Calling All Heroes!

Time is almost up. The NC Legislature will be wrapping up the 2012 legislative session very soon. We can't let the Senate leave without taking action to ensure a new generation of lifesavers graduates from high school each year, ready responders who can jump in and make a life-and-death difference for someone in cardiac arrest. HB 837: Completion of CPR by Students Required would guarantee our students receive the 8th grade requirement for CPR instruction.
Call on your Senator today to be a Hero - send your letter now!

Sudden cardiac arrest is one of our nation's leading killers. If we lived in a world where most everyone knew CPR and was ready to help, we could double, even triple their chance of survival. CPR may be the most valuable lesson a student can learn. Give our kids the power and confidence to save a life when it matters most. Let's make sure they learn CPR before they graduate high school

Be a You're the Cure Super Hero: click here to send your customizable letter!

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Act Now to Preserve Funding for Tobacco-Use Programs

The House Health and Human Services (HHS) Appropriations Subcommittee is working NOW to finalize the HHS appropriations proposal.  This is a pivotal time.  The House leadership expects to have the House version of the budget approved in just a few short weeks.  There is no time to waste!

Future funding for tobacco-use prevention and cessation programs is at risk since the Health and Wellness Trust Fund (HWTF) was eliminated in last year's budget.  The HWTF previously received 25 percent of the state's tobacco settlement funds and provided dedicated funding for the state's tobacco prevention and cessation programs.  Tell your representative to support recurring appropriations for these critical programs.

While last year's budget permitted the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to allocate $17.3 million to tobacco prevention and cessation programs for one year, this funding is currently non-recurring.  The programs face elimination by June 30 (in less than two months!) unless funding is renewed by the General Assembly this year.

With the House budget deadline approaching and subcommittees working now to prepare their proposals, now is the time for advocates to communicate with their House members about the effectiveness of NC's current tobacco-use prevention and cessation programs and the need to secure recurring funds of at least $17.3 million to sustain current efforts to keep our youth from starting to smoke.

Send your customizable letter now!


To learn more contact Betsy Vetter: betsy.vetter@heart.org 

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Get Walking!

Walking is one of the best, easiest and cheapest things you can do to reduce risk factors for heart disease and stroke. And choosing where and with whom you walk helps.

The Buddy System
MyWalkingClub.org allows you to connect with others who share your goals and schedules. You can join an existing club, or start your own.

A Walking Club is a built-in support system to help you stick to your fitness routine. In fact, American adults are 76 percent more likely to walk if someone is counting
on them.

Get on the Right Path

Whether you walk in a group or by yourself, AHA Walking Paths can help you freshen up your routine. You can find more than 19,000 Walking Paths - covering more than 132,000 miles - at StartWalkingNow.org or through the Walking Paths app for iPhone and Android devices.
You can find a Walking Path for anywhere you want to go: a neighborhood or downtown, an airport or shopping mall, a nature park or amusement park, a school campus or workplace. They range in difficulty, from easy to moderate to high (most are easy), and vary in length, from a few blocks to a few hundred miles (about an average 7 miles).
You can narrow your search by ZIP code. As you scroll through the names, you'll find titles such as "Main Street Mile" or "Home Stretch." You can print them out, or follow them on your smartphone or tablet. You can also keep up with your progress by logging walks into our tracking tool. You might even be inspired to share a favorite path.
So get moving. You have nothing to lose - except maybe a few extra pounds! 

Be CPR Smart

In less than the time it takes to watch a 30 minute TV sitcom, we can give students the skills they need to help save someone’s life with CPR. Pledge your support for making CPR training a requirement for high school graduation. www.BeCPRsmart.org.

Video of the Month!