Today the Oklahoma House passed a bill that will make it easy for all individuals to use an AED if they see someone suffering a heart attack. The so called "Good Samaritan" bill will remove liability from people who use an Automated External Defibrillator. It was passed 98-0!
We want to encourage everyone to use an AED if they feel someone’s life is in jeopardy from heart failure. Current AEDs are so easy to use that no expert training is required. This bill has already been passed by the Senate and will now head to the Governor’s desk for approval. Thanks to all the You're the Cure advocates who took action on this issue.
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Putnam School Board to Purchase 78 AEDs!
The Putnam School Board voted to to buy 78 Automated External Defibrillators at a recent meeting. An Excerpt from their newsletter:
The board on Monday night approved the use of $123,810 in MAPS for Kids fundsfor purchase of 78 automated external defibrillators (AEDs).
An AED is a portable device used to restore normal heart rhythm to patients incardiac arrest. It automatically analyzes the patient’s heart rhythm and provides a shockif one is needed to restore a normal heartbeat.
While Putnam City has 27 schools, the district is seeking to purchase 78 AEDs sothat larger schools will have several AEDs. By putting AEDs in different parts of largeschool, an AED will always be close by should it be needed. There will also beadditional AEDs that can travel with teams and groups attending off-campus events.
An Oklahoma law passed in April 2008 requires that every school have AEDs if federal funds or donations from private organizations make it possible. Whilea few district schools have received AEDS through donation, the district wishesto use MAPS for Kids funds to purchase adequate numbers of AEDs for every schoolin the district.
The AEDs will be the same brand and model so that training andreplacement of batteries and supplies can be standard throughout the district.
The board on Monday night approved the use of $123,810 in MAPS for Kids fundsfor purchase of 78 automated external defibrillators (AEDs).
An AED is a portable device used to restore normal heart rhythm to patients incardiac arrest. It automatically analyzes the patient’s heart rhythm and provides a shockif one is needed to restore a normal heartbeat.
While Putnam City has 27 schools, the district is seeking to purchase 78 AEDs sothat larger schools will have several AEDs. By putting AEDs in different parts of largeschool, an AED will always be close by should it be needed. There will also beadditional AEDs that can travel with teams and groups attending off-campus events.
An Oklahoma law passed in April 2008 requires that every school have AEDs if federal funds or donations from private organizations make it possible. Whilea few district schools have received AEDS through donation, the district wishesto use MAPS for Kids funds to purchase adequate numbers of AEDs for every schoolin the district.
The AEDs will be the same brand and model so that training andreplacement of batteries and supplies can be standard throughout the district.
Smoke-Free Task Force Passes Committee
A bill that will create a "Smoke-Free" task force passed out of a House committee yesterday afternoon. This measure will allow the state to study smoke-free air laws and their benefits.
Secondhand smoke is a major risk factor for heart disease and kills 53,000 non-smoking Americans a year. A recent U.S. Surgeon General's report concluded that there is no risk free level of exposure to secondhand smoke and that secondhand smoke has an immediate and adverse effect on the cardiovascular system. The study went on to say that separate seating areas and air ventilation systems cannot eliminate the health threat, and that smoke free environments are the only protection against the harmful effects of secondhand smoke
Secondhand smoke is a major risk factor for heart disease and kills 53,000 non-smoking Americans a year. A recent U.S. Surgeon General's report concluded that there is no risk free level of exposure to secondhand smoke and that secondhand smoke has an immediate and adverse effect on the cardiovascular system. The study went on to say that separate seating areas and air ventilation systems cannot eliminate the health threat, and that smoke free environments are the only protection against the harmful effects of secondhand smoke
Thursday, April 2, 2009
FDA Tobacco Bill Passes the US House
Today the U.S. House of Representatives voted 298-112 to allow the FDA to regulate the tobacco industry. You can read the AP story here.
You can view the roll call on the final vote here. I want to encourage all You're the Cure advocates to take the time to thank their Representative if they voted in favor of this bill.
Below is the statement from the American Heart Association's CEO, Nancy Brown.
Today, the U.S. House of Representatives approved legislation that has been a high priority of the American Heart Association for many years. By a vote of 298-112, the House approved the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act (“FDA tobacco bill”). This bill gives the Food and Drug Administration the authority to regulate the manufacture, marketing and advertising of tobacco products. Its passage is a great victory for AHA and our volunteers across the country who, together with our friends at the American Cancer Society, the American Lung Association, and the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, has been working tirelessly to urge members of Congress to pass this landmark public health legislation.
The bill will fundamentally curtail Big Tobacco’s ability to target kids -- including banning candy flavored cigarettes; restricting advertising in convenience stores and in magazines widely read by youth; banning advertising near schools; and providing stronger regulation prohibiting sales to minors. Further, it will mandate large, meaningful warning labels, ban misleading terms such as “light” and “low,” and allow the FDA to review health claims made by manufacturers. The bill also provides the FDA with the authority to require manufacturers to remove dangerous additives in cigarettes, and prevents tobacco companies from spiking nicotine levels. Each day, about 3,500 children smoke their first cigarette and this legislation will help reduce youth smoking and smoking-related illnesses. We all know too well the human and economic toll of tobacco – tobacco-related cardiovascular disease alone claims around 150,000 lives every year.
The Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act enjoys broad support by the public health community, the Administration and the public. Over 1,000 groups in Washington, DC and across the country have joined the AHA and others in supporting the bill. In advance of today’s vote, President Obama released an official White House statement expressing support for the bill. HHS Secretary Nominee Kathleen Sebelius also expressed her support for the FDA bill at her Senate confirmation hearing earlier this week. The legislation has been endorsed by former HHS Secretaries Donna Shalala and Tommy Thompson; former Surgeons General Richard Carmona and David Satcher; former FDA Commissioner David Kessler and, former Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Julie Gerberding. Polling has consistently demonstrated broad public support for the bill regardless of favored political party, political philosophy or geographic region.
I want to personally express my thanks and congratulations to our AHA volunteers and staff who have been working literally for years to provide the FDA with this long-overdue clear authority to regulate tobacco products. I’d also like to extend a special thanks to my predecessor Cass Wheeler, who was a passionate leader in tobacco control for many years and to our close colleagues at the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids.
And while it is reassuring to see this strong support coming out of the House, our attention now must turn to the U.S. Senate where we expect the bill to be re-introduced by Senator Kennedy (D-MA) in the near future. We are bolstered by the fact that last year we had 60 Senate sponsors of the bill, including Majority Leader Reid. So while there has been some turnover in the Senate since then, we believe that there is still very strong support for the legislation and we look forward to working with our Senate champions to move the bill to the President’s desk.
With today’s vote, we have made a significant step toward passage of the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act, which will have a dramatic impact on saving lives and advancing the mission of the American Heart Association. Please check out this AHA mention in the AP story attached.
You can view the roll call on the final vote here. I want to encourage all You're the Cure advocates to take the time to thank their Representative if they voted in favor of this bill.
Below is the statement from the American Heart Association's CEO, Nancy Brown.
Today, the U.S. House of Representatives approved legislation that has been a high priority of the American Heart Association for many years. By a vote of 298-112, the House approved the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act (“FDA tobacco bill”). This bill gives the Food and Drug Administration the authority to regulate the manufacture, marketing and advertising of tobacco products. Its passage is a great victory for AHA and our volunteers across the country who, together with our friends at the American Cancer Society, the American Lung Association, and the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, has been working tirelessly to urge members of Congress to pass this landmark public health legislation.
The bill will fundamentally curtail Big Tobacco’s ability to target kids -- including banning candy flavored cigarettes; restricting advertising in convenience stores and in magazines widely read by youth; banning advertising near schools; and providing stronger regulation prohibiting sales to minors. Further, it will mandate large, meaningful warning labels, ban misleading terms such as “light” and “low,” and allow the FDA to review health claims made by manufacturers. The bill also provides the FDA with the authority to require manufacturers to remove dangerous additives in cigarettes, and prevents tobacco companies from spiking nicotine levels. Each day, about 3,500 children smoke their first cigarette and this legislation will help reduce youth smoking and smoking-related illnesses. We all know too well the human and economic toll of tobacco – tobacco-related cardiovascular disease alone claims around 150,000 lives every year.
The Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act enjoys broad support by the public health community, the Administration and the public. Over 1,000 groups in Washington, DC and across the country have joined the AHA and others in supporting the bill. In advance of today’s vote, President Obama released an official White House statement expressing support for the bill. HHS Secretary Nominee Kathleen Sebelius also expressed her support for the FDA bill at her Senate confirmation hearing earlier this week. The legislation has been endorsed by former HHS Secretaries Donna Shalala and Tommy Thompson; former Surgeons General Richard Carmona and David Satcher; former FDA Commissioner David Kessler and, former Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Julie Gerberding. Polling has consistently demonstrated broad public support for the bill regardless of favored political party, political philosophy or geographic region.
I want to personally express my thanks and congratulations to our AHA volunteers and staff who have been working literally for years to provide the FDA with this long-overdue clear authority to regulate tobacco products. I’d also like to extend a special thanks to my predecessor Cass Wheeler, who was a passionate leader in tobacco control for many years and to our close colleagues at the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids.
And while it is reassuring to see this strong support coming out of the House, our attention now must turn to the U.S. Senate where we expect the bill to be re-introduced by Senator Kennedy (D-MA) in the near future. We are bolstered by the fact that last year we had 60 Senate sponsors of the bill, including Majority Leader Reid. So while there has been some turnover in the Senate since then, we believe that there is still very strong support for the legislation and we look forward to working with our Senate champions to move the bill to the President’s desk.
With today’s vote, we have made a significant step toward passage of the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act, which will have a dramatic impact on saving lives and advancing the mission of the American Heart Association. Please check out this AHA mention in the AP story attached.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
SB745-AED Good Samaritan passes House Judiciary
Yesterday afternoon SB745 passed the Oklahoma House of Represenatives Judiciary committee meeting 10-0. It will now go to the full House for a vote. Click here and tell your House member to vote YES!
Senate Bill 745 which would amend the current Good Samaritan law to allow for immunity of anyone who, in good faith, uses an AED on another person. By the passing Senate Bill 745, this will encourage Oklahomans to use AEDs and would reduce the number of cardiovascular deaths in our state.
It’s important to know that the new generations of AEDs require minimal training to use. They automatically diagnose the heart rhythm and determine if a shock is needed and prevent the user from overriding a "no shock" advisory. Their ease of use is increased by an electronic voice to prompt users through each step; all AEDs approved for use in the United States use a voice prompt.
You don’t have to be a hero to save a life, just someone who will pick up an AED and listen to the instructions. If you would like to take action on this or other legislation being supported by the American Heart Association please visit www.yourethecure.org and sign up today.
Click HERE to view a demonstration on how easy it is to use an AED.
Senate Bill 745 which would amend the current Good Samaritan law to allow for immunity of anyone who, in good faith, uses an AED on another person. By the passing Senate Bill 745, this will encourage Oklahomans to use AEDs and would reduce the number of cardiovascular deaths in our state.
It’s important to know that the new generations of AEDs require minimal training to use. They automatically diagnose the heart rhythm and determine if a shock is needed and prevent the user from overriding a "no shock" advisory. Their ease of use is increased by an electronic voice to prompt users through each step; all AEDs approved for use in the United States use a voice prompt.
You don’t have to be a hero to save a life, just someone who will pick up an AED and listen to the instructions. If you would like to take action on this or other legislation being supported by the American Heart Association please visit www.yourethecure.org and sign up today.
Click HERE to view a demonstration on how easy it is to use an AED.
Friday, March 27, 2009
American Heart Association supports lower sodium limits for most Americans
DALLAS, March 26 – New data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides additional scientific evidence that the majority of Americans over the age of twenty should limit the amount of sodium (salt) they consume daily to 1,500 milligrams (mg) to prevent and reduce high blood pressure. The new data are published in the March 26, 2009 issue of the CDC’s Mortality and Morbidity Weekly Report.
“In light of new data from the CDC, which show that 69 percent of adults are salt sensitive, the need to reduce sodium consumption has become an even higher priority for our country’s health,” said Linda Van Horn, Ph.D., chair of the American Heart Association’s Nutrition Committee and professor of Preventive Medicine at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago.
“The American Heart Association recommends that most people strive to lower the amount of sodium consumed daily to less than 1,500 mg, to prevent or manage high blood pressure, a major but modifiable risk factor for heart attack and stroke,” Van Horn said. “The new CDC data adds to a growing body of scientific evidence that supports this recommendation – there are now a substantial number of scientific studies that show a direct relationship between salt intake and a rise in blood pressure. An upper limit of no more than 1,500 mg could significantly reduce the rate of high blood pressure in the United States.”
The U.S. food supply contains excessive amounts of sodium (salt), which makes limiting sodium (salt) consumption to less than 1,500 mg difficult. According to the CDC report, Americans over the age of 2 consumed a daily average of 3,436 mg between 2005-2006, up from a daily average of 3,329 mg from 2001-2002.
In recognition of this fact, the American Heart Association is currently working with federal agencies to identify strategies to reduce the amount of sodium in the food supply and is encouraging food manufacturers and restaurants to reduce the sodium (salt) added to food by 50 percent over the next ten years.
In 2006, the American Heart Association acknowledged that a daily upper limit of no more than 1,500 mg is a good therapeutic goal to strive for to prevent and treat high blood pressure, but also suggested an interim goal of no more than 2,300 mg a day of sodium because the current food supply makes it difficult to achieve the lower number.
“The American Heart Association will continue to explore ways to help reduce the sodium content in our food supply,” Van Horn said. “In the meantime, we urge all Americans to reduce the amount of sodium they consume, preferably to no more than 1,500 mg daily. It may be difficult, but adhering to this goal could significantly reduce blood pressure levels in the United States.”
High salt diets have been linked to an increase in blood pressure and an increased risk for a number of cardiovascular diseases including heart disease and stroke.
“In light of new data from the CDC, which show that 69 percent of adults are salt sensitive, the need to reduce sodium consumption has become an even higher priority for our country’s health,” said Linda Van Horn, Ph.D., chair of the American Heart Association’s Nutrition Committee and professor of Preventive Medicine at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago.
“The American Heart Association recommends that most people strive to lower the amount of sodium consumed daily to less than 1,500 mg, to prevent or manage high blood pressure, a major but modifiable risk factor for heart attack and stroke,” Van Horn said. “The new CDC data adds to a growing body of scientific evidence that supports this recommendation – there are now a substantial number of scientific studies that show a direct relationship between salt intake and a rise in blood pressure. An upper limit of no more than 1,500 mg could significantly reduce the rate of high blood pressure in the United States.”
The U.S. food supply contains excessive amounts of sodium (salt), which makes limiting sodium (salt) consumption to less than 1,500 mg difficult. According to the CDC report, Americans over the age of 2 consumed a daily average of 3,436 mg between 2005-2006, up from a daily average of 3,329 mg from 2001-2002.
In recognition of this fact, the American Heart Association is currently working with federal agencies to identify strategies to reduce the amount of sodium in the food supply and is encouraging food manufacturers and restaurants to reduce the sodium (salt) added to food by 50 percent over the next ten years.
In 2006, the American Heart Association acknowledged that a daily upper limit of no more than 1,500 mg is a good therapeutic goal to strive for to prevent and treat high blood pressure, but also suggested an interim goal of no more than 2,300 mg a day of sodium because the current food supply makes it difficult to achieve the lower number.
“The American Heart Association will continue to explore ways to help reduce the sodium content in our food supply,” Van Horn said. “In the meantime, we urge all Americans to reduce the amount of sodium they consume, preferably to no more than 1,500 mg daily. It may be difficult, but adhering to this goal could significantly reduce blood pressure levels in the United States.”
High salt diets have been linked to an increase in blood pressure and an increased risk for a number of cardiovascular diseases including heart disease and stroke.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
American Heart Association Sweethearts spend a day at the state capitol
Each year the American Heart Association chooses 40 Oklahoma High School women to serve as American Heart Association Sweethearts. The Sweetheart Program of the American Heart Association provides educational and social activities for the young women as it grooms them as advocates for heart health. The girls spend a year participating in several activities like a CPR and AED Training to a Health and Fitness Day.
One of these activities includes spending a day at the capitol learning about the legislative process and advocating for AHA issues. This year the girls were given the chance to visit their State Senators and educate them on SB 1135 which creates the Dining Information and Nutrition Education taskforce. Each girl met one on one with a Senator or their staff expressing the importance of providing the public with nutritional education when they dine out.
One of these activities includes spending a day at the capitol learning about the legislative process and advocating for AHA issues. This year the girls were given the chance to visit their State Senators and educate them on SB 1135 which creates the Dining Information and Nutrition Education taskforce. Each girl met one on one with a Senator or their staff expressing the importance of providing the public with nutritional education when they dine out.
Sweethearts sitting in the House gallery waiting to be introduced.
Waiting for the Governor in the Blue Room.
Group picture with Lt. Governor Jari Askins
Picture with Governor Brad Henry
Representative Ann Coody talks to the girls about life as an elected official
The girls visiting the elected official's offices
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