prevention & cessation programs. http://bit.ly/bYQS94

FACEBOOK:

1. AHA Policy Statement: Smokeless tobacco products should not be used as an alternative to cigarettes or for smoking cessation due to the risk of addiction and return to smoking.

LINK: http://bit.ly/ajYHGm

2. Smokeless tobacco products such as dry and moist snuff as well as chewing tobacco may also increase the risk of fatal heart attack, fatal stroke and certain cancers, according to a new study.

LINK: http://bit.ly/ajYHGm

3. An estimated 7 percent of adults use smokeless tobacco. Smokeless tobacco should not be used for smoking cessation because long-term use moderately increases the risk of a fatal heart attack, fatal stroke and certain cancers. Check out the American Heart Associations’ resources to help you kick the habit!

LINK: www.heart.org/quitsmoking

4. To help Americans quit smoking, AHA supports substantially increasing excise taxes on all tobacco products, including smokeless tobacco to help fund tobacco prevention and cessation programs.

LINK: http://bit.ly/bYQS94

Poll Shows Strong Support for St. Charles County Clean Indoor Air Ordinance

2010-09-14T14:05:00.003-05:00

A new poll released by our friends at the American Cancer Society confirms what we already knew - voters support comprehensive clean indoor air in St. Charles County by overwhelming numbers.

68% of likely voters surveyed in this scientific poll say they want to enjoy the health benefits of clean indoor air.

To read the full story as published on STLToday.com follow this link:

http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/stcharles/70b84856-c023-11df-864f-00127992bc8b.html

Live Better With Life's Simple 7

2010-09-01T13:47:00.024-05:00

No matter what day it is, it’s never too late for all of us to make better choices for health and we invite you to start a new life resolution. All you need is a goal, a plan and the desire to live better.

In just a few minutes, the American Heart Association's My Life Check will provide your personal heart score and a custom plan with the seven simple steps you need to live better.

Visit: www.heart.org/MyLifeCheck to begin your path to a healthier YOU!

Hooray for a Healthier Maryville!

2010-08-11T16:07:00.002-05:00

Originally posted under Council Passes Workplace Smoking Ban at http://www.maryvilledailyforum.com/highlight/x1028352858/Council-passes-workplace-smoke-ban, the Maryville Daily Forum Online.

Maryville, Mo. —
After 15 months, numerous City Council debates, two public hearings and a failed citizens' initiative petition to put the question before Maryville voters, the City Council Monday acted to ban smoking from all workplaces inside the city limits.
In a rare split vote, the council passed the smoking ban 3-2, with council members Shawn Wake and Pat Cummings voting no, and members Ron Moss and Glenn Jonagan voting yes. Mayor Chad Jackson, who had earlier favored allowing voters to decide the question, cast the deciding vote in favor of the expanded ban.
Smoking has been prohibited in restaurants and banquet halls in Maryville since 2003. Jackson said he decided to back the ordinance because he came to believe that most of the community favored it. He told the council during debate leading up to the vote that he had conducted his own unofficial pole showing significant citizen support for taking smoking out of the workplace.

The new ordinance, which was to have gone into effect in 30 days, will instead become effective Oct. 1, following 3-2 passage of a last-minute amendment proposed by Jackson.

Why Calling 911 Can Save Your Life

2010-07-28T09:10:00.006-05:00

When you or someone you are near experience the signs and symptoms of a heart attack, what do you do? Many people know they should call 9-1-1, but in studies, less than half of all heart attack patients arrive at medical care via emergency medical services (EMS). Too many patients drive themself, or ask a friend or loved one to drive them to the hospital.

Why should you call 9-1-1?
When you call 9-1-1 in response to a health emergency (which a heart attack IS!!) you initiate a chain of response that puts you on the fast-track to receiving care. Emergency personnel are not just fancy bus drivers; these individuals are trained medical professionals that can start diagnosing, and in some cases treating you, in route. This can save critical time that gives the patient a much higher chance of a positive outcome. Patients that can be identified by the EMS staff in many cases can bypass the ER altogether, and go straight to definitive care. While this is not happening everywhere yet, it is happening in more and more cities and hospitals as hospitals and EMS staff work better together.

The American Heart Association recommends that all those experiencing what they think even might be a heart attack to call 9-1-1, and recommends that the EMS responders triage (assess and diagnose) the patient en-route, and call ahead to the destination hospital to get the receiving team ready to receive the patient. In fact, our Mission: Lifeline initiative focuses on this very process to ensure that more patients lives are saved, because time is muscle and every minute (literally every minute) is critical.

A recent article in the Chicago Tribune underscores the value of calling 911 and of heart attack patients bypassing the ER: http://www.chicagotribune.com/health/sc-nw-heart-attack-0723-20100723,0,6976536.story, and we are glad to see more success stories like this. BUT all this success depends upon the first link in the chain of care: the patient calling 9-1-1.

Gov. Nixon Signs Lifesaving AED Legislation!

2010-07-14T09:15:00.004-05:00

Jefferson City, MO – Tuesday, July 13, 2010 – Tuesday, Missouri Governor Jay Nixon signed critical legislation requiring Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) to be present on all basic life support ambulances and stretcher vans. The American Red Cross and the American Heart Association celebrate this important step in expanding access to these lifesaving devices.

Among other issues related to public safety, House Bill 1977 amends the Public Access to Automated External Defibrillator Act, which encourages the deployment and use of AEDs across the state. House Bill 1977 requires all basic life support ambulances and stretcher vans to be equipped with an AED and staffed by at least one person trained in its use. This law ensures a minimum standard of care throughout all Missouri communities, particularly in rural areas, where access to these lifesaving devices can be limited.

“This bill guarantees that Missourians who need emergency cardiac care will have access to an AED before they reach the hospital,” said Cindy Erickson, Chief Executive Officer of the American Red Cross St. Louis Area Chapter. “When every second counts, using an AED can mean the difference between life and death.”

“Each component of the cardiac chain of survival is essential – from immediate bystander CPR and fully equipped EMS personnel to swift diagnosis and treatment upon arrival at the hospital,” said Jace Smith, Director of State Advocacy for the American Heart Association. “We celebrate the signing of this important legislation, which we believe strengthens that chain and will ultimately save lives.”

What is an Automated External Defibrillator?
An Automated External Defibrillator (AED) is a lightweight, portable device that delivers an electric shock through the chest to the heart. The shock can stop an irregular rhythm and allow a normal rhythm to resume in a heart in sudden cardiac arrest. Sudden cardiac arrest is an abrupt loss of heart function. If it’s not treated within minutes, it quickly leads to death. Most sudden cardiac arrests result from ventricular fibrillation. This is a rapid and unsynchronized heart rhythm originating in the heart’s lower pumping chambers (the ventricles). The heart must be “defibrillated” quickly, because a victim’s chance of surviving drops by 7 to 10 percent for every minute a normal heartbeat isn’t restored.

Why are AEDs important?
AEDs make it possible for more people to respond to a medical emergency where defibrillation is required. Because AEDs are portable and can be used by non-medical people, they can be made part of emergency response programs that also include rapid use of 9-1-1 and prompt delivery of CPR. All three of these activities are critical to improving survival from cardiac arrest.

How does an AED work?
A built-in computer checks a victim’s heart rhythm through adhesive electrodes. The computer calculates whether defibrillation is needed. If it is, a recorded voice tells the rescuer to press the shock button on the AED. This shock momentarily stuns the heart and stops all activity and gives the heart an opportunity to resume beating effectively. Instructions guide the user through the process. AEDs advise a shock only for ventricular fibrillation or another life-threatening condition called pulseless ventricular tachycardia.

Where should AEDs be placed?
All first-response vehicles, including ambulances, law-enforcement vehicles and many fire engines should have an AED. AEDs also should be placed in public areas such as sports arenas, gated communities, airports, office complexes, doctors’ offices and any other public or private place where large numbers of people gather or where people at high risk for heart attacks live.

For More Information:
To learn more about AEDs or the importance of lifesaving training, the public is encouraged to log on to http://www.redcross.org/ or http://www.americanheart.org/.

Photo Caption: Missouri Governor Jay Nixon recently signed important legislation that requires Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) be present on all basic life support ambulances and stretcher vans. Pictured left to right is Representative Chuck Gatschenberger (District 13); Carolyn Holt (American Heart Association volunteer and sudden cardiac arrest survivor); and Governor Jay Nixon.

We have GREAT volunteers: here is one of them.

2010-07-07T12:58:00.008-05:00

The American Heart Association recently presented Mary Beeson, an Ozark resident, with the Grassroots Advocate of the Year Award for outstanding volunteer service. Mary’s work on behalf of the American Heart Association helps to advance the mission of the organization to “build healthier lives, free of cardiovascular diseases and stroke.” She has helped us to raise funds for lifesaving research and education and is a key member of our You’re the Cure advocacy network.

In addition to her help in raising funds for lifesaving research and education through support for the Southwest Missouri Start! Heart Walk, the Go Red For Women Luncheon, and the annual Heart Ball, Mary provided testimony at the State Capitol in Jefferson City on two occasions in 2010. That testimony was instrumental in the passage of statewide legislation that will help in removing health disparities throughout Missouri.

Thank you Mary for your outstanding work! And thank you to all our volunteers because without you, we could not do our work. You are the cornerstone to our organization, and the key to our success. Thank you!

Thank Governor Nixon for Supporting Heart Healthy Policies in Missouri!

2010-07-01T11:12:00.002-05:00

Your American Heart Association is excited to announce that Governor Nixon recently signed our Women's Heart Health Bill - House Bill 1898. HB 1898 supports the Well-Integrated Screening and Evaluation for Women Across the Nation (WISEWOMAN Program) - a Center for Disease Control (CDC) funded program that helps underinsured, low-income women gain access to health screenings and lifestyle education that can reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke. Also, despite a round of difficult budget cuts in Missouri, we're proud to report that the $3.2 Million in appropriations for Tobacco Cessation Funding for Missouri Medicaid recipients remained intact! This also allows Missouri to leverage federal funds (estimated at $5.3 million) for the same purpose! For the first time ever the state of Missouri will benefit from funding this life-saving program.

Follow the link below to thank Governor Nixon for Supporting Heart Healthy Policies in Missouri:

Thank Governor Nixon for Supporting Heart Healthy Policies in Missouri

Questions on how the WISEWOMAN program benefits heart health in Missouri? Visit http://t.democracydirect.com/?ti_dn__=052d47ad-e0be-45ad-a14a-375d3e205f1d&__u_idz=&__turl=http%3a%2f%2fwww.dhss.mo.gov%2fWISEWOMAN%2f for more information.

What is the impact of these new tobacco cessation funds? Missouri Medicaid clients smoke at a higher rate than the state as a whole, and the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids estimates that tobacco related illnesses cost the Missouri Medicaid program nearly $532 million each year. The new funding for evidenced-based cessation will not only create health benefits for Missourians by helping them quit tobacco for good, but will also save Missouri taxpayers money. This is an important victory in the fight against Tobacco, and a BIG VICTORY for the health of all Missourians.

Thank Governor Nixon for Supporting Heart Healthy Policies in Missouri

Thank you again for all you have done to support Heart Health in the Show Me state this year. Your countless e-mails, phone calls, and visits with lawmakers helped us make a difference in Missouri by passing such important legislation!

New Website Educates Public on Health Care Laws

2010-06-30T13:56:00.000-05:00

As health care reform implementation moves forward, there are a number of new rules, programs, and resources rolling out that heart disease and stroke patients need to be informed about. A new insurance program created by the Affordable Care Act, called Pre-existing Condition Insurance Plans, begins in many states starting July 1st. While the exact terms and conditions of the coverage will vary by state, this is an important option for uninsured individuals with pre-existing conditions to explore. And to help consumers explore and better understand their health insurance options, both private and public, the Department of Health and Human Services is also launching their new consumer website, healthcare.gov, on July 1st. This site will be a valuable resource to all Americans looking to determine what the new health care law means to them. Below are some sample social media messages to help spread the word.

FACEBOOK POSTS-
Pre-Ex Plan Launch- link to http://yourethecure.blogspot.com/2010/06/new-health-insurance-resources-launch.html

Today marks the beginning of a more affordable health care coverage option for uninsured Americans with pre-existing conditions. Learn more about these new Pre-existing Condition Insurance Plans today.

Are you or a loved one uninsured and been denied insurance because of a pre-existing medical condition? If so, you may be eligible for a new program intended to make health care coverage affordable to you. Learn more …

Web Portal Launch- link to www.healthcare.gov
Be an informed health insurance consumer. Visit the Department of Health and Human Services’ new site to learn about your options and protections under the new health care reform law.

Today, healthcare.gov launched to help provide consumers with the information they need to better understand their health care coverage options. Visit the site today to learn what the new health care reform law means for you.

As a heart disease or stroke survivor, navigating your health care insurance options can be challenging. But a new online resource from the Dept. of Health and Human Services aims to make identifying your options easier. Check it out today!

Wondering what the new health care reform laws mean for you? Check out the Department of Health and Human Services’ new website for more information about the public and private health insurance programs and plans that may be available to you.

TWITTER “TWEETS”
Pre-existing condition insurance plans will help uninsured heart disease and stroke patients attain health coverage. www.healthcare.gov

AHA encourages heart disease and stroke patients to take advantage of Pre-existing condition insurance plans. www.healthcare.gov

New insurance program provides temporary relief for uninsured individuals with pre-existing conditions www.healthcare.gov

@HHSGov launches www.healthcare.gov aimed at providing helpful tools and resources to consumers

New @HHSGov health reform website will help consumers find options for insurance coverage- www.healthcare.gov

Press Release: American Heart Association Disappointed in Springfield Smoke free Decision

2010-06-29T16:46:00.002-05:00

NEWS RELEASE Media Contact:Jace Smith E-Mail: Jace.Smith@heart.org

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (Tues., June 29, 2010) – During a public hearing last night (Monday, June 28th) the Springfield City Council, chose not to move forward with a comprehensive smoke free workplace ordinance. The American Heart Association is disappointed in the decision to not move forward in protecting the community’s health. The association feels strongly that all workers in Springfield deserve to breathe smoke free air.

A growing number of recent studies from across the country have shown that heart attack rates decline after the implementation of strong comprehensive smoke free laws. Another reason the American Heart Association is disappointed in last night’s decision.

“Thankfully, our local, state and federal governments protect the quality of the water and food available for public consumption,” said Jace Smith, Missouri Government Relations Director with the American Heart Association. “That same protection should be extended to the air that Springfield residents share in all public places.”

Secondhand smoke causes blood platelets to coagulate, or become sticky, thereby impeding the life-sustaining flow of blood throughout the body. As a result, even after brief exposure to secondhand smoke, an individual’s risk of suffering a heart attack or stroke can significantly increase. In fact, an estimated 35,000 nonsmokers die from coronary heart disease each year as a direct result of exposure to secondhand smoke.

“Here at the American Heart Association we applaud the efforts of the Springfield One Air Alliance and we are looking forward to working with them to put this smoke free issue in front of voters in the near future,” said Smith. “A smoke free ordinance in Springfield would be a welcome change because ALL businesses would be able to operate under one set of rules and this would ultimately protect the health of business employees and their patrons.”

About the Dangers of Secondhand Smoke
In 2006, the U.S. Surgeon General issued a landmark study that officially classified secondhand smoke as “a serious health hazard.” The Surgeon General went on to proclaim that “scientific evidence indicates there is no risk-free level of exposure to secondhand smoke.”

Smoke from a burning cigarette contains more than 4,800 chemicals – more than 250 of which are known to be toxic. At least 60 are defined as carcinogens. This means that the smoker, and every single person in proximity to the lit cigarette, inhales these toxic chemicals and known carcinogens. The effects of exposure to secondhand smoke can be nearly as large as chronic, active smoking. Even brief exposure has an immediate negative impact and can lead to a variety of life-threatening ailments, including coronary heart disease and lung cancer. In addition to heart disease and cancer, the Surgeon General has linked secondhand smoke exposure to stroke, emphysema, bronchitis, asthma, respiratory infections and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.

Smith: Support workplace smoking ban in Springfield

2010-06-28T16:22:00.004-05:00

This piece originally posted in the Springfield News-Leader, at http://www.news-leader.com/article/20100626/OPINIONS02/6260316/Smith-Support-workplace-smoking-ban-in-Springfield.

On Monday evening during the Springfield City Council meeting, a local comprehensive smoke-free workplace ordinance will be introduced. The American Heart Association of Missouri would like to share why the implementation of that ordinance could reduce the number of heart attacks in the Springfield community.

Secondhand smoke causes blood platelets to coagulate, or become sticky, thereby impeding the life-sustaining flow of blood throughout the body. As a result, even after brief exposure to secondhand smoke, an individual's risk of suffering a heart attack or stroke can significantly increase. In fact, an estimated 35,000 nonsmokers die from coronary heart disease each year as a direct result of exposure to secondhand smoke.

A growing number of peer-reviewed studies have found that heart attack rates decline significantly after implementation of strong smoke-free laws. Last September, Circulation - the official journal of the American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology - published a study documenting a 17 percent drop in the number of heart attacks in cities throughout the U.S. where smoke-free workplace laws have been implemented. Furthermore, this study found that nonsmokers have a 25-30 percent increase in heart attack risk if they are exposed to smoke while at work.

Thankfully, our local, state and federal governments protect the quality of the water and food available for public consumption. That same protection should be extended to the air that we all share. For this reason, the American Heart Association urges the Springfield City Council to pass a comprehensive smoke-free workplace ordinance. Each and every Springfield worker deserves the right to breathe clean indoor air.

Jace Smith is the director of Missouri State Advocacy for the American Heart Association.

See: Smokers and nonsmokers support indoor smoking ban

2010-06-23T17:21:00.004-05:00

The article below is from News-Leader.com and can be found at http://www.news-leader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F201006230257%2FOPINIONS02%2F6230393

Dear City Council and the Springfield community,

I would like to ask for your support of the proposed smoking ban in all indoor workplaces in Springfield. It is time to protect the rights of all workers of indoor facilities and to stop alienating a large portion of the population from businesses due to secondhand smoke.

Do not be fooled into thinking that only nonsmokers support this ban. Many individuals who identify themselves as smokers support indoor businesses becoming free of secondhand smoke.

This proposed ordinance is not an argument against smoking. It is an argument meant to protect exposing individuals to secondhand smoke.

One Air Alliance has over 100 Springfield partners and business supporters. Thousands of individuals have given their support. We have been called the vocal minority. We are a vocal group of individuals trying to implement change. I believe the majority of individuals living in this area support the ban. The News-Leader did an online poll on June 11, "Should Springfield institute an across the board total ban on smoking in all workplaces in the city? The "Yes" votes were 56 percent.

I have lived in Springfield my entire life. As a child, I remember smoking was allowed inside the Battlefield Mall and at grocery stores. When I was a teenager, smoking had become banned at the mall and grocery stores, but was allowed in fast food restaurants such as Burger King and Hardees. It seems unimaginable to me now that smoking was once allowed in such indoor places.

During my high school and college years, I worked as a server in restaurants for seven years. I found myself being bothered when I had to work the smoking sections. Some days I worked as little as three hours and other days I logged as long as 15 hours working in a smoking environment. Now and then I made a complaint about not wanting to work in the smoking sections. I found myself tolerating it because it was a part of my job. Looking back, I do not think my co-workers understood my position because I was a smoker myself.

If you are interested in being a supporter of One Air Alliance or would like more information, please visit http://www.oneairalliance.org/ . The Springfield Air Quality Monitoring Study can also be accessed through this website. The study found that smoking venues are 10 times more polluted than nonsmoking venues.

Time for Springfield to be progressive. This is customer service.

Lisa See is a former News-Leader editorial advisory board member and a member of the One Air Alliance.

Speak Up for a Smoke-Free Springfield!

2010-06-22T14:54:00.003-05:00

Smoking kills more people than alcohol, AIDS, car crashes, illegal drugs, murders, and suicides combined.

On June 28th, the City Council will hold a public hearing for a comprehensive smoke-free ordinance in Springfield, Missouri. The public hearing will be held at City Council Chambers (at the corner of Boonville and Chestnut Expressway) at 6:30pm. The American Heart Association needs your help to encourage the city council to pass a comprehensive smoke-free ordinance that protects all residents, visitors, and workers from the dangers of secondhand smoke.

2 Ways to Speak Up for a Smoke-Free Springfield:

1. Come to the public hearing and tell the City Council that everyone deserves to breathe clean indoor air! We will provide you with talking points and go over what to expect.

RSVP here if you are able to come to the public hearing on June 28th

2. Contact the city council by following the link below to e-mail them NOW about the importance of clean indoor air:

Support a Comprehensive Smoke-Free Ordinance in Springfield, MO!

In 2006, the U.S. Surgeon General declared that there is "no safe level of exposure to secondhand smoke". In Missouri, more than 9,500 adults will die from tobacco use and over 140,000 kids will ultimately die prematurely from tobacco use and secondhand smoke exposure.

Thirty-two states and over 3,100 communities across the country have already taken steps to protect the health and safety of their community by putting laws in place to decrease exposure to secondhand smoke. It is time for Springfield to take this step! Thank you for your help on this important health issue.

Missouri Appropriates $3.2 mil to Tobacco Cessation

2010-06-21T14:34:00.005-05:00

Last Thursday, Governor Nixon announced another round of difficult budget cuts in Missouri. Yet, we're excited to report that the $3.2 Million Appropriations for Tobacco Cessation Funding for Missouri Medicaid recipients remained intact! This also allows Missouri to leverage federal funds (estimated at $5.3 million) for the same purpose! For the first time ever the state of Missouri will benefit from funding this life-saving program.

What is the impact of these new funds? Missouri Medicaid clients smoke at a higher rate than the state as a whole, and the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids estimates that tobacco related illnesses cost the Missouri Medicaid program nearly $532 million each year. The new funding for evidenced-based cessation will not only create health benefits for Missourians by helping them quit tobacco for good, but will also save Missouri taxpayers money.

This is an important victory in the fight against Tobacco, and a BIG VICTORY for the health of all Missourians. This would not of been possible without the outstanding efforts of our volunteers, supporters and You’re the Cure Volunteers, so... THANK YOU! Thanks to all the phone calls and e-mails into the Governor’s Office over the last 3 weeks, we were able to keep this funding intact. We could not have done it without you!

Please stay tuned to your You’re the Cure e-mails (and sign up here if you aren't already a You're the Cure member) for ways to thank the Governor for approving funding for this program.

Springfield Residents: We Need Your Help!

2010-06-17T14:45:00.007-05:00

We need your help in showing our City Council that smokefree air is important to us! The opposition is beginning to funnel letters into City Council. So far, the opposition letters have outnumbered letters in support of smokefree air. We need to change that! We urge you to send letters supporting One Air Alliance's comprehensive smokefree workplaces ordinance immediately. To ensure that we promote the best in public health in Springfield, we must work together and show the City Council that we support having smokefree air. Can you take a minute to write a letter supporting smokefree air today?

In addition to expressing support yourself, we are asking that you distribute this letter of support to your colleagues, friends, and families and urge them to submit this letter to City Council immediately. We need support from everyone: youth, students, families, musicians, healthcare providers, business leaders, civic volunteers, educators - everyone. It does not matter how much we agree if City Council does not hear our voices.

If you need help getting started on your letter, you can use this text to get started. Be sure to personalize it with your name and address and your personal story before submitting it:

Dear Springfield City Council member,
I am writing in support of smokefree air in Springfield. Secondhand smoke causes illness, disease, and death that affect residents, workers and visitors in Springfield. Our community has a moral obligation to protect the health and safety of the people in our city and our right to breathe clean, smokefree air. In 2006, the U.S. Surgeon General declared that there is “no safe level of exposure to secondhand smoke”. Why do we continue to allow people to be exposed to this toxic substance? Thirty-two states and over 3,100 communities across the country have already taken steps to protect the health and safety of their community by putting laws in place to decrease exposure to secondhand smoke. It is time for Springfield to take this step! As a [resident, visitor, worker] in Springfield, I ask that you please support smokfree air in Springfield. Thank you for your service to our city.

Letters of support can be submitted directly to this email address: citycouncil@springfieldmo.gov

We are almost there. We can acheive a smokefree Springfield - when our voices join together as one!

State Capital Putting Smoke-Free City to a Vote

2010-06-16T13:04:00.007-05:00

With Missouri being one of only six states that still allows smoking in public venues in the state capital, this has a big implication. Read on for more details.

Original story, supplied by the AP: http://www.columbiamissourian.com/stories/2010/06/08/smoking-ban-go-voters-jefferson-city/.

Voters in Missouri's capital city will decide in November whether to ban smoking in public areas. The City Council in Jefferson City decided on Monday, June 7th to put the issue on the ballot after supporters gathered more than 1,200 petition signatures for the ordinance.
The ordinance would apply to indoor public places, including restaurants, bars, stores and offices. It also would apply to some outdoor areas, such as stadiums and bus stops.

According to the University of Missouri-Columbia, 18 Missouri cities and counties already have adopted smoke-free ordinances in most indoor public places. But Jefferson City is one of just six state capitals that currently does not have a smoke-free ordinance in place.

Springfield MO mayor proposes indoor smoking ban

2010-06-10T15:32:00.004-05:00

Originally printed at http://www.ky3.com/news/local/96060229.html

SPRINGFIELD - Mayor Jim O'Neal will propose a comprehensive ban on indoor smoking in Springfield later this month.

O'Neal says banning smoking inside is a issue of workplace health and safety.

"We should no more subject Springfield's workers to the injuries of secondhand smoke than we would ask a body shop owner to not protect people painting cars by wearing masks," O'Neal said.

A public hearing on the proposal will likely take place at the June 28 city council meeting. A vote could happen as soon as July 12.

O'Neal was joined in his announcement by the One Air Alliance, a coalition of citizens and businesses. The alliance conducted a study of the quality of indoor workplaces in December and March.

Carrie Reynolds, the co-chair of the alliance, called the results "stunning and staggering."
Reynolds said the study found places that allowed smoking had 10 times the particulate matter in the air that a smoke-free environment did. Reynolds said workers in those places are exposed to toxins at levels 250 percent above those recommended by the EPA.

A 2003 ordinance prohibited smoking in Springfield restaurants. The ordinance included exemptions that allowed some restaurants to have smoking if they seated 50 or fewer patrons, sold a certain amount of liquor or build separate ventilation for smoking areas.

O'Neal said a ban of indoor smoking was the issue he is most asked about.

"We're going to take that step and we;'re going to get this done," O'Neal said.

Springfield Deserves Smoke-free Air!

2010-06-08T11:35:00.000-05:00

Smoking is a major risk factor for heart disease -- the number one cause of death in Missouri. It is also a serious risk factor for stroke -- the state's third leading cause of death. Smoking interferes with the normal functioning of the heart, blood and vascular system. If you smoke, you increase your risk of having a heart attack or stroke. That's why your American Heart Association has teamed up with other health organizations to promote smoke-free air in your community!

Please join us for important information that could reduce secondhand smoke from causing sickness and death in Springfield:
What: One Air Alliance Press Conference
When: June 10. 2010 at 10:00 a.m.
Where: St. John's C.H. "Chub" O'Reilly Cancer Center
RSVP: Let us know you plan on attending here

*Please wear RED or your American Heart Association gear and show your support for smokefree air!

**Invite your friends, family and co-workers by directing them to this blog post!

Lastly, don't forget to stop by the Springfield American Heart Association Office and pick up smoke-free yard signs and window clings:

American Heart Association
2446 E. Madrid Springfield, MO 65804
417.881.1128 - phone

Springfield Deserves Smoke-free Air! www.oneairalliance.org

Lend Your Voice to CPR & AED Awareness in June!

2010-06-01T14:05:00.000-05:00

The sad truth is most people don’t survive a cardiac arrest. Getting people to act quickly in a cardiac arrest emergency is critical to a victim’s survival because time is not on their side. Four to six minutes is the window of opportunity for someone to act before it is too late, but fewer than one-third of cardiac arrest victims get CPR from someone nearby.

The American Heart Association wants more people to take action and help cardiac arrest victims. That’s why we’re challenging 1 million people to learn about CPR during National CPR & AED Awareness Week, June 1-7. by learning about Hands-Only CPR, playing Be the Beat to learn the correct rate of CPR compressions, or recording your CPR & AED training or the training you gave someone else.

Explore the site and be sure to get counted every time you train or train someone else. The counter will stay open throughout May and June, so don’t stop! Every training helps us create safer communities and save lives.

Here's some social media messages you can post to your Twitter, Facebook, and other social media accounts to help spread the word:

Twitter:
The Amer Heart Assoc wants a million people to learn about CPR during #cprweek June 1-7. Find out how at http://www.cprweek.org/
It’s #cprweek. Be one of a million. Take a class, watch a video, or play an online game to learn more about CPR and AEDs. http://www.cprweek.org/
Learn about CPR and log your experiences at http://www.cprweek.org/. Our goal is to get a million people educated about CPR and AEDs. #cprweek
More than 92% of people who suffer cardiac arrest outside the hospital die from it. But you can help. #cprweek June 1-7. http://www.cprweek.org/

Facebook:
· The American Heart Association wants one million teens and adults to learn about cardiopulmonary resuscitation during CPR Week, June 1-7. Our goal is to increase awareness about CPR and automated external defibrillator (AEDs) so that people will know what to do if someone suddenly collapses from cardiac arrest.

LINK TO: http://www.cprweek.org/

· It’s CPR Week! We’ve made learning the basics of CPR and how to use an AED fun and entertaining through interactive games, music and videos. Take an action and get counted toward our goal of getting 1 million teens and adults to learn about CPR.

LINK TO: http://www.cprweek.org/

· Take a class, watch a Hands-Only demonstration video, play our “Be the Beat” game or train on a CPR Anytime kit. Once you have learned about CPR, log your experience online! A real-time heat map will track the number of people who have taken action in communities nationwide.

LINK TO: http://www.cprweek.org/

General Post for Tuesday, June 1:

· CPR Week starts today! Our goal is to get a million teens and adults to learn about cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Will you help? Learn about CPR and log your activities online!

LINK: http://www.cprweek.org/

It’s Crunch Time for Childhood Obesity…Reauthorize the Child Nutrition Act This Year!

2010-05-27T09:06:00.000-05:00

Today, our nation’s kids are struggling to maintain healthy lifestyles, complete with proper nutrition and physical activity. But through the reauthorization of the Child Nutrition Act, Congress can be part of the solution. But we need your help to get the job done on the Child Nutrition Act this year and ensure that the final bill includes:

• Increased funding for the school meal programs to help improve nutrition standards;

• Restrictions on the junk food sold in cafeterias, snack shops, and vending machines (H.R.1324/S.934);

• Guidelines to strengthen local wellness policies that establish the nutrition and physical activity goals of school districts (H.R. 5090 and S.3126).

Take 3 important steps to ensure our nation's kids have healthier options in the cafeterias:

1. Follow the link below to send a message to your legislator:

Reauthorize the Child Nutrition Act

2. Click on the image below to open, print, and fill out our "lunch tray petition" and fax it to your U.S. Representative and U.S. Senators today!

*Not sure who your legislators are or where to fax your message? No problem! Click "My Profile" when you log in to http://www.yourethecure.org/ , which lists your legislators contact information including their picture. You can also click on "Information Resources" to find other elected officials in your area.

*Don't forget to tell us that you sent your message by RSVP-ing here.

3. Tell Your Friends and Family to Take Action!

Save 9,500 Missouri Lives and $2.13 Billion Dollars

2010-05-26T11:46:00.000-05:00

Smoking kills 9,500 Missourians each year and it is estimated smoking costs Missourians $2.13 billion dollars in healthcare costs every year! That's why the American Heart Association has continued to push for funding to help Missouri smokers quit...for good! Before legislative session ended earlier this month, Missouri State Senator Schaefer successfully sponsored a $3 million appropriation to help MO HealthNet (Missouri Medicaid) recipients quit smoking. It is now up to the Governor to make final budget decisions.

Step 1: To ensure that this money remains, please follow the link below to contact Governor Nixon this week:

Save 9,500 Missouri Lives and $2.13 Billion Dollars

Step 2: You can also call Governor Nixon at (573) 751-3222. Use the following talking points to let him know that smoking costs Missouri too much and it's time we started saving lives and money from this deadly habit. It's important we know how many calls we get in to the Governor, so be sure to let us know you made the call:

Count Me!

-Missouri Medicaid Adult Smokers---39%; Missourians Who Smoke---23.2% (Source: MO HealthNet Program)
-Low-income smokers face cost barriers to smoking cessation treatment. Without coverage of smoking cessation services, tobacco-related health costs will continue to rise, resulting in even greater Medicaid spending in the future.
-Smoking-related expenditures for Medicaid are skyrocketing at a time when Medicaid budgets are already suffering. Tobacco cessation treatment is one of the most cost-effective disease prevention strategies.
-Quitting smoking has economic benefits and is good fiscal policy due to savings on smoking-related medical costs. An estimated $2.13 billion in annual healthcare costs in Missouri are caused because of smoking.
-Smoking kills 9,500 Missourians each year. Please help reduce this tragic number by keeping the $3 million cessation funds in the budget.

Thank you again for your help in making Missouri a heart-healthier place to live. We can't spell C-U-R-E, without U!

2010 Missouri Legislative Session in Review

2010-05-18T10:45:00.000-05:00

On May 14th, at 6:00 p.m. the 2010 Missouri Legislative Session came to an end. In a year where Missouri faced severe budget deficits, the American Heart Association and their Volunteers can be proud of the great things we accomplished.

This year, over 2,000 bills were filed between the House and Senate, with only 106 bills being approved for passage. The AHA can once again be proud of the bills that will help save the lives of Missourians for years to come. The following report from our American Heart Association State Advocacy Director, Jace Smith, outlines those victories:

Legislative Victories for the American Heart Association

Passed! House Bill 1898 -- WOMEN’S HEART HEALTH PROGRAM (Rep. Anne Zerr, Bill Sponsor)
This bill establishes the Women’s Heart Health Program within the Department of Health and Senior Services, and creates a state line-item for future funding. This program will provide heart disease risk screenings for women who are between 40 and 64 years of age, uninsured or underinsured, and have a gross family income at or below 200% of the federal poverty level.

Heart Disease remains the #1 killer for women in the United States. Knowing your health numbers can help prevent heart disease and stroke. This bill is now at the Governor’s desk awaiting signature. For more information on how you can ensure this bill is signed, please stay tuned to your You’re the Cure e-mails.

Passed! House Bill 1977 -- EMERGENCY SERVICES & AED ACCESSIBILITY (Rep. Jay Wasson, Bill Sponsor)
This bill requires all Basic Life Support Ambulances and Stretcher Vans throughout Missouri to be equipped with an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) and staffed by at least one person trained in its use. This law will help benefit many of the rural ambulance districts that currently do not have AED’s on their Basic Life-Support Ambulances.

Our statistics show that survival rates are drastically increased when an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) is used within 3 to 5 minutes of a sudden cardiac arrest event. For every minute without a shock to the heart, the chance of survival decreases by 7 to 10 percent. This is a great victory towards increasing awareness about AEDs and having them readily available to the public! This bill is now at the Governor’s desk awaiting signature. For more information on how you can ensure this bill is signed, please stay tuned to your You’re the Cure e-mails.

Passed! HCR 67 –COMPLETE STREETS RESOLUTION
This resolution declares support for Complete Streets Policies throughout Missouri to create roads, streets, and communities where all road users can feel safe, secure, and welcome, while encouraging Missourians to get more physical activity by using them.

Other Victories of Note

Funding Secured for Heart Health Programs
This year, the state of Missouri faced a 1.2 billion dollar shortfall, and money was slashed from many programs that benefit the health of all Missourians. The House and Senate approved a $23.3 billion spending plan that represents a reduction in general revenue funds of $484 million from the governor’s original budget proposal. Governor Nixon asked legislators to trim $500 million from the budget he outlined in January. Even with all of the significant cuts, several key health programs were maintained, thanks to the great work of our Advocacy Volunteers and Staff. Those programs include:

The Show Me Healthy Women Program is set to receive $500,000. This program funds Missouri’s WISEWOMAN Program that helps underinsured and low income women obtain life-saving screenings to help them prevent against heart disease and stroke.

State Tobacco Cessation Program for Missouri Medicaid Patients has been funded for the first time ever at $3 million. The program will receive a match from the Federal Level of 5.3 million, which will allocate over $8 million to assist in helping Missourians quit smoking.

The Office of Minority Health has maintained most of its original funding. This program helps develop systems and community capacity to eliminate health and wellness disparities. This can only be achieved through a heightened awareness of health, strategic partnerships and community engagement at every level.

Although this is great news for these important health programs, we’re still in jeopardy of losing some of these funds. It’s been reported that the Governor is expected to cut an additional $100 million before approving this year’s state budget. That’s why it is so important to encourage Governor Nixon to keep funding these important health programs. Please stay tuned to your You’re the Cure e-mails for future reports and action requests.

Passed! House Bill 1942- Tax Rates for Emergency Services
This bill changes requirements for the emergency telephone service 911 board in Polk County and requires emergency services boards to annually establish a tax rate sufficient to fund service expenditures. This tax rate is crucial in helping maintain the best emergency equipment and service possible for Missourians.

Negative Physical Education Provisions Defeated!
Provisions to allow Missouri High School students to obtain physical education credit through participating in marching band, or scholastic athletics, was defeated in three bills; Senate Bill 734, House Bill 1543, and Senate Bill 815. The language was removed from all bills and is a dead issue this year.

The valuable lessons Missouri Students can learn in a physical education class on eating the right foods, and exercising appropriately cannot be duplicated, and should not be substituted by marching band, or athletics. These valuable lessons can last a lifetime and help ensure a healthy life. The American Heart Association recommends that quality physical education be taught throughout Missouri Schools, and should consist of a quality nutrition program.

Sincerely,

Jace Smith
American Heart Association

Director of State Advocacy - Missouri

Jace.Smith@heart.org

Missouri Senators Pass WISEWOMAN Bill...ask Gov Nixon to Sign Bill into Law!

2010-05-10T13:51:00.000-05:00

As you may know, the Missouri House of Representatives and Senate passed our Women's Heart Health Bill - House Bill 1898. HB 1898 supports the Well-Integrated Screening and Evaluation for Women Across the Nation (WISEWOMAN Program) - a Center for Disease Control (CDC) funded program that helps underinsured, low-income women gain access to health screenings and lifestyle education that can reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke.

Follow the link below to thank your State Senator for supporting women across Missouri by voting for HB1898, a bill supporting the WISEWOMAN program.

Thank You for Supporting Women's Heart Health

Also, we need your help to ask Governor Nixon to sign this bill into law!!!

Follow the link below to ask Governor Nixon to sign our Women's Heart Health Bill:
Ask Governor Nixon to Support Women's Heart Health

For more information on the WISEWOMAN program, visit http://www.dhss.mo.gov/WISEWOMAN/

Missouri’s race to the bottom on tobacco

2010-05-10T12:03:00.000-05:00

From the Kansas City Star: Find this article at http://www.kansascity.com/2010/05/08/1933279/missouris-race-to-the-bottom-on.html?story_link=email_msg

Missouri is well on its way to becoming the most tobacco-friendly state in the nation. It is an unsavory and embarrassing distinction.

Beyond putting people in early graves every year, the state’s shameful love affair with tobacco drives up medical bills for thousands upon thousands of residents.

Check out some disturbing facts:

Missouri soon could have the nation’s lowest cigarette tax.

That’s a clear invitation for people young and old to buy something that will harm them.

The state’s cigarette tax is a paltry 17 cents a pack, ahead only of South Carolina’s 7-cent rate. Last week, though, South Carolina legislators approved raising their state’s tax to 57 cents.

They reached that decision for the same excellent reasons lawmakers in other states have opted to raise tobacco taxes in recent years. Higher taxes can prevent tens of thousands of residents from starting or continuing to smoke. And they can create millions of dollars a year for state health care programs and smoking cessation efforts.

While South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford has threatened a veto of the higher tax, lawmakers tired of dealing with the issue say they can override it. Missouri then would have the lowest cigarette tax by a long shot; the next is 30 cents a pack in Virginia.

The Kansas tax is at 79 cents and — regrettably — appears ready to be stuck there, despite good-faith attempts by Gov. Mark Parkinson and others to boost it toward the national average of $1.41.

At the very least, Missouri should raise its tax to the Kansas rate.

Puffing away on cigarettes is a way of life for 25 percent of Missourians.

This rate is the third highest among states and the District of Columbia, according to a new report from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

More smokers, of course, means more deaths from lung cancer and other well-known health problems connected with tobacco use. Missouri has the ninth highest rate of smoking-related deaths per 100,000 people.

Missouri doesn’t have a comprehensive smoke-free law.

That puts Missouri in the small minority of fewer than 10 states that don’t have some form of the law, which protects people from smoke in workplaces such as offices, restaurants and bars.

Also, the CDC report found that Missouri ranked next-to-worst in the nation for workplace exposure to smoke.

The Missouri General Assembly has handled the smoke-free issue in a disgraceful manner. It refused for years to seriously debate the matter even as more states outlawed the habit in workplaces.

One bill introduced this year got a little more attention but is not likely to become law.

The Kansas Legislature, which for many years had also stayed on the sidelines, finally endorsed a smoke-free law this year with strong support from Parkinson. It goes into effect July 1 in all workplaces, restaurants and bars (casinos are exempted).

Missouri should approve a similar law.

There’s more bad news from the CDC report.

Missouri’s funding for tobacco control programs was third lowest in the nation.

The state had the 13th highest rate of teenage smoking. And Missouri is irresponsibly lax in not licensing retailers that sell tobacco products, something that Kansas and 36 other states do.

Unfortunately, Missouri is racing to the bottom when it comes to smoking, with cigarette manufacturers and vendors cheering it on.

The losers are smokers and the taxpayers who foot the bill for many medical expenses.

Smoking habit ensnares Missouri

2010-05-06T12:47:00.000-05:00

Smoking habit ensnares Missouri
By ALAN BAVLEY
The Kansas City Star
Breaking News

Maybe we should call Missouri the “Smoke Me” state.

Whether it’s at home or at work or at the convenience store checkout counter, Missourians live in a state that is one of the most tobacco-friendly places in the nation. That’s according to a new study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that ranks states on their tobacco control efforts.

At just 17 cents per pack, Missouri has the second-lowest state tobacco tax, after South Carolina, the CDC statistics show.

Missouri workers are more likely to be exposed to tobacco smoke than any workers outside of Nevada. And Missouri families are more likely than others to welcome smoking in their homes — 69.5 percent of households in the state maintain no smoking rules, compared with the national average of 77.6 percent.

This nonchalance doesn’t come without cost. An estimated 307 adults out of every 100,000 in Missouri die each year due to smoking. Only nine states had higher rates.

The CDC’s numbers for Kansas were nothing to be proud of either, but its rates of adult smoking and smoking-related deaths were closer to the national averages than those of Missouri.

So what keeps Missouri smoking?

“There’s a real lack of political will and a lack of investment in tobacco control,” said Douglas Luke, director of Washington University’s Center for Tobacco Policy Research in St. Louis. “The shame is that it costs us both in money and lives.”

Missouri doesn’t have a clean indoor air law, Luke said. That leaves many workers in bars, restaurants and casinos exposed to second-hand smoke.

And Missouri spends just 1.7 percent of the amount the CDC recommends for tobacco prevention programs such as anti-smoking media and education campaigns. Only Mississippi and Tennessee spent less.

“It’s not that we’re trying and failing,” Luke said. “It’s that we’re not even trying.”
Kit Wagar, spokesman for the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, acknowledged that more could be done to discourage smoking. But there have been successes, he said.

“Nobody here is under any illusions that we’ve done enough. This is a huge public health problem,” Wagar said. “We’re working as hard as we can with the resources we have. We think we are making progress.”

Missouri has successful prevention programs in schools, Wagar said.

And when the state teamed up with the Royals and Cardinals last year for anti-smoking public service announcements, calls by smokers to the state’s “quit line” more than doubled.
Luke is heartened by the growing number of localities in Missouri, such as Kansas City, Kirksville and Columbia, that have enacted indoor smoking bans.

“I have a lot of hope things will continue to improve and there will be discussion of doing something statewide,” Luke said. “Do we want to be known as one of the most unhealthy places in the country?”

Posted on Thu, May. 06, 2010 12:00 AM

Read more: http://www.kansascity.com/2010/05/05/1927269/missouri-a-tobacco-friendly-state.html#ixzz0n9rg5jre

May is American Stroke Month

2010-05-04T08:33:00.000-05:00

Stroke is the #3 killer of Americans and leading cause of long-term disability;
Power to End Stroke initiative raises awareness of increased stroke risk among minorities

Monday, May 3, 2010 – May is American Stroke Month, a special opportunity to focus on the risks and warning signs associated with stroke, the third leading cause of death in the United States and a leading cause of long-term disability. More than 700,000 people suffer a stroke each year – that’s one person every 45 seconds.

About Stroke:
Stroke is not inevitable and it does not have to be debilitating or deadly. By knowing your risks, controlling your risk factors, and working with your doctor to eliminate or manage your risks, you may prevent stroke. By knowing the warning signs and seeking prompt medical attention, rehabilitation and survival are possible – even probable.

To help prevent a stroke, the American Stroke Association recommends maintaining a healthy weight through diet and physical activity, controlling high blood pressure and cholesterol, refraining from smoking, avoiding exposure to second-hand smoke, and treating disorders that increase the risk of stroke.

About the Power to End Stroke Campaign:
In addition to their increased likelihood of suffering a stroke, African Americans are more likely to be affected by stroke at an earlier age, often facing disability during the prime of life. Power to End Stroke is an educational and awareness campaign designed to embrace and celebrate the culture, energy, creativity and lifestyles of African Americans. It unites African Americans to help make an impact on the high incidence of stroke within the community.

To accomplish this, the campaign encourages the public to reduce their individual risks for stroke, to recognize the signs of stroke, to respond quickly if faced with stroke-like symptoms, and to take the pledge to get personally involved in spreading the word.

About Stroke Warning Signs:
It is important for the public to recognize the signs and symptoms of stroke. Although the following is a summary, not all of these signs occur in every attack. If an individual notices one or more of these signs, the American Stroke Association encourages them to seek medical attention by calling 9-1-1 immediately.

• Sudden weakness or numbness of the face, arm or leg on one side of the body.
• Sudden dimness or loss of vision, particularly in one eye.
• Loss of speech, or trouble talking or understanding speech.
• Sudden, severe headaches with no apparent cause.
• Unexplained dizziness, unsteadiness or sudden falls, especially along with any of the previous symptoms.

For More Information:
To learn more about American Stroke Month or the American Stroke Association and its lifesaving mission, please call 1-888-4STROKE or log on to www.strokeassociation.org

About the American Stroke Association
Created in 1997 as a division of the American Heart Association, the American Stroke Association works to improve stroke prevention, diagnosis and treatment to save lives from stroke — America’s No. 3 killer and a leading cause of serious disability. To do this, the association funds scientific research, helps people better understand and avoid stroke, encourages government support, guides healthcare professionals, and provides information to stroke survivors and their caregivers to enhance their quality of life. To learn more, call 1-888-4STROKE or visit www.strokeassociation.org
# # #

Grassroots Group Hopes to Reduce Exposure to Secondhand Smoke at Springfield Businesses

2010-04-20T16:09:00.000-05:00

Some employees and business patrons in Springfield are being exposed to an unhealthy level of second smoke. That's the finding of a recently completed study.

One Air Alliance is a grassroots community health coalition comprised of Springfield citizens. It was created to protect the health of people living and working in or visiting Springfield from the effects of secondhand smoke.The coalition recently completed an indoor air quality study at 12 local businesses—restaurants, bars and entertainment venues. Ten allow smoking and two do not.According to the coalition’s co-chair Carrie Reynolds, the testing was conducted anonymously by members of One Air Alliance in December of 2009 and in February and March this year.

Reynolds says the results were compared to the EPA’s air quality index, which classifies air in health categories based on concentrations of particulate matter pollution…

"What we discovered is that venues that allowed smoking contained nearly ten times the amount of particulate matter pollution than those that were smoke-free. On average, only five percent of the patrons in the businesses that allowed smoking were actually smoking yet those five percent were contributing to nearly ten times more air pollution."

The average air quality in the smoking venues was classified as very unhealthy—everyone may experience more serious health effects. The non-smoking venues had moderate air quality meaning the air quality is acceptable.Dr. James Rogers, with the Greene County Medical Society, says exposure to secondhand smoke can have a negative health impact…

"A burning cigarette contains more than 4800 chemicals more than 250 of which are known to be toxic. Of those 250, 60 are definitely carcinogenic. This means that the smoker and every single person in the proximity of the cigarette that's lit inhales these toxic chemicals and are exposed to the carcinogens."

He says some diseases linked to exposure to secondhand smoke include coronary artery disease, lung cancer and heart disease.One Air Alliance says their next step will be to educate the public. The coalition recently received a grand of more than 60-thousand-dollars from the Missouri Foundation for Health to launch a strategic public education campaign. Reynolds says they will promote their message on buses and in movie theatres, on billboards and in newspapers, online and thru educational literature placed in certain businesses. She says they hope the public will get a better understanding of the effects of exposure to secondhand smoke.

According to Reynolds, One Air Alliance members hope to hear from businesses, civic leaders and from the public about the most appropriate course of action to take next.She says an ordinance is being looked at as a possible step to take.

One Air Alliance Press Event- You're Invited!

2010-04-18T09:05:00.000-05:00

Springfield, MO Residents! You're invited to attend the One Air Alliance Press Conference to Highlight Results from Local Indoor Air Quality Testing & Announce Next Steps for the Smoke-free Workplace Efforts in Springfield!

WHAT: Springfield's One Air Alliance will host a press conference to unveil new local data recently collected during random and anonymous indoor air sampling at workplace venues throughout the greater Springfield area. As part of a detailed analysis regarding the quality of the local air we share, the alliance will utilize the press conference to highlight the danger these results represent for local workers who are exposed to poor indoor air quality on a daily basis. Furthermore, the alliance will outline plans for a new and strategic public education campaign designed to increase awareness and save lives.

The One Air Alliance is a grassroots community health coalition comprised of Springfield citizens from all walks of life, including business leaders, healthcare professionals and civic volunteers. The coalition was formed to protect the health of all people living, working and visiting the Springfield community. The alliance is currently focused on increasing awareness of the adverse health effects of exposure to secondhand smoke, while promoting the importance of clean indoor air. The purpose of the coalition is to protect the right of every individual to breathe clean air.

WHEN: Tuesday, April 20, 2010 – 10:00 a.m.

WHERE: Greene County Medical Society
1200 E. Woodhurst, D200 – Springfield, MO 65804

Reminder: Wear your American Heart Association gear if you have it! Thank you for supporting the American Heart Association!

Action Needed: 2 Heart Health Bills in Missouri Senate

2010-04-15T15:29:00.000-05:00

We are tracking 2 bills right now at the Missouri Capitol and we need YOUR help! Both HB 1898 (Women's Heart Health) and HB 1977 (AEDs in Emergency Vehicles) are headed to the State Senate.

Follow the link below to ask your Senator to support these 2 important heart health issues:

Support Women's Heart Health and AEDs in Missouri

HB 1898 supports the Well-Integrated Screening and Evaluation for Women Across the Nation (WISEWOMAN Program) - a Center for Disease Control (CDC) funded program that helps underinsured, low-income women gain access to health screenings and lifestyle education that can reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke.

HB 1977 requires all basic life support ambulances and stretcher vans to be equipped with an automated external defibrillator and staffed by at least one person trained in its use.

Support Women's Heart Health and AEDs in Missouri

Thank you for your support on these important legislative issues.

For more information on the WISEWOMAN program, visit http://www.dhss.mo.gov/WISEWOMAN/

Keep Quality Physical Education in Missouri Schools

2010-04-06T14:55:00.000-05:00

The American Heart Association opposes Missouri Senate Bill 734 which would allow students to obtain physical education credits by participating in Marching Band and/or Scholastic Athletics. While the American Heart Association supports activities like Marching Band and Scholastic Athletics, we believe that only quality physical education programs taught by a certified Physical Education Teacher can provide the appropriate nutrition and healthy guidance to our Missouri youth.

Follow the link below to request your Senator to vote NO on Senate Bill 734:
Keep Quality Physical Education in Missouri Schools

We know that a lack of regular physical activity can hurt a child's academic, social and emotional development. Research shows that healthy children learn more effectively and achieve more academically. Over the last 10 years, Missouri schools have decreased the time allocated for physical education. Because of changes like this in our own state and nationwide, childhood obesity in the United States has reached epidemic proportions.

Tell your Senator that we need to fight growing obesity rates by ensuring Missouri kids get quality physical education:
Keep Quality Physical Education in Missouri Schools

And remember, April 7th is National Start! Walking Day.

For more information on how to stay active and live a heart healthy life, visit www.startwalkingnow.org

Ferguson family looks for Easter miracle

2010-04-05T15:26:00.000-05:00

Ferguson family looks for Easter miracle
by Mark Schnyder

I spent part of Easter in Barnes Jewish Hospital's Cardiac Care unit talking to a surgeon about one of his patients in desperate need of a heart transplant. He inserted a device in her heart the day before to keep it pumping and to keep other vital organs from failing.

That patient is a 23-year-old woman named Megan Moss. Megan has had heart problems since she was in high school. This past Thanksgiving her heart started failing. She's now at the top of the transplant list and may have little time left if she doesn't get a heart soon.

Her parents and extended family gathered for Easter dinner in the hospital cafeteria a few floors down from Megan.

I spoke briefly with Wayne and Kathie Moss about their daughter's condition, her spirit and her faith. They told me how strong she is even as her heart weakens and how she knows God will take care of her. She's got a sense of calm about her, her parents are amazed by.

The Mosses have plenty on their minds but they wanted to tell Megan's story on TV (Sunday at 10pm on News 4) to spread the word about organ donation. They want everyone who sees or reads the story about their daughter to sign the back of their driver's license and become an organ donor.

Megan's father, Wayne has been keeping a detailed blog since last November on his daughter's failing health. It's heart-breaking and inspiring at the same time. Wayne wants to share it with you. Here it is.
http://megansheartstory.blogspot.com/

Prayers to Megan Moss and her family.

Mark Schnyder is a news reporter at KMOV. He can be reached at mschnyder@kmov.com.

Find this story at http://www.kmov.com/community/blogs/reporters-blog/Ferguson-family-looks-for-Easter-miracle-89885232.html

Join Us at the Missouri Capitol for START! Walking Day!

2010-04-05T14:31:00.000-05:00

Join Us at the Missouri Capitol on April 7th for START! Walking Day!

Your American Heart Association is partnering with the Missouri YMCA and the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services to host National START! Walking Day at the Capitol in Jefferson City.

We invite you to join us as we celebrate National START! Walking Day by walking around the Missouri Capitol.

The American Heart Association and YMCA will also have displays in the Capitol Rotunda with information on how to live a heart healthy and long life.

REGISTER TODAY!

Event Details

When: April 7th at 1:00pm

Where: Meet at the North Steps of the Missouri Capitol in Jefferson City for a brief kickoff ceremony with some key speakers. *Rain Location meeting spot will be at the Third Floor Rotunda inside the Capitol

Attire: Wear Green!

*Let Us Know You're Coming by Following the Link Below:

Register Me for START! Walking Day at the Missouri Capitol

For more information on parking/other event details or for problems registering, contact Melissa Horn at Melissa.Horn@heart.org

Why Should You Come to the Capitol on April 7th?! Heart disease is this country's No.1 killer. But by exercising for as little as 30 minutes each day you can reduce your risk. That's what the Start! Movement is all about.Walk more. Eat better. Live a longer, healthier life. Countless people across the country are jumping on board. Join them in the Start! Movement, get walking and start taking a more active role in your health!

We hope to see you on April 7th!

To learn more about START! Walking day, visit www.startwalkingnow.org

Southwest Missouri Start! Heart Walk

2010-04-05T14:24:00.000-05:00

Southwest Missouri Start! Heart Walk
When: 04/10/2010
START! time: 9:00am
Fee: Free event. Participants are encouraged to collect donations.

Location:
Kickapoo High School
Primrose between National Street & Campbell
Springfield, MO 65807

The Southwest Missouri Start! Heart Walk on Saturday, April 10th is our mission in action. People can improve their health by walking and raise funds to help fight heart disease and stroke.

The Start! Heart Walk promotes physical activity and heart-healthy living in an environment that's fun for the whole family. Walk with friends, family, co-workers or strangers you'll bond with along the way. Anyway you choose to do it. Your heart will thank you for it.

Register now for the Springfield Missouri Start! Heart Walk

Create Hope
...that current and future generations will be healthier because participants have committed to heart health today!
Many walkers are heart disease and stroke survivors; others walk in honor or memory of a friend or family member who has or had heart disease or stroke.

Inspire Change
...in your daily life to reduce your risk of heart disease and stroke. Find out about Start! - the American Heart Association physical activity program and our new online tool, My Start!

Celebrate Success
...individuals and companies have made significant changes to lead heart-healthy lives and raised funds to support the lifesaving efforts of the American Heart Association.
The American Heart Association greatly appreciates the support of the participants, donors and sponsors!

For more information contact:
Karl Schmidt
(417)881-1121
Karl.Schmidt@heart.org

National Start! Walking Day is Wednesday, April 7

2010-04-05T14:20:00.000-05:00

American Heart Association encourages public to bring sneakers to work and walk for 30 minutes

Monday, April 5, 2010 – The American Heart Association is inviting the public to support the fight against heart disease by participating in National Start! Walking Day on Wednesday, April 7. This is the day that adults nationwide can make the pledge to Start! walking and become active and heart healthy – especially in the workplace. Taking just 10 minutes three times a day to walk will help individuals live longer. In fact, studies show that just one hour of vigorous exercise will increase life expectancy by two hours.

To make it easy for the public to get involved on April 7, a free and downloadable tool kit is available at www.startwalkingnow.org. This handy kit includes materials to easily promote National Start! Walking Day in the workplace. It provides resources on how to make the day a success, including posters, flyers, e-mail scripts and more.

Tips for incorporating National Start! Walking Day into the workplace include the following:
· Invite co-workers to wear their sneakers to work.
· Encourage employees to get in their 30 minutes of walking that day.
· Change one meeting to a walking meeting and let colleagues know why.
· Host a walk and/or rally to show a commitment to living longer, healthier lives.

About the American Heart Association’s Start! Movement:
More than a third of the working-age population in the United States is at risk for chronic illnesses due to physical inactivity and the nation’s obesity epidemic. The estimated cost of obesity and overweight-related health conditions to American companies is $225.8 billion per year in productivity loss. Physical inactivity doubles the risk of heart disease, which kills 1 in 3 people in the U.S. each year. Heart disease, however, remains largely preventable.

The American Heart Association’s Start! movement works with employers and the 135 million Americans in the workplace to create a culture of walking before, during or after work. It offers resources for employers to implement a walking program in the workplace and track employees’ progress. The Start! Fit-Friendly Companies program recognizes companies for meeting criteria for employee fitness. More than 1,000 U.S. companies have been recognized for demonstrating their commitment to promoting exercise and good nutrition in the workplace.

Encouraging employees to walk briskly for just 30 minutes a day can help lower chronic disease risk factors such as high blood pressure. Educating individuals about basic cardiovascular disease prevention and developing health education programs that focus on lifestyle behavior change is a huge investment that will increase a company’s bottom line. In other words, in addition to being the best option for public health, it also makes good business sense.

For More Information:
To learn more about National Start! Walking Day, the Start! movement, and/or the American Heart Association, the public is encouraged to visit www.startwalkingnow.org.

About the American Heart Association:
Founded in 1924, the American Heart Association today is the nation’s oldest and largest voluntary health organization dedicated to building healthier lives, free of heart disease and stroke. These diseases, America’s No. 1 and No. 3 killers, and all other cardiovascular diseases claim nearly 870,000 lives a year. In fiscal year 2006–07 the association invested more than $554 million in research, professional and public education, advocacy and community service programs to help all Americans live longer, healthier lives. To learn more, call 1-800-AHA-USA1 or visit www.americanheart.org.

Springfield should lead state in becoming smoke-free area

2010-03-26T12:10:00.000-05:00

Springfield should lead state in becoming smoke-free area

March 26, 2010

Our neighboring state of Kansas recently became the 29th U.S. state to pass a comprehensive clean indoor air law and the 39th state to have a smoke-free law of some kind. The American Heart Association salutes Kansas for stepping forward to embrace the reality that going smoke-free is not only good for health, it's good for business. It saves lives, saves money and protects workers.

A recent report from the U.S. Surgeon General concluded that there is no risk-free level of exposure to secondhand smoke. This finding is a major public health concern due to the fact that nearly half of all nonsmoking Americans are still regularly exposed to secondhand smoke.

On the heels of the Surgeon General's findings, the Institute of Medicine issued its own report in October of 2009 that links exposure to secondhand smoke to acute cardiovascular events such as heart attack and unstable angina. This report reviewed key studies and concluded that there is a relationship between clean indoor air laws and decreases in acute coronary events. In other words, clean indoor air in public places translates into fewer heart attacks! That means that by going completely smoke-free, our community has an opportunity to see a decline in heart disease, the number one killer of men and women in the United States, in Missouri, and in Springfield.

For all of these reasons, the American Heart Association has joined a rapidly growing local grassroots movement represented by the One Air Alliance to encourage Springfield to lead the journey toward smoke-free air in Missouri. Just like communities in Kansas stepped forward one-by-one to address the health needs of their citizens, it is time for Springfield to do the same. With Springfield leading, other communities throughout Missouri will soon follow. We have an opportunity and a privilege to do the right thing, and now is the time.

As Springfield steps forward, the American Heart Association stands proudly with the local One Air Alliance to promote smoke-free environments and smoking cessation programs designed to provide this community with the clean air that it deserves. Our health depends on our success. Will you join us in our efforts to improve the quality of the public air that we share?

Article can be found at News-Leader.com at http://www.news-leader.com/article/20100326/OPINIONS/3260302/Springfield+should+lead+state+in+becoming+smoke-free+area

Join our grassroots network of advocates at www.yourethecure.org to stay up to date on smoke-free developments in Springfield and across the state!

Statement from American Heart Association CEO Nancy Brown

2010-03-24T16:12:00.000-05:00

The U.S. House of Representatives took an historic and bold step forward to expand health care to millions of Americans to guarantee accessible, affordable, and high quality care. We all acknowledge that such a complex piece of legislation like the final health reform package isn’t perfect -- no package of similar magnitude has ever been perfect at the outset -- but this is the first step of a legacy building process that will transform American health care. This measure takes important steps forward by enacting needed insurance reforms, increasing affordability and reducing costs, emphasizing value over volume and placing a greater emphasis on prevention and wellness. For the American Heart Association (AHA), health care reform has always been about the needs of heart disease and stroke patients and we’re gratified that lawmakers didn’t lose sight of the concerns of those facing pre-existing medical conditions, lifetime and annual limits and other challenges with the health care system.

We now have health care reform that makes significant progress towards embracing the excellence of available health care in America while improving a health care delivery system that was untenable for too many Americans and unsustainable for all Americans.

We realize the current system cannot fully accommodate the current and growing burden of disease. Risk factors for cardiovascular disease and other chronic illnesses are on the rise and will only worsen if attaining better health does not become a high priority. The AHA will continue to do its part and now with this legislation all Americans will have preventive benefits that help lower rates of obesity, hypertension, tobacco use and diabetes. First dollar coverage for evidence-based preventive services and appropriate treatments and medications that allow patients to lead productive lives after a heart attack or stroke will be key components in our efforts to reduce the burden of disease and extending prevention into communities, especially those of the underserved, will be invaluable.

This vote for health care reform represents a major milestone but not the end of the journey. We believe the work on health care reform is just beginning. The AHA remains committed to working with Congress, the Administration and our partners in the public and private sectors to further improve the health care system, to monitor and implement this legislation and to transform the current system into one that fulfills our American generational promise to make life better for future generations.

Our job isn't done yet...

2010-03-22T17:52:00.000-05:00

In case you missed the wonderful news, yesterday the House of Representatives took a truly historic vote to pass the final health care reform package by a vote of 219 to 212! 

Thanks to the efforts of You’re the Cure activists, Members voted for meaningful reform with patient protections that will help Americans live healthier lives - and voted against the status quo of denials based on pre-existing medical conditions, caps placed on coverage, and unmanageable out-of-pocket costs for treatments and preventative services.This action by the House sends significant, meaningful reform to the President for his signature.

But our job isn’t yet done; there’s a final step to overcome… 

Starting today, we need to ensure the Senate follows the House of Representatives’ lead and finishes this year’s work on health care reform by promptly passing the Health Care and Education Affordability Reconciliation Act. This legislation will further strengthen and improve upon reform by making coverage more affordable.

Contact your U.S. Senators today with the message: Act NOW and Vote YES!

The Senate - which could vote as early as this week - must pass the agreed-upon improvements to the health care package in order to complete action on reform. For the improvements bill to pass, a majority of Senators will need to vote YES - and patient advocates, like you and me, must continue to express our support on behalf of the 81 million Americans living with heart disease and stroke, and the millions more at risk, until the job is done.This is the closest that this country has come to adopting comprehensive health care reform.

Urge your Senators to do their part to finish the work on meaningful health care reform. 

(After you take action, please share this blog post with your Facebook and Twitter friends!)

Join AHA’s Mobile Action Network today and get special action alerts, breaking news and exclusive invitations regarding the upcoming healthcare reform legislation. Click on the image to sign up or visit http://www.informz.net/ahatxt/profile.asp?fid=1171

You're Invited! Join us at the Missouri Capitol on START! Walking Day!

2010-03-22T12:05:00.000-05:00

Your American Heart Association is partnering with the Missouri YMCA and the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services to host National START! Walking Day at the Capitol in Jefferson City.

We invite you to join us as we celebrate health by walking around the Capitol. The American Heart Association and YMCA will also have displays in the Capitol Rotunda with information on how to live a heart healthy and long life.

REGISTER TODAY!

Details about the event:
When: April 7th at 1:00pm
Where: Meet at the North Steps of the Missouri Capitol in Jefferson City for a brief kickoff ceremony with some key speakers.
*Rain Location meeting spot will be at the Third Floor Rotunda inside the Capitol

*Let Us Know You're Coming - Register by following the link below:
Register Me for START! Walking Day at the Missouri Capitol

Why Should You Come to the Capitol on April 7th?! Heart disease is this country's No.1 killer. But by exercising for as little as 30 minutes each day you can reduce your risk.

That's what the Start! Movement is all about:
Walk more. Eat better. Live a longer, healthier life.

Countless people across the country are jumping on board. Join them in the Start! Movement, get walking and start taking a more active role in your health!

We hope to see you on April 7th!

To learn more about START! Walking day, visit www.startwalkingnow.org

For more information or for problems registering, contact Melissa Horn at Melissa.Horn@heart.org

Vote "YES" on Healthcare Reform

2010-03-18T16:09:00.000-05:00

This is it. In a matter of days, the House of Representatives will vote to either pass health care reform, or carry on with the status quo of a broken health care system- and the vote is expected to be extremely close. 216 votes are needed in the House to pass the bill and grassroots advocates, like you, must take a stand for patients and speak up now!

T ell your Representative to vote "YES" on the final health care reform package.

For patients, the status quo would mean an estimated 20 million Americans becoming uninsured over the next decade, tens of thousands of Americans losing their lives because they can't afford the care they need, rising health care costs, and Medicare's trust fund drying up. Quite simply, failure to pass health care reform is not an option.

Guided by our core principles for reform, the American Heart Association has worked hard to ensure Congress understands the needs and concerns of the 81 million Americans living with heart disease and stroke, and the millions more at risk, and to support policies that address those needs. Although it is not perfect, the final health care legislation, makes significant improvements to our current health care system that we can build on for years to come, such as:
-Expanding health insurance coverage to an additional 32 million Americans, achieving coverage for 95 percent of all non-elderly Americans.
-Establishing important new consumer protections, such as ensuring patients with pre-existing medical conditions will no longer be denied or dropped from coverage.
-Eliminating lifetime and annual caps on essential medical services.
-Making coverage more affordable for millions of American families and small businesses by pooling them together to benefit from group rates and providing tax credits to help buy coverage.
-Promoting prevention by requiring private health plans and Medicare to provide coverage for preventive services with no cost-sharing, adding a new annual wellness visit to Medicare, and making significant new investments in community prevention efforts.

Health care reform is critical to reducing death and disability from cardiovascular disease and helping all Americans live healthier lives. So, at this truly historic moment, we must join together with other patient advocates and demand better than the status quo.

Send your email today to urge your Representative stand with patients by voting "YES".

Thank you for speaking up for progress!

Panera to post calories at corporate-owned stores

2010-03-11T13:24:00.000-06:00

Panera to post calories at corporate-owned stores

National chain will be first to count calories on menu boards.

Michael Hill • The Associated Press • March 11, 2010

A customer reviews the sandwich board at a Panera store in Brookline, Mass. Panera Bread company is announcing that it will become the first chain to post calories on menus nationally.

(Charles Krupa / The Associated Press)

Panera Bread customers around the country soon will be able to tally calories for their smokehouse turkey panini and broccoli cheddar soup with just a glance at the menu board.

Panera announced Wednesday it will be the first nationwide chain to voluntarily post calorie information at all of its company-owned restaurants. The move is notable in an industry that had historically opposed requirements that chain operations post calorie counts.

But the landscape is changing as local laws mandating nutritional disclosure become more common and Congress considers a nationwide mandate. This is only one in a wave of changes consumers can expect to see on chain restaurant menus in coming years.

Panera officials said the possibility of wider mandates played a role in the move. But they also were pleased with how their customers reacted at Paneras that already advertise the fact that the chain's Asian sesame chicken salad has 410 calories, compared to the 680 in the Napa almond chicken salad sandwich on sesame semolina.

"It puts everything out in the open, obviously," said Scott Davis, the company's chief concept officer. "So when you look at making a choice between a soup with 100 calories and a sandwich with 300 or 400 calories, it puts it pretty clearly what's in your best interest."

Calorie counts will be posted by March 24 at all 585 company-owned stores, including Saint Louis Bread Co. and Paradise Bakery & Cafe stores. Panera expects its franchisees to eventually follow suit, which would cover all 1,380 stores.

There are four stores in Springfield -- Kansas Expressway, East Sunshine Street, East Battlefield Street and South National Avenue.

Picture 2: The sandwich board at the Panera store shows the calorie count for each item in the columns on the far right.
(Charles Krupa / The Associated Press)

That schedule puts Panera ahead of Yum Brands Inc. -- parent of KFC, Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, Long John Silver's and A&W All-American Food -- which committed in 2008 to place calorie counts on menu boards at corporate-owned restaurants nationwide by Jan. 1, 2011. Yum senior vice president Jonathan Blum said they are testing their menu boards and are on target to make good on the commitment at more than 3,200 restaurants.

Panera and Yum, like most national chains, already have been forced to display nutritional information in some cities as local disclosure laws kick in.

New York City health officials looking for a new way to fight obesity began requiring chain restaurants to post calorie counts for the likes of burgers, pizza and doughnuts in 2008. Similar laws have since been approved in more than a dozen places, including Philadelphia and California. Congress is considering a national measure as part of health care reform.

Margo Wootan, director of nutrition policy at the Center for Science in the Public Interest, said it's great for chains to voluntarily provide calorie counts to customers. But she added that given recent trends, they're "just getting ahead of the curve."

Anti-obesity advocates like Wootan believe the laws encourage healthier eating in restaurants. For instance, a menu board noting that a Double Quarter Pounder with Cheese at McDonald's has 740 calories might inspire diners to choose a less-fattening burger.

There's some evidence to back this up. Researchers at Stanford found that calorie postings in New York City Starbucks led to a 6 percent reduction in calories per transaction.

Find this article at http://www.news-leader.com/article/20100311/BUSINESS/3110304/Panera-to-post-calories-at-corporate-owned-stores

One Air Alliance in Springfield Continues Education Campaign on Smoke-Free

2010-03-11T11:10:00.001-06:00

OFFICIAL STATEMENT:The following is an official statement from the One Air Alliance and is issued following a story that aired on KSPR-TV on Wednesday, March 10, 2010 during the 6 p.m. newscast.

“The One Air Alliance is a grassroots community health coalition comprised of Springfield citizens from all walks of life, including business leaders, healthcare professionals and civic volunteers. The coalition was formed to protect the health of all people living, working and visiting the Springfield community.

The Alliance is currently focused on a public education campaign designed to increase awareness of the adverse health effects of exposure to secondhand smoke, while promoting the importance of clean indoor air. We want to be clear that the purpose of the coalition is to protect the right of every individual to breathe clean air.

Smoke from a burning cigarette contains more than 4,000 chemicals and at least 60 carcinogens, meaning that the smoker, and every single person in proximity, inhales these chemicals. The effects of exposure to secondhand smoke can be nearly as large as chronic, active smoking. Even brief exposure to secondhand smoke has an immediate negative impact and can lead to a variety of life-threatening ailments, including coronary heart disease and lung cancer.

For these reasons, the One Air Alliance is currently exploring opportunities to further protect the Springfield community from exposure to secondhand smoke in public facilities, including all workplaces. As part of that process, the coalition is visiting with many health partners, business executives and civic leaders to gather feedback, while also engaging our neighbors and colleagues regarding the best way to move forward.

The One Air Alliance anticipates that these interviews, a study focusing on the quality of local indoor air, and other community engagement will be complete in the coming months. Once a thorough evaluation of the coalition’s findings has been accomplished, additional information will be made public.

In the meantime, to learn more about the statewide efforts to protect the health of all Missourians by promoting the clean indoor air we all deserve, the public is encouraged to visit www.breatheeasymo.org.”

-Carrie Reynolds
Coalition Co-Chair
One Air Alliance

Healthy Workplaces Bill Passes Missouri Senate

2010-03-08T15:55:00.000-06:00

The Missouri Senate unanimously passed Senate Bill 629, a bill recognizing healthy workplaces, by a vote of 34-0 earlier this month. This act requires the Governor's Council on Physical Fitness and Health to develop the Missouri Healthy Workplace Recognition Program for the purpose of granting official state recognition to employers with more than fifty employees for excellence in promoting health, wellness, and prevention.

Follow the link below to thank the Missouri Senate for recognizing healthy workplaces throughout Missouri:

Thank You for Making Missouri a Healthier Place to Work

The criteria for awarding such recognition includes whether the employer offers workplace wellness programs, incentives for healthier lifestyles, opportunities for active community involvement and exercise, and encouragement of well visits with health care providers.

Thank You for Making Missouri a Healthier Place to Work

We know poor diet and lack of exercise are responsible for at least 25% of healthcare costs incurred by working adults. Is it any wonder, then, that investing in the health of employees is one of the best decisions a company can make? By creating a wellness environment, companies can help lower healthcare costs and protect its most important resource --- their employees. In fact, research shows that for every $1 invested in worksite wellness, companies can receive up to $3 in return.

Please visit the link below to learn some great ways you can help the company you work for get fit and heart healthy:
http://www.startwalkingnow.org/start_workplace.jsp

And remember, April 7th is National Start! Walking Day. Thank you for your commitment in making Missouri a healthier place to work.

Mark Your Calendars! National Start! Walking Day is on April 7th!

2010-03-04T15:17:00.000-06:00

National Start! Walking Day will be held Wednesday, April 7! This annual event, held every year on the first Wednesday in April, celebrates physical activity and encourages all Americans to wear their sneakers to work and take a 30-minute walk. We encourage you to engage all the companies and organizations you work with to participate in this fun, simple event!

Get Up and Move on April 7!
These days, adults like you are spending more time at work than ever before – and, as a nation, we're becoming more inactive. This is a problem when you consider the fact that physical inactivity doubles the risk of heart disease!

But take heart! It's a problem you can help fix by convincing your company to take part in National Start! Walking Day on Wednesday, April 7!

On this day, employees are encouraged to wear sneakers to work and take at least 30 minutes out of their day to get up and walk. It's a great way to raise awareness of the Start! movement and to give your coworkers a friendly push toward a healthier life.

Get the Ball Rolling!

It's pretty simple to get your company to participate in National Start! Walking Day. Start by having your HR representative or Worksite Wellness coordinator fill out this registration form to download a National Start! Walking Day toolkit for your company. Hope you can join us and get active on April 7!

Resources
· Web site for companies to register: www.startwalkingnow.org/startwalkingday
· Shop Start! retail shopping site: www.ShopStart.org

Take Action: Women Across Missouri Need Your Help!

2010-02-24T10:46:00.000-06:00

The Missouri Well-Integrated Screening and Evaluation for Women Across the Nation (WISEWOMAN Program) is a Center for Disease Control (CDC)-funded program that helps underinsured, low-income women gain access to health screenings and lifestyle education that can reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke. Currently, the state of Missouri does not allocate any funds to this program.

The Health Care Policy Committee is set to hold a hearing TODAY on HB 1898, a bill supporting the WISEWOMAN program.

Follow the link below to send a message to the Health Care Policy Committee asking them to help women across Missouri:

Make Women's Heart Health a Priority in Missouri

Thank you for your support on this important legislative issue.

For more information on the WISEWOMAN program, visit http://t.democracydirect.com/?ti_dn__=5c8d2865-d147-4274-b603-d558d84e4222&__u_idz=&__turl=http%3a%2f%2fwww.dhss.mo.gov%2fWISEWOMAN%2f

Heart Patients Worry About Health Costs

2010-02-23T14:21:00.000-06:00

By Donna Smith
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The monthly mortgage payment is the heaviest expense facing the average U.S. family but for heart patient Frank Amend, an engineer from North Carolina, the biggest cost is healthcare.

That's why Amend and tens of thousands of patients with similar conditions find themselves at the center of debate over how to reform the $2.5 trillion U.S. healthcare sector -- and whether the country can afford it.

Amend, 48, has insurance through his employer but since suffering a heart attack in 2003, his monthly out-of-pocket costs for premiums and medications have grown to consume as much as 20 percent of his wages, and he has become a strong advocate for broad healthcare overhaul.
He says he would like to start his own consulting firm, but can't because the cost of obtaining health insurance for him and his family would be "financial suicide."

A survey of heart patients by the American Heart Association shows that Amend is not alone. Cost of insurance premiums and medication is the top concern of heart patients, said the poll, made available to Reuters before its release on Thursday.

The online survey of 1,105 adults who said they had a heart condition, stroke or high blood pressure showed that 56 percent had trouble paying for prescription drugs or other medical care in the past few years. It was conducted from December 29, 2009 to January 5, 2010.
Stroke patients -- 69 percent -- were most likely to report having trouble paying medical bills.
Almost two thirds of heart patients -- 64 percent -- said making healthcare costs more affordable was a top priority for them.

AHA officials say they hope the survey will help jumpstart the drive for a more comprehensive approach to healthcare reform.

"The problem has not gone away," association president Dr. Clyde Yancy said in an interview.
Nearly 10 percent of heart disease patients eventually file for bankruptcy, said AHA spokeswoman Suzanne Ffolkes.

'ENTITLEMENT EXPANSION'
But a push by President Barack Obama and congressional Democrats to overhaul the sector to rein in costs and expand coverage to the uninsured has stalled in the face of Republican opposition and falling public support, denying Democrats victory on the top legislative priority.
Republicans say it is a mistake to expand the role of government in healthcare and oppose the roughly $1 trillion 10-year cost of expanding health insurance coverage at a time of record budget deficits.

"I don't know how you spend a trillion dollars to create a new entitlement ... That's not really reform, that's entitlement expansion," Representative Dave Camp said in an interview this week. He and other Republicans are pushing for less sweeping legislation that focuses on costs.

COSTS DISCOURAGE PATIENTS
About 46 percent of those who said they had trouble paying medical bills said they had to delay getting needed healthcare and 43 percent said they failed to fill a prescription because of the expense.

"The high cost of healthcare is forcing many of our patients to not take advantage of, or to forego, life-saving treatments and medications," Nancy Brown, chief executive of the Heart Association said in an interview. "They really are making life and death decisions because of the cost of healthcare."

The majority of those surveyed said they had some form of health insurance. About 16 percent of the non-elderly adults surveyed said they had no medical insurance.

Some 46 million people in the United States lack health insurance and many with coverage find it inadequate when it comes to preventive care or when struck by major illness.

"Everyone believes that if you have insurance, there's no issue here," Dr. Yancy said. "There is a big, big problem with the underinsured -- those who have insurance and are still having difficulty receiving care."

The Heart Association and other healthcare advocacy groups are pushing for broad healthcare reform.

The U.S. Senate and House of Representatives have passed sweeping reform measures but efforts to merge the two bills into a single piece of legislation stalled when Democrats lost their "supermajority" of 60 seats in the Senate after a special Massachusetts election last month.
The online survey conducted by research firm Synovate had a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points. It is available at www.americanheart.org/accesstocare
(Editing by Matthew Bigg, Xavier Briand and Eric Walsh)

Winter Weather Tips from the American Heart Association

2010-02-14T16:57:00.000-06:00

Combo of colder temperatures and physical exertion increases the workload on the heart

The American Heart Association says that for most people, shoveling snow may not lead to any health problems. However, the association warns that the risk of a heart attack during snow shoveling may increase for some, stating that the combination of colder temperatures and physical exertion increases the workload on the heart. People who are outdoors in cold weather should avoid sudden exertion, like lifting a heavy shovel full of snow. Even walking through heavy, wet snow or snow drifts can strain a person’s heart.

Click here for more information on how cold weather affects the heart.

To help make snow removal safer, the American Heart Association has compiled a list of practical tips.

Give yourself a break. Take frequent rest breaks during shoveling so you don’t overstress your heart. Pay attention to how your body feels during those breaks.
Don’t eat a heavy meal prior or soon after shoveling. Eating a large meal can put an extra load on your heart.
Use a small shovel or consider a snow thrower. The act of lifting heavy snow can raise blood pressure acutely during the lift. It is safer to lift smaller amounts more times, than to lug a few huge shovelfuls of snow. When possible, simply push the snow.
Learn the heart attack warning signs and listen to your body, but remember this: Even if you’re not sure it’s a heart attack, have it checked out (tell a doctor about your symptoms). Minutes matter! Fast action can save lives — maybe your own. Don’t wait more than five minutes to call 9-1-1
Don’t drink alcoholic beverages before or immediately after shoveling. Alcohol may increase a person’s sensation of warmth and may cause them to underestimate the extra strain their body is under in the cold.
Consult a doctor. If you have a medical condition, don’t exercise on a regular basis or are middle aged or older, meet with your doctor prior to the first anticipated snowfall.
Be aware of the dangers of hypothermia. Heart failure causes most deaths in hypothermia. To prevent hypothermia, dress in layers of warm clothing, which traps air between layers forming a protective insulation. Wear a hat because much of your body’s heat can be lost through your head.

Heart Attack Warning SignsSome heart attacks are sudden and intense — the “movie heart attack,” where no one doubts what’s happening. But most heart attacks start slowly, with mild pain or discomfort. Often people affected aren’t sure what’s wrong and wait too long before getting help. Here are signs that can mean a heart attack is happening:
Chest discomfort. Most heart attacks involve discomfort in the center of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes, or that goes away and comes back. It can feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain.
Discomfort in other areas of the upper body. Symptoms can include pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach.
Shortness of breath with or without chest discomfort.
Other signs may include breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness
As with men, women’s most common heart attack symptom is chest pain or discomfort. But women are somewhat more likely than men to experience some of the other common symptoms, particularly shortness of breath, nausea/vomiting, and back or jaw pain.
Calling 9-1-1 is almost always the fastest way to get lifesaving treatment. Emergency medical services (EMS) staff can begin treatment when they arrive — up to an hour sooner than if someone gets to the hospital by car. EMS staff is also trained to revive someone whose heart has stopped. Patients with chest pain who arrive by ambulance usually receive faster treatment at the hospital, too. It is best to call EMS for rapid transport to the emergency room. If you can’t access EMS, have someone drive you to the hospital right away. If you’re the one having symptoms, don’t drive yourself, unless you have absolutely no other option.

For more information, visit your physician or call the American Heart Association at 800-AHA-USA1 or visit online at http://www.americanheart.org/.

Heart Day at the Capitol!

2010-02-05T09:58:00.000-06:00

Attached are the AWESOME pictures from the biggest Heart Day at the Missouri Capitol ever!! It was a Sea of RED!

Below are the names of the volunteers and staff who are featured in the group photo:
Volunteers
Judy Naught
Lindsey Dial (Young Heart Survivor)
Louise Hune
Kathy Nanomantube
Kathy Young
Cyndy Schnieders (Jefferson City Heart Ball Chair)
Joan Firley
Janet Schlegel

AHA Staff
Jace Smith
Karla Johansen
Rebecca Collier

Legislators Featured in the Resolution Photo (along with Jace Smith and Lindsey Dial)
Representative Rebecca McClanahan (D-02)
Senator Robin Wright-Jones ((D-05)

Heart Month Resolutions were read in both chambers, and our volunteers were recognized on the House floor!

Thank you to all the advocates that attended and all the legislators that co-sponsored the Heart Month resolution.

Do You See RED When You Look in the Mirror?!

2010-02-05T08:46:00.000-06:00

When you woke up this morning, did you see RED? Today is National Wear Red Day, so hopefully you wore your favorite red attire and not only saw your reflection in the mirror this morning, but felt empowered to speak up to create awareness for heart disease.

So what now??! Decide to make a difference by joining our advocacy network, You're the Cure. Join You’re the Cure!

We engage a network of volunteers across the Midwest Affiliate through our advocacy network called “You’re the Cure”. This group of volunteers contacts their elected officials to help pass important heart-healthy policies in their state and across the nation. If you’d like to be a part of our network, you can visit www.americanheart.org/yourethecure to join.

Once you’re a part of You’re the Cure, you’ll receive e-mails that guide you on how to take action – from clicking on an alert that you can personalize and send to your lawmakers to talking points on what to say when making a call to a district office or visiting a lawmaker on legislation affecting heart or stroke issues. It’s a great resource to keep you up to speed with state and federal health legislation and the best part is, we offer it as a free service to the public. Feel free to share “You’re the Cure” with your friends/family/colleagues as well.

Springfield “Goes Red” for American Heart Month

2010-02-04T08:35:00.000-06:00

Lights, banners, and literature around town highlight the #1 killer of men and women

To show their support for the American Heart Association’s lifesaving mission and the Go Red For Women movement, community partners throughout Springfield and Southwest Missouri have made a decision “to go red in their own fashion.” Their efforts are designed to increase awareness for cardiovascular diseases, the #1 killer of women in the United States each year.

This outstanding support coincides with American Heart Month in February and is demonstrated in various creative ways – from exterior red lighting, “Go Red” banners and signage, and distribution of educational materials, to window decals, red dress pins, and employees wearing red.

Participating community partners in Springfield include the following:
• Baron Cardiology Group, P.C.
• Battlefield Mall
• Central Trust & Investment Company
• CoxHealth and Wheeler Heart & Vascular Center
• DermaHealth Laser & Skin Care Clinic
• Harshman Chiropractic
• Jiffy Lube
• Macy’s
• Metropolitan Bank (all 12 locations)
• Meyer Communications
• Ozarks Community Hospital
• St. John’s Mercy

For More Information:
To learn more about American Heart Month or Go Red For Women, the public is encouraged to visit www.americanheart.org and/or www.GoRedForWomen.org.

About Go Red For Women:
Go Red For Women is the American Heart Association’s nationwide movement designed to save women’s lives. With one out of three women still dying from heart disease, the American Heart Association is committed to fighting this No. 1 killer, which is largely preventable. www.GoRedForWomen.org, a premier source of information and education, connects millions of women of all ages and gives them tangible resources to turn personal choices into lifesaving actions. The American Heart Association encourages women and the men who love them to embrace this cause.

For more information, the public is encouraged to visit www.GoRedForWomen.org or call 1-888-MY-HEART (1-888-694-3278).

The movement is nationally sponsored by Macy’s and Merck & Co., Inc. and locally by Central Trust & Investment Company.

2 Ways You Can Go Red with Us on Social Networking Sites!

2010-02-03T21:58:00.000-06:00

February is American Heart Month, drawing attention to heart disease, America's No. 1 killer, and the strides being taken through research and education to raise awareness of risk factors and decrease death rates. Kicked off on National Wear Red Day (Feb. 5, 2010), the American Heart Association and its Go Red For Women movement urge everyone to support the fight against heart disease in women by wearing red and speaking out on heart issues.

1. Speak Out! Everyone knows someone who's been affected by heart disease. It's the very reason most of us became advocates! Send us your reason to "Go Red" and tell us why you're a You're the Cure advocate along with a photo of you wearing red. Email it to Melissa Horn at Melissa.Horn@heart.org - you might get picked as a feature post on our blog!

2. Put a little <3 into your Facebook status updates. Simply typing the '<' key followed by the number '3' (with no spaces) will create a heart-shaped symbol in your online status. Include the name of a loved one - it's a great way to show love to survivors and remember those we have lost. Also, change your profile picture to a picture of you wearing red!

And don't forget to join our page "You're the Cure: Midwest Clicks for Hearts" at www.facebook.com/heartofthemidwest and make sure all your friends and family know you care about advocating to make heart disease a national priority!

National Wear Red Day is Friday, February 5

2010-02-03T15:23:00.000-06:00

American Heart Association encourages public to wear red in a show of support for its lifesaving mission, while also raising awareness for the prevalence of heart disease

February is American Heart Month, a perfect time to focus on the prevalence of heart disease, America’s No. 1 killer. It is also a time to pause and celebrate the research and education that make lifesaving advances in the diagnosis and treatment of heart disease a reality. The American Heart Association, through its Go Red For Women movement, urges everyone to support the fight against heart disease by wearing red on National Wear Red Day – Friday, February 5.

On National Wear Red Day, thousands of people, including employees at more than 10,000 companies, national and local news anchors and talk-show hosts across the country, will wear red to support the cause. Men and women everywhere are encouraged to join in to show their support by wearing red on February 5. The red dress and the color red symbolize one’s support in the fight against heart disease.

Go Red For Women is the American Heart Association’s cause initiative designed to save women’s lives. Too many women die each year because they are unaware that heart disease is their No. 1 killer. One in three women dies of this largely preventable disease. This year, Go Red is asking women to bring a voice to this silent killer: SPEAK UP TO SAVE LIVES!

WHY SPEAK UP?
Cardiovascular disease kills approximately 450,000 women each year, about one every minute.
More women die of cardiovascular disease than the next five causes of death combined, including all forms of cancer.
Ninety percent of women have one or more risk factors for developing heart disease.
Heart disease is largely preventable. In fact, 80 percent of cardiac events in women may be prevented if women make the right choices for their hearts, including diet, exercise and abstinence from smoking.

Unfortunately, only 1 in 5 women believe that heart disease is her greatest health threat. That’s why it is so important for communities throughout the nation to educate women by “going red” on Friday, February 5, 2010.

Research shows that women who “Go Red” are more likely to make healthy choices. For example:
More than one-third have lost weight.
Nearly 55 percent have increased their exercise.
Six out of ten have changed their diets for the better.
More than 40 percent have checked their cholesterol levels.
One third have talked with their doctors about developing heart health plans.

For additional resources, women and men interested in “going red” on Friday, February 5 and joining the Go Red For Women movement should visit www.GoRedForWomen.org.

February has been celebrated as American Heart Month since 1963 to urge Americans to join the battle against heart disease. A presidential proclamation pays tribute to the researchers, physicians, other public health education professionals and volunteers for their tireless efforts in preventing, treating, and researching heart disease. The observation also recognizes the critical importance of developing tools that will increase survival rates from heart attacks and cardiac arrest.

For more information about American Heart Month or National Wear Red Day, the public is encouraged to visit www.americanheart.org.

About Go Red For Women
Go Red For Women is the American Heart Association’s cause initiative designed to save women’s lives. With one out of three women still dying from heart disease, we are committed to fighting this No. 1 killer that is largely preventable. GoRedForWomen.org, a premier source of information and education, connects millions of women of all ages and gives them tangible resources to turn personal choices into life-saving actions. We encourage women and the men who love them to embrace the cause. For more information, please visit www.GoRedForWomen.org or call 1-888-MY-HEART (1-888-694-3278). The movement is nationally sponsored by Macy’s and Merck & Co., Inc.

About the American Heart Association
Founded in 1924, the American Heart Association today is the nation’s oldest and largest voluntary health organization dedicated to building healthier lives, free of heart disease and stroke. These diseases, America’s No. 1 and No. 3 killers, and all other cardiovascular diseases claim nearly 870,000 lives a year. In fiscal year 2006–07 the association invested more than $554 million in research, professional and public education, advocacy and community service programs to help all Americans live longer, healthier lives. To learn more, call 1-800-AHA-USA1 or visit www.americanheart.org.

The 28 Days of Fighting Heart Disease

2010-02-01T09:52:00.000-06:00

28 Days of Fighting Heart Disease
REASONS TO BELIEVE

1. Heart disease is the No. 1 killer of women age 20 and over, but it is largely preventable. In fact, up to 80% of cardiac events in women may be prevented if women make the right choices for their hearts, including diet, exercise and not smoking.

2. Go Red BetterU is a FREE 12-week online nutrition and fitness program that can makeover your heart. Each week will focus on a different area and provide step-by-step guidance. You’ll have access to everything from daily expert tips and an online journal to a downloadable BetterMe coaching tool. Visit www.GoRedforWomen.org for more information.

3. While 1 in 30 American women die of breast cancer, 1 in 3 women die from cardiovascular disease.

4. Cardiovascular disease kills approximately 450,000 women each year, which is about one each minute.

5. FEBRUARY 5th: Today is National Wear Red Day! Join dozens of women, as well as companies and organizations in Nebraska and cities across America by wearing red today. It's a simple, powerful way to raise awareness of heart disease and stroke.

6. Overweight children are more likely to have abnormally thick heart muscle tissue when they become an adult, which increases the risk of heart attack and heart failure. Learn how to get your kids on the right track at www.americanheart.org.

7. Visit www.GoRedForWomen.org and join the online discussion about heart health.

8. If you or someone you know shows signs of heart attack or stroke, call 9-1-1 right away. An Emergency Medical Services (EMS) team can begin treatment when it arrives. That means treatment can begin sooner than it would if the patient arrived at the hospital by car. What's more, the EMS team is also trained to revive someone whose heart has stopped, which can save hundreds of lives each year.

9. Children of mothers who smoke during pregnancy have more damage to their arteries in young adulthood than offspring of non-smokers and the association is even stronger if both parents smoke.

10. You're the Cure! Choose to speak up, not remain silent. Support legislation that would improve the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of heart disease and stroke in women at www.yourethecure.org.

11. Too many lives have and will be cut short from heart disease and its risk factors; however, early detection, lifestyle changes, and other intervention can improve certain conditions.

12. Plan meals in advance – visit www.americanheart.org for recipes from a number of heart-healthy cookbooks and use the online grocery list builder to quickly identify heart-healthy products to add to your grocery list

13. Schedule a doctor’s appointment each year and get a complete blood screen. Visit www.GoRedForWomen.org and download “What to Know BEFORE Your Doctor Visit.” Only 1 in 5 women believes that heart disease is her greatest health threat.

14. This year about 1.2 million Americans will have a first or repeat coronary attack. About 452,000 of them will die. Coronary heart disease is our nation’s leading cause of death.

15. Nearly 8 million Americans age 20 and older have survived a heart attack (myocardial infarction). About 8.9 million have angina pectoris (chest pain or discomfort due to reduced blood supply to the heart).

16. An estimated 25.1 million men and 20.9 million women increase their risk of heart attack and stroke by smoking cigarettes.

17. One of the best ways to reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease is to start getting regular, moderate exercise, at least 30 minutes a day, most days of the week.

18. Some heart attacks are sudden and intense, causing someone to gasp dramatically, clutch her heart and drop to the ground. No one has any doubts about what's happening. But most heart attacks start slowly, with mild pain or discomfort. Often the people affected aren't sure what's wrong and wait too long before getting help.

19. The American Heart Association dedicates more monies to research than any
other voluntary health organization. Only the federal government funds more cardiovascular research.

20. Start thinking about your heart. By adding one hour of regular, vigorous physical activity, adults may gain up to two hours of life expectancy. Start by including more physical activity into your daily routine. Take a walk, ride a bike or take the stairs.

21. About 36.6 million American adults have cholesterol levels of 240 or higher — the point at which it becomes a major risk factor for coronary heart disease and stroke. Your total cholesterol should be below 200, and your HDL (good) cholesterol should be 40 or higher.

22. Americans think they are in better heart health than they really are. According to a recent American Heart Association survey, nearly 40 percent thought they were in ideal heart health, when in reality less than 1 percent of Americans have an ideal profile.

23. To find out how healthy you are, the American Heart Association developed a new health assessment tool, called My Life Check, at www.heart.org/mylifecheck. It will give you an overall health score and create an action plan to move you closer to your individual health goals. No matter what you score, any healthy change can help you live a longer, better life.

24. During a heart check up, your doctor takes a careful look at your "numbers," including your cholesterol and triglyceride levels, your blood pressure and more. Knowing your numbers is an important part of keeping your heart-healthy. It can help you and your doctor know your risks and mark the progress you're making toward a healthier you.

25. Smoking is the single most preventable cause of premature death in the United States. If you smoke cigarettes (or cigars), you have a higher risk of illness and death from heart attack, stroke and other diseases. So if you don't smoke, don’t start. If you do smoke, love your heart and quit today. Need more motivation? Visit heart.org for help quitting smoking.

26. Uncovering family history can help you to better understand your risk for heart disease. If you have a blood relative with heart disease or a risk factor for genetic heart disease, your risk for developing it significantly increases.

27. More women die of cardiovascular disease than the next five causes of death combined, including all forms of cancer.

28. Ninety percent of women have one or more risk factors for developing heart disease. Learn about your risk factors and how to reduce them at www.GoRedForWomen.org.

Take Action: Make February 2010 American Heart Month!

2010-01-29T15:35:00.000-06:00

Heart disease remains the leading cause of death in Missouri (34%) and in the United States. Too many lives have been lost and countless others affected by this disease in our state and nation.

That's why we have partnered with the Missouri legislature to recognize February as American Heart Month. State Representative Rebecca McClanahan proposed this resolution to encourage people to learn the signs of a heart attack, to save lives by calling 911, to know CPR and encourage placement of Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs).

Follow the link below to ask your legislator to co-sponsor this important resolution and be part of the fight against heart disease:

Make February Heart Month in Missouri!

Each one of us can do our part to create a healthier tomorrow. Whether that's eating better, exercising more, teaching our children to live healthier lives or raising money for life-saving research. Throughout February, be sure to do your part to help us fight back against heart disease.

Make February Heart Month in Missouri!

We can't spell CURE, without "U". Thank you for doing your part to help us find a cure.

AdDRESS Your Heart

2010-01-28T08:58:00.000-06:00

Vote for your favorite story and dress design. For each vote, we’re donating $1 up to $625,000 to the American Heart Association’s Go Red For Women® movement.

http://www.campbellsaddressyourheart.com/default.aspx

Voting ends January 28, but you can continue to click to donate through March 31, 2010.

Watch the State of the Union with the AHA

2010-01-27T12:47:00.000-06:00

Tonight, the President will address Congress and the American people with his State of the Union address- and we want to invite you to watch along with the AHA and join us for a real-time, online chat!

While we know it is likely that the President will focus on the nation's struggling economy, the American Heart Association will also be listening closely for mentions of the issues facing our nation's health- many of which you have been actively advocating for on behalf of heart disease and stroke patients and those at risk. So tune-in and log-on! Participating is easy!

1) Become a fan of the AHA's You're the Cure network on Facebook (if you aren't already!)
2) At 9:00 pm EST, visit the You're the Cure fan page and tune into the speech on TV.
3) Join in the conversation as the AHA posts throughout the speech. You could even win some prizes for taking part!

The State of the Union is a chance for the President to review the accomplishments of the past year and to set the stage for the year to come- so as informed health advocates, it is important that we all tune-in. And by being part of the AHA's online chat, you can not only watch the speech, but be part of the discussion.

See you on the You're the Cure Facebook fan page tonight!

Missouri Advocate Featured in YouTube Video on Healthcare Reform

2010-01-26T09:44:00.000-06:00

Watch the video below to hear the story of Jessica Spear (Missouri) and advocates across the nation share their reason for supporting healthcare reform.

Click on the Image Above to Play Video or visit http://www.youtube.com/user/AmHeartAdvocacy

Trapped father survives with help of phone app

2010-01-25T12:03:00.000-06:00

By Josh Levs, CNN
iPhone application, called "Pocket First Aid & CPR," is from Jive Media

"That gave me confidence to treat my wounds properly," Woolley says
(CNN) -- Alone in the darkness beneath layers of rubble, Dan Woolley felt blood streaming from his head and leg.

Then he remembered -- he had an app for that.

Woolley, an aid worker, husband, and father of two boys, followed instructions on his cell phone to survive the January 12 earthquake in Haiti.

"I had an app that had pre-downloaded all this information about treating wounds. So I looked up excessive bleeding and I looked up compound fracture," Woolley told CNN.

The application on his iPhone is filled with information about first aid and CPR from the American Heart Association. "So I knew I wasn't making mistakes," Woolley said. "That gave me confidence to treat my wounds properly."

Trapped in the ruins of the Hotel Montana in Port-au-Prince, he used his shirt to bandage his leg, and tied his belt around the wound. To stop the bleeding on his head, he firmly pressed a sock to it.

Concerned he might have been experiencing shock, Woolley used the app to look up what to do. It warned him not to sleep. So he set his phone alarm to go off every 20 minutes.

Once the battery got down to less than 20 percent of its power, Woolley turned it off. By then, he says, he had trained his body not to sleep for long periods, drifting off only to wake up within minutes.

Woolley's job keeps him tech savvy. He oversees interactive projects for the Christian child advocacy organization Compassion International in Colorado Springs, Colorado.CNN iReport: Looking for loved ones in Haiti

With his injuries tended to, he wrote a note to his family in his journal: "I was in a big accident, an earthquake. Don't be upset at God. He always provides for his children even in hard times. I'm still praying that God will get me out, but he may not. But even so he will always take care of you."

The journal is stained with his blood.

After more than 60 hours, Woolley was pulled from the rubble.

"Those guys are rescue heroes," he said of the crew that pulled him out.Interactive map of where to find aid, hospitals in Haiti

His colleague David Hames has not been found. The two had been standing together when the earthquake struck and the Hotel Montana crumbled. They were making a film about poverty in Haiti and had just gotten back to the hotel, heading to the elevator in the lobby.

"Then all of a sudden just all craziness broke loose," Woolley said. "Convulsions of the ground around us, the walls started rippling and then falling on us. [Hames] yelled out, 'I think it's an earthquake!' I looked for someplace safe to jump to and there was no safe place."

When the shaking stopped, Woolley couldn't see. And his friend was not with him.

He turned on the focus light of a camera he was wearing around his neck, but he didn't have his glasses. "So I actually took some pictures and would look at the back of the lens of the camera and saw in one of those pictures the elevator that I ended up hobbling over to. And that became my safe place."

Once in the elevator, he used the app -- called "Pocket First Aid & CPR" from Jive Media -- to tend to his injuries. Woolley said his phone "was like a high-tech version of a Swiss Army knife that enabled me to treat my own injuries, track time, stay awake and stay alive."

Woolley heard voices of some other people trapped nearby, and they spoke with each other.
"About a day, maybe day and a half in, we heard rescuers, and they had a list of our names at that point, because they were able to talk to one of the people we were talking with. And so then it seemed like, OK, this is going to happen, we're actually going to get rescued.

"But then it just took a long time and there were times where I didn't hear anything or I'd hear drilling in a far part of the building and just didn't get any reassurance they were still coming for me," Woolley said.

"The scene outside was a lot more chaotic and less simple than I imagined in my head. ... But eventually they came for me and did an amazing rescue."

Back home now in Colorado Springs with his wife Christina and children Josh, 6, and Nathan, 3, Woolley said he's grateful to God for getting him through the ordeal.

"Happiness is a morning with ... family, filled with Legos, kissing boo-boos and normalcy."

Find this article at: http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/americas/01/24/haiti.survivor.phone.app/index.html?hpt=C1

Southwest Missouri to “Go Red” During American Heart Month

2010-01-21T12:16:00.001-06:00

American Heart Association and Central Trust & Investment Company
Invite Southwest Missouri to “Go Red” During American Heart Month

Businesses, organizations and individuals have unique opportunity to raise awareness for heart disease in February

SPRINGFIELD, MISSOURI – Thursday, January 21, 2010: The American Heart Association and Central Trust & Investment Company are partnering to turn Springfield and Southwest Missouri red during American Heart Month in February. An invitation is extended to the entire community and region – businesses, organizations, schools and individuals – to “go red in their own fashion” and show their support for the lifesaving mission of the American Heart Association. “Going red” also helps others recognize that heart disease is the number-one killer of all Americans and that each of us has an opportunity to live a longer, healthier life by making the right choices today regarding nutrition and physical activity.

“By going red, local partners help Springfield and Southwest Missouri join may others across the country in a unique and important endeavor,” said Candy Letterman, Regional Director for the American Heart Association in Springfield. “For example, national landmarks, including the Empire State Building and the Seattle Space Needle, are among those that have gone red to raise awareness to save lives.”

Ideas for “going red” in February include the following:
Light your building red by covering your exterior lights with red gels.
Hang red dress banners showing support of Go Red For Women throughout your facility.
Place Go Red For Women decals or posters in building windows.
Ask all employees to show their support by wearing red on National Wear Red Day – Friday, February 5.

“Central Trust is excited to lead the Go Red For Women movement in Southwest Missouri,” said Diane Homan of Central Trust & Investment Company in Springfield. “We are eager for other community partners to join us in turning the community red in an effort to make a lasting and positive impact right here at home.”

As a supporter throughout the month of February, partners have an opportunity to receive many benefits, including the following:
Appreciation for supporting the American Heart Association and its mission to eradicate the #1 killer of women.
Recognition as part of a citywide movement throughout the month of February.
Inclusion in the American Heart Association’s local publicity efforts to showcase the local community partners who choose to “go red”.
Identification with the American Heart Association, the nation’s premier research, advocacy and educational organization focusing on cardiovascular diseases.
Awareness among employees regarding how to keep heart-health and the overall quality of life and work a priority.

For More Information:
Community partners who choose to “go red” in February are encouraged to contact the American Heart Association at 417.881.1129 or Candy.Letterman@heart.org. In addition to receiving help with resources to “go red”, partners will also be added to a comprehensive list for recognition throughout the community.

About Go Red For Women:
Since 2004, Go Red For Women has captured the energy, passion and intelligence of women to work collectively to wipe out heart disease — the No. 1 killer of women in the United States. The American Heart Association wants millions of women across America to take heart disease personally. Using the platform “Speak Up to Save Lives,” Go Red For Women engages women and the men who love them to embrace the cause. Healthcare providers, celebrities and politicians also elevate the cause and spread the word about women and heart disease. For more information about Go Red For Women, please call 1-888-MY-HEART (1-888-694-3278) or visit www.GoRedForWomen.org. The movement is nationally sponsored by Macy’s and Merck & Co., Inc. and locally sponsored by Central Trust and Investment Company.

American Heart Association encourages heart disease patients to get H1N1 flu shot in support of National Influenza Vaccination Week, Jan. 10-16

2010-01-13T14:21:00.000-06:00

DALLAS — The American Heart Association supports National Influenza Vaccination Week, Jan. 10-16, an effort led by the Department of Health and Human Services and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to encourage more Americans to get vaccinated against H1N1. Influenza of all types can pose greater dangers for people with heart failure or with any cardiovascular disease. Like seasonal flu, H1N1 (“swine” flu) may cause a worsening of underlying chronic medical conditions.

The American Heart Association recommends each year that all heart disease patients get flu shots and they should do so by injection – not the live, attenuated vaccine given as a nasal spray. The live vaccine is not approved for use by cardiovascular disease patients.

There is a vaccine available for H1N1 flu in addition to the vaccine for seasonal flu.

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has information about the H1N1 flu, its treatment, who should be vaccinated, and how to keep from spreading it at http://www.flu.gov/.

There is treatment for the flu, which you can get from your doctor. Antiviral drugs work best if started soon after getting sick (within 2 days of symptoms).

Helpful tips for keeping yourself and others healthy:

Try to avoid close contact with sick people.

If you get sick, CDC recommends that you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.

Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze.

Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.

Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze.

Alcohol-based hands cleaners are also effective.

Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way.

The H1N1 flu is a serious disease. The CDC estimates that between mid-April and November 14, 2009, 47 million people in the United States were infected with the 2009 H1N1 flu, more than 200,000 people were hospitalized, and over 9,800 people died. For more on H1N1 flu and National Influenza Vaccination Week, visit http://www.flu.gov/

Learn more on influenza and heart disease from the American Heart Association.

You're Invited! Come to the Go Red For Women Luncheon in St.Louis on Feb.12th!

2010-01-13T13:20:00.000-06:00

Heart Disease claims the life of almost one woman every minute, but there’s something you can do to help stop it: Speak Up to Save Lives.

Take your seat at the table with other outstanding and dedicated women and men. Hear the survivor stories, take action on the expert advice and learn how you can help put an end to this largely preventable disease using the power of your very own voice – Speak Up!

St. Louis Go Red for Women Luncheon 2010

Go Red for Women Co-Chairs Brenda Newberry, The Newberry Group, Inc. and Sandra Van Trease, BJC Healthcare
Friday, February 12, 2010

The Ritz-Carlton, St Louis

Registration Begins: 8:30 am

Silent Auction: 8:30 - 11:30 am

Educational Breakout Sessions: 9:00 - 11:00 am

Luncheon: 12:00 pm

Emcee: Karen Foss“Heart to Heart Conversation with Karen Foss”
*See Invitation below for event details and RSVP to Linda Ballowe

(linda.ballowe@heart.org or 314.692.5625)

(Click on Images to enlarge)

Send a Message from Your Heart for the Holidays...

2009-12-22T12:59:00.000-06:00

You may have sent your holiday cards to friends and family, but have you shared the gift of heart health this year?

Our advocacy efforts can make a greater impact with legislators when the message comes from the heart -- from people whose families have been touched by heart disease or stroke, or have a personal stake in this fight to save lives. Do you know someone who is passionate about heart and stroke issues? Have you invited them to join our You're the Cure Network?

This holiday season, we're asking you to take a couple of minutes to recruit 5 of your friends and family to join our You're the Cure Network.

Follow the link below to log in to You're the Cure and click on the Tell a Friend Link to personalize your message to friends and family today:

Send a Message from Your Heart for the Holidays

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for supporting our You're the Cure Network and for all you've done to help the American Heart Association save lives.

We can't spell CURE, without "U".

Happy Holidays!

Learn About Cheryl's Story

2009-12-21T09:00:00.000-06:00

Click the Image above to learn about Cheryl's story. Cheryl is the mother of Buffy McKinney, St. Louis Heart Walk Director for the American Heart Association.

You're Invited: Participate in a Health Care Reform Discussion Tomorrow!

2009-12-15T09:59:00.001-06:00

Tomorrow our National You're the Cure Network will be hosting a call entitled: Health Care Reform in the Senate and Beyond.

The call is tomorrow from 1-2pm CST.

You're invited to join the AHA's CEO Nancy Brown, and Chairman of the Board Neil Meltzer for this important call!

RSVP Today by Following this Link: RSVP for HealthCare Reform Call!

Please make sure to dial in a few minutes early -- an operator will ask for your name before connecting you to the call.

During the call, you will hear directly from volunteer and staff leaders about the progress being made in the Senate, the work left ahead, and how you can continue to work with the AHA to ensure affordable, accessible, and adequate health care is achieved. There will also be time for you to pose questions to the speakers and share your own story that illustrates the need for reform.

Thank you, Spear Family, for Giving Your Time and Advocating for a Healthier Tomorrow!

2009-12-07T13:59:00.000-06:00

This is Brendon Spear, who is a SURVIVOR of a stroke he suffered in utero. Brendon is currently 3 years old.

When Brendon was born we did not know that he had already SURVIVED an incredible challenge, a stroke! While I was pregnant I had a 3-D ultrasound, at 27 weeks. It was not a medical necessity but an out of pocket expense so we could get an early glimpse of our precious baby boy! Unbeknownst to me and my husband, left-handedness was not something that should be visible or clearly defined that early in development. So while in utero Brendon was displaying a tendency towards left-handedness and due to our lack of awareness we were ecstatic to have a future St. Louis Cardinal Pitcher on our hands. In fact, my husband kept talking to my belly, jokingly, saying, “Can you say lucrative pitching contract for the St. Louis Cardinals?”

At about two weeks, I noticed he was not turning his little head to the right. I initially thought he had a hearing deficit. A “paranoid first time mommy,” as I had been labeled, I wrote off my concern when I was reassured Brendon was a beautiful strong baby. As time went on, I observed that Brendon was able to move his left limbs long before he was able to move his right limbs. But Well Baby checkups assured that he was still progressing as he should be. So I wrote it off again , but deep down I was concerned.

Finally, at the age of 9 months I had something visible which I could clearly show and articulate to a physician. Brendon’s right foot was turned outward at a 90 degree angle and under. When I would hold him up to walk, Brendon was unable to pick up his right leg. Brendon would drag the inside of his foot across the ground. At Brendon’s 9 month Well Baby checkup I addressed the issue with a pediatrician (who was filling in for our regular pediatrician). It just so happened that this fill-in was actually an ER doctor, who informed me that the “foot turn” was very common and that Brendon would outgrow this by the time he was 2 years old. If he didn’t then at that time we could seek further medical attention.

So, a few months pass and Brendon’s first steps weren’t that easy... I was constantly being told that all babies fall, but something in my gut told me “yes” but not because of one foot sticking to the ground because of being unable to lift his leg. Brendon was literally wearing holes in his shoe and foot from dragging his foot! I called Brendon’s pediatrician who immediately directed me to a Pediatric Orthopedist. After a month and a half of waiting I was able to get Brendon to the specialist. The doctor was nice but very uninterested in any of my concerns.

Thank God for my Parent Educator from our Parents as Teachers program in the State of Missouri! She is the one who encouraged me to trust my gut instinct! She guided me to our Early Intervention Program, First Steps, in the State of Missouri. Initially, I was denied treatment over the phone based on Brendon’s ability to “compensate” for his right foot.

I was also becoming a little concerned with Brendon’s regression with speech. He was saying “Mama” and “Dada,” and one time he said “bird,” by the time he was twelve months old. Then his speech just stopped! He was able to emulate vehicle and animal sounds but no words. That reminded me of a stroke patient! In fact, several times I told my husband it looked as if Brendon had a stroke! But to me that was “silly talk” because babies don’t have strokes! Right? WRONG!

Almost a month and a half later, we were able to get Brendon evaluated by a neurological specialist. Within fifteen minutes into that appointment I was told Brendon had “CP,” a.k.a. Cerebral Palsy—I felt as if I were kicked in the gut! I was advised that Brendon needed an MRI to explain the origin of the “CP.” I was told he either had suffered a stroke or had a brain tumor! Finally, after more than two long grueling weeks of waiting for an appointment, the actual test, and results we finally got the answer: BRENDON SUFFERED A STROKE IN UTERO!

I would give anything to take this diagnosis for Brendon but I can’t and now after two years, a lot of research, therapy for Brendon, compiling of information, reaching out to other caregivers, and formulating a Plan of Care for my son it is now my job, as a parent, caregiver and an advocate to EDUCATE OTHERS THAT STROKES DO, CAN, AND WILL HAPPEN IN CHILDREN, and EVEN THE UNBORN! I know because I learned the hard way! No child should be denied treatment because of lack of awareness and knowledge! No parent should have to fight as hard as I did to get the answers and treatment for this diagnosis! That is why I share, with ANYONE who will listen, Brendon’s journey!

I advocate for the American Heart Association through You're the Cure and let my lawmakers know that more needs to be done for stroke in our country, especially for families like mine who have gone through so much to even diagnose a stroke. I know now that there IS something we can all do and thats take action by telling our stories. So, I encourage everyone to join You're the Cure at www.yourethecure.org and tell your story too!

Thank you!
Jessica J. Spear

Learn more about Brendon by visiting Brendon's Smile, a not for profit organization whose core purpose is to raise awareness for Childhood (Pediatric) Stroke, to inform readers of the signs/symptoms of stroke in infants and children, to educate caregivers about advocating for child SURVIVORS of stroke, and to share resources which support the young victims of stroke. http://brendonssmile.org/

Visit Brendon's blog at www.caringbridge.org/visit/brendonssmile.

Join Brendon's Group on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/group.php?gid=98564100456&ref=search&sid=15906040.346486544..1

Missouri Statewide System for Treating Heart Attacks and Stroke on Fox 4

2009-12-07T09:57:00.000-06:00

KANSAS CITY, MO - Missouri is preparing to become the first state in the nation to have a statewide system for treating heart attacks and strokes. FOX 4 Medical Reporter Meryl Lin McKean explains that it's all about getting you to the best place for your care as quickly as possible. Click Here to watch the video clip or click the image above.

If you are unable to view this video, visit Fox 4 for more information on this story.

Thank You, Marica Jacobi, for Giving Your Time and Advocating for a Healthier Tomorrow!

2009-11-18T10:32:00.000-06:00

Thank you, Harold Phillips, for Giving Your Time and Advocating for a Healthier Tomorrow!

2009-11-10T16:04:00.000-06:00

Throughout November, our blog will feature AHA volunteer stories of survival and hope.

We know there are thousands of stories like these - thats why we want to say “Thanks” to all of you for “Giving” your time and sharing your lives with us.

You can’t spell CURE without U! Thank you for all you do to build healthier lives free of cardiovascular disease and stroke.

YOU’RE THE CURE!!!

Read about Harold Phillip's story below:

When I ran for Liberty City Council in April 2005 two residents in one day asked when our city was going to become smoke-free. At that moment I realized I could use my pending influence in a small way that would make our City a healthier place to live and work.

Four years later, our City Council passed a smoking ordinance with glaring loopholes. Another member of the Council and I acknowledged our shared passion for health advocacy and the pent up grassroots interest in being smoke-free. Together she and I along with a grassroots army that grew to dozens of volunteers collected over 1000 signatures to force the Council to pass a good ordinance or let the citizens vote. The Council opted to spend up to $14,000 to force an election with a certain result. Meanwhile, the volunteers continued educating our community about the reasons to go smoke free. We went from having a booth at our Fall Festival to two rounds of door-to-door canvassing throughout Liberty. We even advertised on Facebook, encouraging people in Liberty to vote in support of a Smoke-free Liberty!

And you know what?! On November 3, Liberty, Missouri became a smoke-free city with a 70.34% YES vote. So it all paid off! What we have done in Liberty this year is one small example of “working together, ordinary people can perform extraordinary feats.”

As a health advocate in Missouri, I encourage you to take action as well on issues you care about. Whether its smoke-free communities, promoting funding for research on our nation’s top killers (heart disease, cancer, stroke), or making healthier choices for yourself like exercising or eating better – you can be an advocate for a healthier future. I encourage all of you to be active in your community, because YOU can make a difference.

And if you haven’t already, become an advocate for the American Heart Association (AHA) by joining You’re the Cure at http://www.yourethecure.org/. Once you join this free grassroots network, you’ll receive email alerts when communities in your area are trying to pass smoke-free ordinances just like Liberty did. It doesn’t take a lot of time to take action either, AHA makes it easy by providing you a template message to send to your elected officials. In fact, AHA matches you up with your lawmakers, so you don’t even have to look them up yourself.

I know one thing I’ve learned through my experience is that there’s power in numbers and if we can make Liberty smoke-free, I know other communities can as well.

-Harold Phillips
Liberty, Missouri

Thank you, Robbin Graham, for Giving Your Time and Advocating for a Healthier Tomorrow!

2009-11-06T09:34:00.000-06:00

Throughout November, our blog will feature AHA volunteer stories of survival and hope.

We know there are thousands of stories like these - thats why we want to say “Thanks” to all of you for “Giving” your time and sharing your lives with us.

You can’t spell CURE without U! Thank you for all you do to build healthier lives free of cardiovascular disease and stroke.

YOU’RE THE CURE!!!

Read about Robbin Graham's story below:
In the weeks before the cardiac incident that nearlyclaimed my life, I should have known something was terribly wrong. I had migraine headaches that ruptured blood vessels in my eye, but a complete physical exam indicated that I was fine, despite a significant family history of heart disease and a prior diagnosis of mitral valveprolapse.

So I accepted my doctor’s opinion and decided my symptoms were nothing more than stress.Then, while driving home on Feb. 16, 2003, I felt very tired and had excruciating pain in both arms. As I carried my groceriesinto the house, I collapsed – conscious, but unable to move. The intense pain and unbearable pressure across my chest made itnearly impossible to breathe. I believed I was dying and my thoughts immediately focused on my husband and two teenage sons.

Thanks to the quick response of my family and some visiting friends, I received prompt medical attention for Prinzmetal’sAngina Syndrome – a disorder that leads to spasms of the coronary arteries that shut down blood flow.

I have since made a complete recovery and enjoy a full life with my wonderful family. Thank you for supporting the American Heart Association, which makes lifesaving research and education a reality. I urge you to make your heart health a priority and always be alert for the warning signs of cardiovascular disease.

Volunteering as an advocate for the American Heart Association is a way to support the mission of saving lives. Be sure to join the advocacy network of volunteers, You're the Cure, at http://www.yourethecure.org/ to learn how you can help others live by telling our lawmakers to make heart health a national priority!

— Robbin Graham,
Springfield, Missouri

breathe easy Christian County Presents Award to Village Inn of Ozark in Recognition of the Restaurant's Voluntary Decision to go Smoke-Free

2009-11-02T09:36:00.000-06:00

breathe easy Christian County Presents Award to Village Inn of Ozark
in Recognition of the Restaurant’s Voluntary Decision to go Smoke-Free
Smoke-free air policy was implemented for the health and well-being of staff and customers

Pictured left to right: Delores Joyce, Chair of breathe easy Christian County and Project Coordinator for the Ozarks Public Health Institute; and Bob Greene, Owner of The Village Inn.

Ozark, Missouri, Friday, October 30, 2009 – breathe easy Christian County, a community-based coalition dedicated to reducing the harmful effects of tobacco use and exposure, presented an important award to the Village Inn Restaurant of Ozark during the local Chamber of Commerce meeting on Thursday. The honor was bestowed in recognition of the restaurant’s voluntary decision to go smoke-free for the health and well-being of its staff and clientele. Owner Bob Greene accepted the recognition on behalf of Village Inn.

“It is a privilege for us to recognize Village Inn for their leadership on this important issue,” said Delores Joyce, Chair of breathe easy Christian County and Project Coordinator for Ozarks Public Health Institute. “It is our hope that other businesses throughout Ozark and the greater Springfield area will make the important decision to follow their lead. Not only does it protect the health of everyone, but it makes good business sense.”

Secondhand smoke is a deadly chemical compound. It contains a mixture of more than 4,000 chemicals – more than 50 of these are known or probable cancer-causing agents in humans. Research from many coalition partners, including the American Cancer Society, the American Heart Association, and the American Lung Association, shows that secondhand smoke affects non-smokers. In fact, it significantly increases their risk of heart disease, stroke and cancer, causing over 35,000 heart disease and 3,000 lung cancer deaths every single year.

Children are especially at risk. Their lungs are not fully developed, so they are more sensitive to secondhand smoke. Exposing children increases their risk of asthma, bronchitis and pneumonia, as well as sudden infant death syndrome. Employees are also at a greater risk. For instance, food service workers have a 50% higher risk of lung cancer.

“We know that non-smoking sections are not the answer to this problem,” continued Joyce. “An hour in a restaurant’s non-smoking section can equal smoking one cigarette, while two hours in a smoky bar is equal to smoking four cigarettes It is crucial that smoke-free air policies be implemented throughout public facilities so that the health and well-being of all individuals can be protected.”

Establishing smoke-free workplaces is the simplest and most cost effective way to improve worker and business health. Each pack of cigarettes sold in Missouri costs the taxpayers in lost productivity and medical expenses. Employees in non-smoking workplaces are healthier, miss less work due to illness and cost less to insure.

For more information regarding the harmful effects of tobacco-use, or to access resources for implementing a smoke-free air policy, the public is encouraged to call 417-836-3260 or log on to http://www.breatheeasycc.org/.

Your Hands Can Do Incredible Things...But Nothing Compares to Using Them to Save a Life!

2009-10-28T12:15:00.000-05:00

If an adult suddenly collapsed, would you know what to do?

Hands-Only CPR is easy, and it is helping save lives. Go to http://www.handsonlycpr.org/ to learn more.

CPR. A lifesaving action.

When an adult has a sudden cardiac arrest, his or her survival depends greatly on immediately getting CPR from someone nearby. Unfortunately, less than 1/3 of those people who experience a cardiac arrest at home, work or in a public location get that help. Most bystanders are worried that they might do something wrong or make things worse. That’s why the AHA has simplified things.

Don’t be afraid. Your actions can only help.

It’s not normal to see an adult suddenly collapse, but if you do, call 911 and push hard and fast in the center of the chest. Don’t be afraid. Your actions can only help. Take a minute and look around this site and invite your friends! Increasing the number of people who know about Hands-OnlyTM CPR will increase the chance that someone can help when an adult suddenly collapses, and more lives can be saved.

Check out this video to see Hands-Only CPR in action.

Warrensburg, MO Smoke-Free Ordinance Language Posted

2009-10-19T17:10:00.000-05:00

Follow the link below to read the proposed smoke-free ordinance that will likely be voted on by the Warrensburg, MO City Council in the upcoming weeks:

http://www.warrensburg-mo.com/TempNotices/Chapter-28_PublicHealthOrd.pdf

Do you support a Smoke-Free Warrensburg? Let us know by clicking the "Like, Dislike" options below this post or leave us a comment.

Interesting in volunteering to help make Warrensburg, MO Smoke-Free? Contact Melissa Horn at Melissa.Horn@heart.org to find out how you can help!

American Heart Association Says IOM Report Underscores the Importance of Smoke-Free Policies to Reduce Risk of Heart Disease

2009-10-15T12:19:00.001-05:00

The Institute of Medicine today released its long-awaited report concluding that secondhand smoke causes heart attacks, while smoke-free laws prevent heart attacks and save lives. The report also finds compelling evidence that even relatively brief exposure to secondhand smoke can cause heart attacks. See the statement released below by the American Heart Association:

American Heart Association Says IOM Report Underscores the Importance of Smoke-Free Policies to Reduce Risk of Heart Disease

Evidence Shows Heart Attack Rate Decreases with Smoking Bans

(Washington, October 15, 2009) – The American Heart Association supports a new national study which found that smoking bans are effective at reducing the risk of heart attacks associated with exposure to secondhand smoke. The Institute of Medicine (IOM) report, “Secondhand Smoke Exposure and Cardiovascular Effects: Making Sense of the Evidence” also further substantiates evidence that relatively brief exposure to secondhand smoke could lead to a heart attack.

“This report makes it increasingly clear that smoke-free policies are having a positive impact in reducing the heart attack rate in many communities,” said Clyde Yancy, M.D., American Heart Association President. “There’s no question that secondhand smoke has an adverse health impact in workplaces and public environments. We must continue to enact comprehensive smoke-free laws across the country to save lives and reduce the number of new smokers.”

The IOM report, sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, suggests the strength of association between secondhand smoke and acute coronary events is compelling and provides evidence showing a cause-and-effect relationship between secondhand smoke exposure and heart problems.The findings also confirm data from the 2006 U.S. Surgeon General report on the consequences of involuntary exposure to tobacco smoke that stated there “is no safe level of exposure to secondhand smoke.” Nearly 440,000 Americans die each year of smoking-related illnesses and about 38,000 of these deaths are from second-hand smoke. About 35 percent of those deaths are related to cardiovascular disease.“More Americans are trying to limit their exposure to secondhand smoke to improve their health and reduce the burden of healthcare costs related to tobacco use,” said Nancy Brown, CEO of the American Heart Association. “Smoke-free policies will make a huge dent in the $10 billion spent annually on healthcare costs associated with exposure to secondhand smoke.” Currently, 70 percent of the nation has smoke-free laws for workplaces, restaurants or bars.

The American Heart Association supports strong public health measures that will reduce tobacco use and exposure to secondhand smoke across the United States. These policy priorities include federal regulation of the tobacco industry, adequate funding for tobacco cessation and prevention programs, comprehensive smoke free air laws and taxation of tobacco products. The association believes that smoke free laws should be comprehensive and apply to all workplaces and public environments and there should be no preemption of local ordinances, and no exemptions for hardship, opting out, or ventilation.

The IOM's materials can be found at: http://www.iom.edu/en/Reports/2009/Secondhand-Smoke-Exposure-and-Cardiovascular-Effects-Making-Sense-of-the-Evidence.aspx

CDC materials can be found at: http://www.cdc.gov/Features/Smoke-FreeAir/

You Can Help Make Liberty, Missouri Smoke-Free!

2009-10-13T15:18:00.000-05:00

Smoke-free Liberty is gearing up for the November 3, 2009 election with Clean Indoor Air being an important issue on the ballot.

You can help make Liberty the next smoke-free city in the Metropolitan area by volunteering to canvass in the upcoming weeks. Volunteers will be given a list of homes and will simply leave an informational door-hanger at each home. Shift times vary but last only 2-3 hours.

The times available to help volunteer are:

Saturday October 17th from 9am-11am, 11am-1pm, and 1-3pm

Saturday October 31st from 9am-12pm

Sunday November 1st from 1-4:30pm I

In addition to the times listed above, Smoke -free Liberty is looking for volunteers to hand out informational literature and hold signs on election day Tuesday November 3rd, 2009.

To volunteer, contact Melissa Horn at Melissa.Horn@heart.org with the dates/times you are available to help.

Thank you for your continued support of Clean Indoor Air.

Is Your Heart Still Racing To Make a Difference in Missouri?!

2009-10-12T17:16:00.000-05:00

Even though we have achieved many legislative successes this year, there is still much to be done to build healthier lives free of cardiovascular disease and stroke in Missouri.

Beginning as your new Regional Grassroots Advocacy Director in Missouri, I am excited to join you in this effort. My name is Melissa Horn and I currently also staff the Illinois, Minnesota, and Wisconsin Grassroots positions at the American Heart Association.

In 2004, my Mom suffered a heart attack. Thanks to your efforts throughout the years to make life-saving research a priority, I am happy to report that my Mom survived! And now, MY heart beats to ensure that other daughters, sons, and loved ones continue to tell those same stories of survival!

However, being the "New Kid" is never easy even when you're passionate about a cause like heart disease and stroke. It takes time to figure out how everything works. As a You're the Cure advocate, you too might still be trying to find your way around our network. Or maybe you have yet to sign up for our You're the Cure Network....No worries! Your American Heart Association has made it easy for you to be a successful advocate.

To sign up for You're the Cure or to log in, visit www.americanheart.org/yourethecure.

Once signed up, you'll notice a tool bar on the side that lists "Home", "Take Action", "My Profile", and much more. Take some time to click through each tab - I promise you will find the information extremely useful.

Don't know who your legislators are? Not sure how to contact your Senator or Representative? No problem! Click "My Profile", which lists your legislators contact information including their picture. You can also click on "Information Resources" to find other elected officials in your area.

Not sure if you missed action alerts this session and still want to take action on legislation affecting heart disease and stroke? Your American Heart Association has you covered! Simply click on "Take Action" to view State and Federal alerts to send to your legislators about important heart disease/stroke issues.

Interested in finding out how you can help our advocacy efforts by volunteering off-line? E-mail me at Melissa.Horn@heart.org to find out how you can take action in your community by writing letters to the editor of your local newspaper, meeting with your legislators in district, or helping spread the word about You're the Cure at American Heart Association events across Missouri. (and much more!)

Many thanks to each of you for your dedication as You're the Cure advocates. With your help, a day will come when heart disease and stroke will no longer claim the lives of our loved ones. I am privileged to work with each of you.

Please feel free to contact me with any questions you may have or to introduce yourself at Melissa.Horn@heart.org.

Sincerely,

Melissa Horn

Regional Grassroots Advocacy Director: Illinois, Minnesota, Missouri and Wisconsin

American Heart Association and American Stroke Association, Midwest Affiliate

Tel: 312.476.6607 Toll Free: 800.677.5481, x6607 Fax: 312.346.7375

Melissa.Horn@heart.org

www.americanheart.org/yourethecure

Ban on Flavored Cigarettes Takes Effect Today!

2009-09-22T15:48:00.000-05:00

As of today, tobacco companies will no longer be able to produce candy and fruit flavored cigarettes!!!

*Products like the one above can no longer be sold in America's stores.

While several provisions of the law authorizing the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to regulate tobacco products have already taken effect, this is one of the most significant.

Thanks to the effort of you're the cure advocates like you, Congress passed this legislation, the president signed it into law and kids are now protected from the lure of products like Camel’s Twista Lime, Kauai Kolada, Margarita Mixer, Warm Winter Toffee and Winter Mocha Mint to name just a few.

This is a great day for public health advocates everywhere and an even better day for our nation's children!

Thank you for your continued support of the American Heart Association.

Missouri You're the Cure Advocates-You're Invited to Attend!

2009-08-07T15:29:00.000-05:00

With the August Recess underway, and Members of Congress back at home in their districts, we’re recruiting You’re the Cure Volunteers to attend these open community forums to listen to their Members of Congress talk about Healthcare Reform, and what it means to all Americans.

We know that the issue of healthcare reform is one we must continue to monitor throughout the legislative process. We need to make sure all heart disease and stroke patients have accessible, affordable, and very adequate healthcare.

The ASK:

We’ve identified St. Louis County and Jefferson County as the next Town Hall Meetings on Senator Claire McCaskill’s schedule. Can you attend one of these meetings on August 11, and participate in the discussion on healthcare reform? Please let us know if you can. We will then provide you with talking points to assist you in the discussion.

Here is the meeting information:
On Tuesday, August 11, 2009 10:00 AM:

Open Forum – St. Louis County.

Sign up at: http://www.mccaskill.senate.gov/stlouis081109/ University City High School Auditorium 7401 Balson Avenue University City, MO 6313 2:00 PM

Open Forum – Jefferson County at 2:00 p.m.

Sign Up at: http://www.mccaskill.senate.gov/hillsboro081109/ Jefferson College Field House 1000 Viking Drive Hillsboro, MO 63050

For more information on these meetings, please visit: http://mccaskill.senate.gov/newsroom/record.cfm?id=316670&

The American Heart Association Announces Recommendations for the Implementation and Establishment of Stroke Systems of Care

2009-08-03T11:07:00.000-05:00

The AHA/ASA’s stroke system of care regulatory policy priority is to focus on efforts to create inclusive and coordinated statewide systems of care to improve the prevention of stroke and thetreatment of the stroke patient. The cornerstones of statewide stroke systems are Primary Stroke Centers.

The AHA/ASA continues to proactively pursue legislative and regulatory policy that supports the development of Primary Stroke Centers that are based on Joint Commission certification.

These recommendations, compiled by the Stroke Advisory Working Group, provide guidance to developing systems.

Primordial and Primary Prevention

· A stroke system should develop support mechanisms to assist communities and providers in initiating prevention regimens applicable to the population as a whole.

· A stroke system should develop support tools to assist the population as a whole, patients, and providers in long-term adherence to primordial and primary preventive treatment regimens.

Community Education

· A stroke system should support educational programs that target high-risk populations and their families.

· A stroke system should ensure that educational efforts include community-based organizations, policymakers, and other stakeholders.

Notification and Response of EMS for Stroke

· A stroke system should include processes that provide rapid access to EMS for patients with acute stroke and that dispatch EMS in the shortest time possible, given local resource availability.

· A stroke system should promote the use of diagnostic algorithms and protocols by EMS dispatchers that reflect the most current stroke treatment recommendations and should dispatch EMS responders for suspected strokes with the most rapid emergency response and within the same time limits/goals established for other acute events (eg, myocardial infarction [heart attack] and trauma). EMS responders should use validated scales (e.g. Cincinnati’s, Los Angeles’, or Miami’s) to aid the rapid and accurate identification of stroke patients.

· A stroke system should ensure the direct involvement of emergency physicians and stroke experts in the development of stroke education materials, communications and field assessment protocols, treatment protocols, and transport protocols for EMS providers. Such training and protocols should focus on stroke recognition, triage/transport decisions, and early notification to the receiving hospital.

· A stroke system should ensure that all patients having signs or symptoms of stroke be transported to the nearest primary stroke center or hospital with an equivalent designation, given the available acute therapeutic interventions. Air transport should be considered to shorten the time to treatment, if appropriate. Stroke patients who are not candidates for hyperacute interventions should be evaluated at the closest hospital and considered for transfer, if appropriate, to a primary stroke center or other facility through established referral processes.

· A stroke system should ensure that EMS personnel perform and document agreed-upon stroke patient assessments and screening of candidates for thrombolysis or other hyperacute interventions, as such interventions become available.

Acute Treatment for Stroke

· A stroke system should determine the acute stroke treatment capabilities and limitations of all hospitals and make these available to primary care providers, EMS, and the public.

· A stroke system must develop strategies that incorporate hospitals that do not intend to seek stroke center status. All hospitals and facilities that could be involved in the care of acute stroke patients should develop action plans for the triage and treatment (or transport) of stroke patients.

· A stroke system should ensure that hospitals identified as “acute stroke capable” possess the appropriate resources and deliver primary stroke care, in accordance with national recommendations and local or national certifying bodies.

· A stroke system should make certain that clinical pathways are used consistently to ensure the organized application of interventions to prevent or limit stroke progression or secondary complications.

· A stroke system should identify the roles played by each type of hospital in the system and define the responsibilities inherent in those roles.

Subacute Stroke Care and Secondary Prevention for Stroke

· A stroke system should use organized approaches (eg, stroke teams, stroke units, and written protocols) to ensure that all patients receive appropriate subacute care.

· A stroke system should adopt approaches to secondary prevention that address all major modifiable risk factors and that are consistent with the national guidelines for all patients with a history or suspected history of stroke or transient ischemic events.

· A stroke system should ensure that stroke patients and their families receive education about stroke risk factors, warning signs, and the availability of timesensitive therapy, as well as the appropriate method for activating EMS in their area.

· A stroke system should ensure a smooth transition from inpatient to outpatient care, including timely transfer of hospital discharge information to the subsequent treating physician and a clear method of appropriate follow-up.

Rehabilitation of Stroke Patients

· A stroke system should ensure that all stroke patients receive a standardized screening evaluation during the initial hospitalization to identify patients with residual impairments so that these patients receive appropriate rehabilitation.

· A stroke system should periodically assess its level of available rehabilitation services and resources.

· Stroke patients should be referred to an inpatient facility, an outpatient facility, or a home care service that provides for their medical and functional needs.

· A stroke system should establish support systems to ensure that patients discharged from hospitals and other facilities to their homes have appropriate follow-up and primary care arranged on discharge.

CQI Initiatives

· A stroke system should strive to optimize the overall effectiveness of the system and each of its individual components. This goal should be accomplished by identifying performance measures for each component and for the system function as a whole (both process and outcomes measures) and by employing CQI strategies in collaboration with key stakeholders.

Mission: Lifeline Guidelines for STEMI Announced by AHA

2009-07-20T12:54:00.000-05:00

Mission: Lifeline is the American Heart Association's national initiative to advance the systems of care forpatients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and all AMI patients. Mission: Lifeline has developed recommendations for certification of STEMI Referral/ Non-PCI Centers, STEMIReceiving Centers/PCI Hospitals, EMS, and STEMI Systems.

Our goal is to regulate a STEMI System of Care Plan in accordance with Mission: Lifeline Recommendations and Stroke System of Care Plan in accordance with American Heart Association/American Stroke Association Guidelines.

The following link is the Mission: Lifeline Recommendations for Criteria for STEMI Systems of Care. (Our Stroke Guidelines will be featured next month). To review the our recommendations got to: http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=3061630

If you would like to participate in helping the American Heart Association regulate a STEMI System of Care Plan in accordance with Mission Lifeline Recommendations and Stroke System of Care Plan in accordance with American Heart Association/American Stroke Association Guidelines, please contact Jace Smith, Grassroots Advocacy Director at Jace.Smith@heart.org

Breaking News! Governor Nixon Signs AED & Physical Education Bills into Law!

2009-07-14T08:54:00.000-05:00

Yesterday, Governor Jay Nixon signed HB 103 (Mutual-Aid Agreement) into law. This law is an automated external defibrillator (AED) law that will extend the coverage to all persons who, in good faith, render emergency care or assistance to people suffering a sudden cardiac arrest. In other words, this law will grant immunity to the people rendering emergency care.

Photo of an Automated External Defibrillator

This legislation will reduce deaths from sudden cardiac arrest by increasing the likelihood of immediate bystanders performing CPR, and using an AED, within 3 to 5 minutes of an individuals collapse. AEDs are easy-to-use, portable devices that deliver a potentially lifesaving electric shock to the heart, which can restore a heart's normal rhythm in the event of sudden cardiac arrest.

Immediate use of an AED, in conjunction with CPR, could save up to 50,000 lives a year.

Then, news broke that the Governor signed Senate Bill 291 into law! Although Senate Bill 291 doesn't include all our original asks, it is a great first step for improving physical education in Missouri.

Here is a brief summary of SB 291:
Beginning with the school year 2010-2011, School districts shall ensure that students in elementary schools participate in moderate physical activity for the entire school year, including students in alternative education programs.

Students in the elementary schools shall participate in moderate physical activity for an average of one hundred fifty minutes per five-day school week, or an average of thirty minutes per day. Students in middle schools may at the school's discretion participate in at least two hundred twenty-five minutes of physical activity per school week.

Each year the commissioner of education shall select for recognition students, schools and school districts that are considered to have achieved improvement in fitness.

We would like to thank our You're the Cure Advocates for helping pass these bills into law!

President Signs FDA Bill into Law!

2009-06-26T13:25:00.000-05:00

We’re celebrating a monumental victory in the fight against heart disease and stroke. Representing the American Heart Association’s 22 million volunteers, supporters and dedicated staff, AHA President Dr. Timothy Gardner and I were thrilled to stand with President Obama at the White House as he signed the bipartisan Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act. This legislation represents another huge step toward breaking the deadly cycle of tobacco addiction that leads to an increased risk of heart disease and stroke for millions of Americans.

This bill, which had tremendous support from Republicans and Democrats alike, will give the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) the clear authority to regulate the manufacturing, advertising and promotion of tobacco products in order to protect public health. The bill also focuses on limiting advertising that targets our kids. It is estimated that the legislation will result in an eleven percent decline in underage smoking over the next decade and will significantly reduce the annual $100 billion cost for tobacco-related illnesses in the U.S.

Why is this legislative victory so important? Nearly one-third of cardiovascular disease deaths are linked to smoking, and tobacco use is the single most preventable cause of heart disease and stroke. For generations, tobacco companies lied to the public about the deadly dangers of tobacco use. They lied about the addictiveness of nicotine. They made misleading health claims about light and low-tar products. And they shamelessly and aggressively marketed to children to attract new smokers. These unconscionable practices will finally be reined in with effective government oversight of an industry that has placed profits above the health of the American people.

American Heart Association volunteers and staff, along with our public health partners, have been working for over a decade to see this legislation become law. We are extremely proud to have played a major role in moving this legislation through Congress and to have had the opportunity to join our Congressional champions today in witnessing the bill signing.

This measure, along with many other policy initiatives the association supports on the local, state and national level, directly impacts our mission to build healthier lives free of cardiovascular disease and stroke. This historic public health victory would not have been possible without the tenacious efforts and unwavering support of our You’re the Cure advocates — the volunteers and staff who worked to generate Congressional and public support for the measure.

If you are not already involved, you too can play a vital role in American Heart Association legislative advocacy efforts. Start today by thanking Members of Congress and the President for making this legislation a reality. Visit heartprescription.org to send your email.

I would also like to extend a personal and very special thank you to former CEOs Cass Wheeler and Dudley Hafner, who devoted much of their AHA careers to advancing this issue by meeting with members of Congress and speaking out loudly about the deadly effects of tobacco on our nation’s youth.

And finally, while the FDA bill represents an important victory, the fight against tobacco is not over. We must continue to push for smoke-free workplace laws, higher tobacco excise taxes and funding for comprehensive smoking prevention and cessation programs to help break the cycle of addiction and create a healthier environment for our families. We’re counting on your continued support to help us achieve these important goals.

Sincerely,

Nancy Brown
Chief Executive Officer

P.S. You can learn more about this bill and our other legislative issues and share your comments on our You’re the Cure blog at www.yourethecure.blogspot.com You may also want to join Cass Wheeler, our former CEO, on Twitter as he shares his thoughts on this historic win. Follow him @casswheeler.

FDA Regulation of Tobacco Bill Moves Forward

2009-06-10T10:27:00.000-05:00

Yesterday afternoon the Senate voted 60 to 36 to reject an amendment from Senator Burr of North Carolina that would have gutted the bill. Now, because of some behind the scenes wrangling by various Senators, it appears the Senate will start Wednesday morning with a second vote to end debate. This is known as a cloture vote and will once again require us to get 60 yes votes.

Visit the following link to tell your Senators to protect our children now!: http://heartprescription.org/

If the Senate approves the cloture vote, then no further amendments will be in order unless legislative leaders come to an agreement to the contrary. At this point, our opponents may either allow the bill to come to a vote or they may take up to 30 hours to debate the legislation.

It's our hope that the final vote in the Senate will happen sometime on Thursday. Once the Senate approves the bill the House will have the opportunity to vote on the Senate approved version. If the House approves the Senate version then the bill will go to the President’s desk and we would hope for a bill signing before the 4th of July. Stay tuned to the Missouri Advocacy Beat for more updates!

AHA Advocates Storm Capitol Hill at the 2009 You're the Cure on the Hill

2009-05-19T12:44:00.000-05:00

Congratulations and thank you to all of you for making our 2009 You’re the Cure on the Hill in Washington, DC a huge success!!! Your passion and stories helped us make a difference in lobbying our Missouri Congressional Members and Staff in Washington, DC on Tuesday, April 21, 2009.

Missouri You're the Cure on the Hill Attendees:
Dr. Soraya Nouri
Dr. Jeremy Barnes
Jessica Spear
Bonnie Linhardt
Jace Smith

We successfully spoke, and dropped off literature, with 9 Congressional districts and both our Missouri U.S. Senate offices while in DC, asking them to support increased funding for heart disease and stroke research and prevention programs as well as highlighting the key aspects we’d like to see in meaningful health care reform: accessibility, affordability, and adequate care!

Overall, we had 465 participants from all 50 states – which was outstanding! They participated in 354 meetings on the Hill, including 100 meetings in the Senate and 254 in the United States House of Representatives. Almost half of these meetings (45%) were scheduled to be meetings with the actual Member of Congress. We were extremely pleased that we had You’re the Cure advocates who covered 92% of the targeted districts. Overall, we had 220 meetings with Democrats, 131 meetings with Republicans and 2 Independents.

The Asks- present and future:
This year You’re the Cure advocates asked lawmakers to sign the letter to the President urging him to make funding to fight heart disease and stroke a top priority. The deadline for signatories is May 20th. As Gov’t Relations staff does follow-up on this end, we encourage attendees to follow up with the offices directly as well and remind them of the ask they made in the Lobby Day meetings to secure signatories. The letter can also be accessed from on the web:
http://americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=3066307

Healthcare reform is still moving full steam ahead with the possibility of a bill introduction prior to the Memorial Recess Break. Although bills like HEART for Women, FDA, and FIT Kids were not specific asks for all of your meetings, we are already seeing some Members signing on thanks to the visits.

BREAKING NEWS! MISSOURI HOUSE & SENATE PASS AED LAW!

Because of overwhelming support from our You're the Cure network volunteers, the Missouri House of Representatives and Senate passed House Bill 103. Your e-mails and phone calls to legislators helped make this happen! We couldn't have passed this life-saving bill without your help!

We would also like to send a special thank you to Carolyn Holt, Wentzville, MO. Carolyn is a survivor of sudden cardiac arrest, and Spoke to Missouri Legislators about the importance of HB 103, and how an AED saved her life. We greatly value advocates like Carolyn and everyone who helped pass this law!

HB 103 (Mutual-Aid Agreement Act) is an automated external defibrillator (AED) law that will extend the coverage to all persons who, in good faith, render emergency care or assistance to people suffering a sudden cardiac arrest. In other words, this bill will protect all individuals who act to save a life, and encourage citizens to take action in the event of sudden cardiac arrest.

This is a great victory for the American Heart Association and our dedicated volunteers and staff across the state!

Thank you for making your voices heard!

Video from the 2009 Missouri START! Walking Advocacy Day at the Capitol

2009-04-29T10:26:00.000-05:00

Watch Dan Martin's Volunteer Story on YouTube! This film was taken at the 2009 Missouri START! Advocacy Day at the Capitol. Stay tuned for more videos from the event!

Make Your Voice Heard for Physical Education Programs!

2009-03-31T10:52:00.000-05:00

Just moments ago, we received word that the Missouri House of Representatives will begin debating House Bill 509- a bill that requires ALL Missouri school districts to have physical education programs.

Over the last 10 years, Missouri schools have decreased the time allocated for physical education, and increased the time of kids sitting in the classroom. If current trends in physical education continue, It is estimated that by 2010, 20 percent of children in the U.S. will be obese.

Take Action: Tell Your Missouri Representative to Support HB 509 Now!

HB 509 would require Missouri School Districts to have every day physical education. We're asking for a minimum of 150 minutes per week of quality physical education for elementary grades; 225 minutes per week for middle school grades; and 20 minutes of recess per day for elementary grades.

Let's give our Missouri youth the opportunity to live healthy lives by providing them with more education on the importance of nutrition and the opportunity to be active in a quality PE program. Support Quality Physical Education Programs in Missouri Now!

Thank you for making your voices heard!

Start! Walking Advocacy Day at the Capitol

2009-03-25T11:36:00.000-05:00

You're Invited to the 2009 American Heart Association's Start! Walking Advocacy Day at the Missouri Capitol!

We would like to extend to you a special invitation to attend the American Heart Association's 2009 Start! Walking Advocacy Day at the State Capitol in Jefferson City, MO on Wednesday, April 8th.

Sign Up Now By Visiting: Start Advocacy Day Sign Up

Our Start! Walking Advocacy Day at the Capitol is for health advocates from across the state, including survivors of heart disease and stroke, to make the commitment to walk around the Missouri Capitol to promote worksite wellness and physical activity. We also ask participants to meet with their lawmakers on April 8, to promote physical education that will help prevent the growing epidemic of childhood obesity.

Experts agree that increasing physical activity is the most important component of any program to combat childhood obesity, yet many schools are cutting back on PE programs. According to the American Heart Association, a lack of regular physical activity can hurt a child's academic, social and emotional development. Research shows that healthy children learn more effectively and achieve more academically. Our legislators need to know the importance of physical activity for all Missouri Kids.

Event Start Time & Location
This year's event will begin at 9:00 a.m. with registration at the Governor's Garden area (weather pending). If there is inclement weather, then we'll have registration at the Missouri State Capitol Building, 201 West Capitol Avenue, Jefferson City, MO, 3rd Floor Rotunda area. From 9:30-10:00 a.m. there will be a special legislative briefing and press event proclaiming April 8 as our National Start! Walking Day. From 10:00-11:30 a.m. participants will be encouraged to meet with their legislators. At 12:00 p.m. our Walk around the Missouri Capitol will begin.

Registration is Free
You can help us promote our Start! Program and pass our heart healthy bills by attending this event! Additional event information will be sent this week to everyone that signs up.

Please Note
Prior to our event, please contact your legislators' offices in Jefferson City to schedule a meeting time with them for April 8. This will only take a few minutes, and it's easy to do! We're asking all participants to attempt to schedule 1 meeting with their State Representative and 1 meeting with their State Senator between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. on April 8 at the Capitol. You can look up your Missouri Legislators by visiting the following websites: For the House of Representatives- http://www.house.mo.gov/ For Senate Members- http://www.senate.mo.gov/ If you do not know who your legislators are, please visit Find Your Legislators Now and follow the easy directions. This way, your legislators will have notice of your arrival, and will be looking forward to visiting with you. Please be sure to do this prior to our event on the 8th. If an appointment is not possible, please join us anyway and leave information at their offices! Most legislators prefer "drop by" visits, with information from constituents! We will provide all participants with talking points and legislator leave behinds at the event.

EVENT QUESTIONS
If you have any questions about this year's event, please contact Jace Smith at 913-652-1993, or by e-mail at Jace.Smith@Heart.org We hope to see you at our Start! Walking Advocacy Day at the Capitol and make your voices heard! Thank you for supporting the American Heart Association.