WRMC raises heart-defects awareness with red hats
BATESVILLE — At White River Medical Center, baby girl Athalia James Cox received the first red hat from the Little Hats, Big Hearts Campaign of the American Heart Association. Every baby born at WRMC in February will receive a hand-knitted red hat to raise awareness of heart disease, the No. 1 killer of adults in America, and congenital heart defects, the most common type of birth defect.
“We are proud to collaborate with the American Heart Association in support of those who are affected by heart disease,” said Gary Paxson, CEO of White River Health System. “I want to also thank all our volunteers who dedicated time to knit some of the hats that will be provided during February.”
The Little Hats, Big Hearts program was designed by the American Heart Association in collaboration with The Children’s Heart Foundation to inform parents and families of the importance of heart health. The hats serve to remind parents to live hearthealthy lives and to help their children do the same.
In addition to the newborns receiving red hats, parents will also receive information pertinent for the heart health of themselves and their bundles of joy.
The American Heart Association and the American Stroke Association are devoted to saving people from heart disease and stroke — the two leading causes of death in the world. The American Heart Association teams 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 (501) 707-6600, visit heart.org or call any AHA office. Follow the organization on Facebook or Twitter.
Established by Betsy Peterson in 1996, The Children’s Heart Foundation is the country’s leading national organization solely committed to congenital heart research funding. CHF is a national 501(c)(3) tax-exempt charitable organization whose mission is to fund the most promising research to advance the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of congenital heart defects. For more information, visit www.childrensheartfoundation.org or visit the organization on Facebook or Twitter.
WRMC is a 224-bed regional referral center and the flagship facility of White River Health System. The system includes hospitals, outpatient facilities, primary-care and specialty physician office practices and senior life centers.