Heart and Stroke Prevention through Community-Wide CPR Awareness Day
Written by admin, Nov 18, 2011, 0 Comments
Courtesy Xochitl Mora,
Laredo, TX –The City of Laredo Health Department (CLHD) wants to thank all the partners who are working together on the Community-Wide Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) Awareness Day to take place at the Student Activity Center (SAC) this Saturday, November 19, 2011 from 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Through the Heart and Stroke Healthy City initiative, we have been given the gold recognition for reducing heart and stroke risks, in large part by training persons in CPR and AED use. We encourage families to learn how to save a family member or friend who experience a heart attack. “In Laredo, 53% of all deaths in 2010 were due to cardiovascular disease; a leading cause of heart attack. Primary and Secondary prevention have made a difference in reducing risk factors. In particular, CPR and the use of AEDs when used correctly and timely can significantly improve a person’s chance of surviving a heart attack” said Hector F. Gonzalez, MD, MPH, Director of Health. Because most heart attacks happen outside of the hospital setting, bystander response to an event is critical. We urge everyone, especially women, to seek annual check-ups and to recognize the following risk factors for heart disease:
· High blood pressure and high blood cholesterol.
· Diabetes.
· Smoking.
· Being overweight and being physically inactive.
· Having a family history of heart disease and age.
Please join the over twenty (20) partners working together to improve heart and stroke prevention, including the City of Laredo Fire and EMS personnel for their response and for their participation as instructors for this event. Special thanks go to Superintendent Bobby Santos and UISD staff as well city and county officials, LISD, Laredo Medical Center, Doctors Hospital of Laredo, American Heart Association, AHEC, Laredo Police and Parks and Leisure Department, US Border Patrol, LCC, UTHSCSA, American Red Cross, Mercy Ministries for their tireless support of this effort and to KGNS, CW, Telemundo and Univision for their promotion of this event.
For more information about CPR or to sign up for this event, please call the CLHD – Heart and Stoke Healthy City Initiative at (956) 795-4957.
