Transform WI Grants

This morning, the Transform Wisconsin Coalition announced that 30 communities around the state will be awarded grants to help make their communities healthier places to live, work and play.  These grants will be spread over 25 counties in Wisconsin and will be used for tobacco-free initiatives, active communites and healthy food projects.

To learn more, please visit http://www.transformwi.com/ or https://www.facebook.com/TransformWI

Did you know that there is a simple test that can help identify infants with congenital heart defects or other serious health conditions?  Pulse Oximetry testing is a safe, painless way of measuring the blood oxygen level in a newborn.  We'd like to ensure that all newborns in Wisconsin are screened for congenital heart defects using pulse oximetry before they leave the hospital.

Check out this moving new video from CNN to lean more about Pulse Oximetry

The American Heart Association will continue to educate lawmakers and advocate about the need for this important screening.  To join us, please visit http://www.yourethecure.org/ and become an advocate today!

American Heart Association "Research Saves Lives" Lobby Day

Last month, over 40 volunteers and staff took to Capitol Hill to urge Members of Congress to protect funding for medical research. The AHA created this video of the event and the great volunteers who participated. Check out the video below and be sure to look for April Zelenka, an advocate from Cross Plains who was able to attend and discuss research funding with her lawmakers!

AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION HONORS REP. GAREY BIES: 1st Assembly District Representative Named “Legislator of the Year”

IN THIS PHOTO: Jack Simono (AHA Lead Advocacy Volunteer, Green Bay), Nicole Hudzinski (AHA Staff), Rep
Garey Bies, Melissa Horn (AHA Staff), Dr. Ravi Balejepalli (AHA Lead Advocacy Volunteer and Madison area
Researcher), Eric Sarno (AHA Lead Advocacy Volunteer, Madison)

(MADISON) – The American Heart Association is proud to recognize Representative Garey Bies (R-Sister Bay) as “Legislator of the Year” for his work championing heart-healthy causes in the Legislature. In the 2011-2012 session, Rep. Bies’ leadership helped to keep tobacco products out the hands of children and encourage community members of all ages to get more exercise. Tobacco use and lack of exercise are both key risk factors for major cardiovascular disease, including stroke. In addition to this work, Rep. Bies was also instrumental in creating a study committee to look at ways to improve 9-1-1 and emergency response systems.

“Heart disease, including stroke, remains the number one killer across Wisconsin. In fact, Door County has the third highest death rate in the state at 37.7%, “says Jack Simono, American Heart Association Advocacy Committee Member. “The good news is 80 percent of heart disease is preventable through lifestyle changes. Representative Bies is helping to clear obstacles so people can make those changes and lead longer, healthier lives.”

Representative Bies authored the Open Gym Act which passed with strong bipartisan support and was signed into law by Governor Walker on March 29th. This legislation provides liability protection to schools which have recreational use agreements in place, encouraging districts to open their doors to after-hours recreational programs. Research has shown that people with parks and recreational facilities nearby exercise 38% more than those who don’t have easy access. With the long, cold winters in Wisconsin, it is especially important for people to have indoor places to get active.

When people think of the dangers of tobacco use, they generally think of cancer or lung disease. However, all forms of tobacco, including smokeless products, have a strong impact on cardiovascular health as well. The Tobacco Sales to Minors Bill (Act 249) authored by Representative Bies also passed with bipartisan support and was signed into law on April 6th. This law closed a loophole making it illegal for an adult to purchase any tobacco product for a minor, not just cigarettes. Smokeless and spitless tobacco products are increasingly being targeted towards children. Some of these products have sweet flavoring like chocolate or watermelon added and are can even be packaged to look like candy or gum. These products are dangerous enough, but we know that youth who use smokeless tobacco products are more likely to become permanent tobacco users later on in life.

When it comes to heart attack and stroke, every second counts. Rep. Bies has been a champion on 911 and other emergency response issues. Recently he was instrumental in creating a legislative study committee to look at 911 Public Safety systems. As a former law enforcement officer and current chair of the Assembly Public Safety Committee, he has a keen understanding of public safety issues and the importance of a strong and coordinated 911 system. He has been a true leader on these issues and we look forward to continuing to work with him.

Simono added, “The American Heart Association has set an aggressive goal for the year 2020: to reduce deaths due to cardiovascular disease by 20 percent, while also increasing the cardiovascular health of all by 20 percent. In order to succeed, we need individuals to make heart-health a priority. We also need more leaders and visionaries like Rep. Bies.”

About the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association
The American Heart Association and the American Stroke Association are devoted to saving people from heart disease and stroke – America’s No. 1 and No. 4 killers. We team with millions of volunteers to fund innovative research, fight for stronger public health policies, and provide lifesaving tools and information to prevent and treat these diseases. The Dallas-based American Heart Association is the nation’s oldest and largest voluntary organization dedicated to fighting heart disease and stroke. The American Stroke Association is a division of the American Heart Association. To learn more or to get involved, call 1-800-AHA-USA1, visit heart.org or call any of our offices around the country.
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Keep the Fresh Fruit & Veggie Program FRESH

American children eat less than half the amount of fruits and vegetables recommended by the U.S. Dietary Guidelines each day. However, the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP) is changing that by providing millions of elementary school students in low income areas with fresh fruit and vegetable snacks during the school week. In Wisconsin alone, over 37,000 students benefit from this program.

But despite the success the FFVP has seen in significantly increasing kids’ fresh produce consumption and providing critical nutrition education, Senator Ron Johnson (R-WI) has proposed eliminating the requirement that the fruit and veggie snacks served be fresh.

Ask Senator Johnson to withdraw his amendment and support keeping the Fresh Fruits and Vegetable Program fresh!

Canned, frozen, and dried fruits and vegetables are already widely available to students through the school lunch and breakfast programs. In fact, 97% of all commodity fruits and vegetables available to schools are not fresh.

The FFVP is the only program that provides schools with specific resources to introduce a wide variety of fresh fruits and vegetables to children to help them establish healthy eating habits and increase their overall fruit and vegetable intake.

Speak-up today to tell Senator Johnson to keep the fresh in the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program.

Thank you for helping to protect the integrity of this successful program!