The MRC monitor, winter 2013, v.8 no.1

              FebruaryYAmerican Heart MonthCelebrate
Heart Health!
PRSRT STD The Monitor
US POSTAGE
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OKLAHOMA CITY, OK
Oklahoma Medical Reserve Corps PERMIT No. 1078
1111 Classen Drive
Oklahoma City, OK 73103
8 1
The Monitor
For more information please visit the Oklahoma Medical Reserve Corps Web Site at okmrc.org
Keeping the Pulse on the Oklahoma Medical Reserve Corps • Vol 8, Issue 1 – Winter 2013
The MRC Monitor is published quarterly by the
Oklahoma Medical Reserve Corps,
1111 Classen Drive
Oklahoma City, OK, 73103 USA.
All rights reserved.
Volunteers Building
Strong, Healthy And
Prepared Communities!
In This Winter 2013 Issue:
FRONT PAGE
February –American Heart Month: Celebrate Heart Health............................................................................................. Page 1
STATE COORDINATOR’S CORNER
Debi Wagner, CVA, NREMT-B, State Coordinator......................................................................................................... Page 2
FRIENDS IN FOCUS
Sandra Doan..................................................................................................................................................................... Page 3
CARING, CAPABLE & READY
OKMRC Volunteers Hit Northeast Coast for Hurricane Sandy Recovery...................................................................... Page 4
‘SMOKE 3’ – Norman’s Bilingual Fire Detection Initiative Distributes Alarms, Promotes Prevention......................... Page 4
Go...CARTs! OKMRC Develops County Animal Response Teams................................................................................ Page 5
VITAL STEPS
OKMRC Representatives Seize Opportunities at Seasonal Leadership & Training Summit .......................................... Page 6
MRC Partners’ Points...................................................................................................................................................... Page 6
MRC TRAINING
Online Training................................................................................................................................................................ Page 7
Tulsa MRC Trains In Advanced Life Support, Psych. First Aid, Medical Dispensing & POD....................................... Page 7
“Heart disease takes the lives
of far too many people in this country,
depriving their families and communities
of someone they love and care for –
a father, a mother, a wife, a friend, a neighbor, a spouse.
With more than 2 million heart attacks and strokes a year,
and 800,000 deaths, just about all of us have been touched
by someone who has had heart disease, heart attack, or
a stroke.” – Department of Health and Human Services
Secretary Kathleen Sebelius
February is American Heart Month, and
unfortunately, most of us know someone who has had
heart disease or stroke. Cardiovascular disease is the
leading cause of death in the United States; one in every
three deaths is from heart disease and stroke, equal to
2,200 deaths per day. These conditions are also leading
causes of disability preventing people from working and
enjoying family activities. Cardiovascular disease is also
very expensive—together heart disease and stroke
hospitalizations in 2010 cost the nation more than $444
billion in health care expenses and lost productivity.
However, we can fight back against heart disease
and stroke. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and
other parts of the U.S. government have launched Million
Hearts™, to prevent the nation’s leading killers and
empowering everyone to make heart-healthy choices.
What is Million Hearts™?
Launched in September 2011 by the Department of
Health and Human Services (HHS), Million Hearts™ is
a national initiative that aims to prevent 1 million heart
attacks and strokes in the U.S. over the next five years. This
public-private partnership, co-led by CDC and the Center
for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is integrating
and amplifying a range of existing heart disease and stroke
prevention programs, policies, and activities.
Goals of Million Hearts™
The Million Hearts™ Initiative seeks to prevent 1 million
heart attacks and strokes by the end of 2016 by:
Empowering Americans to make healthy choices
such as avoiding tobacco use and reducing the amount of
sodium and trans fat they eat. These changes will reduce
the number of people who need medical treatment for high
blood pressure or cholesterol—and ultimately prevent heart
attacks and strokes.
Improving care for people who do need treatment by
encouraging a focus on the “ABCS”—Aspirin for people at
risk, Blood pressure control, Cholesterol management, and
Smoking cessation—four steps to address the major risk
factors for cardiovascular disease and help to prevent heart
attacks and strokes.
Million Hearts™ Support
Million Hearts™ has the support of multiple federal
agencies and key private organizations, including the
American Heart Association, the American Pharmacists’
Association, the YMCA, Walgreens, and UnitedHealthCare.
Over the next five years, Million Hearts™ is pursuing
commitments and participation from many more partners
in health care, public health, industry, and government.
These partnerships will help Million Hearts™ leverage and
advance existing investments in cardiovascular disease
prevention.
What Million Hearts™ Means to You
Heart disease and stroke affect all of our lives, but we can
all play a role in ending it. Prevention starts with everyone.
Protect yourself and your loved ones from heart disease and
stroke by understanding the risks and taking these steps.
Y Drive the initiative by challenging your family and
	 friends to take the Million Hearts™ pledge at
	
	
millionhearts.hhs.gov.
Y Get up and get active by being physically active for at
	
	 least 30 minutes on most days of the week. (cont. pg. 3)
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause
of death in the United States; one in every
three deaths is from heart disease and stroke,
equal to 2,200 deaths per day.