ACLS Instructor Highlight Jenna K., BSN, RN, CEN, CPEN

ACLS INSTRUCTOR HIGHLIGHT JENNA K., BSN, RN, CEN, CPEN

We are excited to put the spotlight on Jenna Kennally, BSN, RN, CEN, CPEN and one of our beloved ACLS Instructors. Learn more about Jenna’s patient care approach and life-long commitment to learning and helping others.

1. Jenna's Medical Career Experience and Current Position:

Jenna recently landed her dream job as an emergency transport nurse at Boston Children's Hospital. While she has enjoyed working with critical care patients, she could always picture herself as a transport nurse. She recognizes the opportunities working with children in this capacity are few and far between and relishes the new experiences and nursing skills she will learn compared to her emergency room experience. Previously as an emergency room charge nurse at South Shore Hospital and Metro West Medical Center, Jenna had addressed many critical care patient cases, trained other staff and student nurses, and even triaged patients in the hospital lobby. Though she enjoyed the emergency room nurse role with its controlled chaos and critical thinking, when the new opportunity arose, she knew she needed to go for it! As an emergency transport nurse assisting in inter-facility hospital transfers of ICU patients in the New England region, Jenna has broadened and advanced her scope of practice and embraces the educational opportunities, highlighting the lifelong learning process in nursing. During the transport of the pediatric patient, typically by ambulance, though Boston MedFlight is utilized when the circumstance is warranted, Jenna is part of a team of 2 nurses along with an EMT or paramedic who safeguards the patient between hospital facilities.  

 2. Is there an aspect of your current position that surprised you? 

Jenna shared that it's very special just to see how grateful people are across the board, and there is a level of connection as you are in a transport with the patient and family and feel like getting to know them during that experience. She also loves the opportunity to follow the patient throughout their stay at Boston Children's, so she and her colleagues often visit children during downtime. Previously as an ER nurse, Jenna didn't always see the continuity of people and their health journey and didn't benefit from the same type of personal interaction. 

3. What is your educational background? 

Jenna received her undergrad in Bachelor of Science in Nursing from UMass Dartmouth, focusing on community assessment, program development, interventions, and evaluation with a concentration on social justice, human rights, and maternal child health.

She is also working on her Master’s in Public Health from Boston University! 

4. Teaching Background:  

Jenna joined ACLS Academy in 2018 after working with Shelley Lynch on a public health mission in Haiti. She has taught a wide range of classes at ACLS Academy, starting as a BLS and Heartsaver instructor, then once she became a nurse, she began teaching ACLS and PALS. Jenna also started teaching TNCC, ENPC, and STOP THE BLEED last year.

5. What is Jenna's favorite part of teaching?  

Jenna loves connecting the dots for her students, especially those already practicing the techniques and skills but aren't clear as to why something is done a certain way, what this algorithm really means, etc. It's seeing and hearing the "A-HA" recognition moment from the student where everything makes sense about why we're teaching this and why we do what we do. Another cool experience Jenna had was with a student who was developing a medical app for hospital employees. The class got to test it for them, trying it in real time as we went through the course to refine and fine-tune the code!

6. Why Does Jenna Love Working at ACLS Academy?  

There is a real family feel about the ACLS Academy and a wide variety of students participating in the classes. There are students, physicians, and other practitioners who have been in the field for years and years, and it's nice to have people share their own varied experiences; to bounce around different backgrounds, whether personal or professional, with each other.   

7. What is Jenna's Training Secret Sauce:  

Class interaction. Jenna tries to ask a lot of questions and engage people and encourage them to share their stories and their knowledge, what they've seen done before in practice so that the group can talk about it and have a conversation instead of just a lecture. Jenna also likes to make it as fun as possible, telling jokes she's been throwing in since 2018. They still get a good chuckle out of people every time, so Jenna keeps them to keep her classes fun and engaging!

8. Jenna shares her Interest in Global Health.

In nursing school for her community nursing rotation, UMass Dartmouth partnered with Partners in Development in Ipswich, MA, which built a health care clinic in Port Au Prince, Haiti. As a junior nursing student, Jenna went to Haiti with Partners in Development, where she met Shelley, who served as the nurse practitioner on the team. Haitians ran the Haiti clinic, and the team was there for nine days, generally assisting and facilitating the Well Child exams. This experience sparked Jenna's public health interest, knowing we can help bridge the gap in healthcare access and the social determinants of health (SDoH) overall. The following year, as a senior nursing student, Jenna visited another Partners in Development location, this time in Glendora, Mississippi, to assist at the clinic and returned as a nurse after graduating from UMass. Both these experiences, particularly visiting Mississippi, made Jenna realize that even the United States had not addressed many problems preventing people from accessing healthcare or the social determinants of overall health. That sparked her commitment to helping every chance she gets.

9. Jenna’s favorite thing when she isn’t working, teaching, or at school is pursuing her Masters.

In the rare event Jenna is not working or studying, Jenna is traveling or reading. She particularly likes to go places where she can explore, hike, and experience the local culture. One of her favorite places she’s visited was Costa Rica. It was a mission trip for education, where the group was tasked with educating a local community. They could also explore the area and feel integrated into the community and culture. 

We wish Jenna well in all her adventures and educational endeavors. The world is a better place with Jenna in it!

Stop The Bleed: May 25th is National Stop the Bleed Day!

Knowing how to control bleeding from a serious injury is important for everyone. This year marks May 5th annual National STOP THE BLEED® Month and May 6th annual National STOP THE BLEED® Day on May 25. 

Following the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut, where 20 first-graders and six educators were killed with AR-15 rounds, a concerned local trauma surgeon, Lenworth M. Jacobs, Jr., MD, FACS, who was Chair of the Connecticut State Committee on Trauma and an American College of Surgeons (ACS) Regent knew there was an opportunity to use this tragic event for good. As surgeons are experienced, take-charge problem solvers who are dedicated to improving the lives of the patients they serve, in the months following the shooting, Dr. Jacobs urged his ACS colleagues to support and lead an effort to mitigate losses associated with a mass shooting event. The ACS board approved his plan to convene a Joint Committee to Create a National Policy to Enhance Survivability from Intentional Mass Casualty and Active Shooter Events.  

A panel of national experts, including physicians; emergency medical services (EMS) personnel; military leaders; and law enforcement officials, including representatives of the Federal Bureau of Investigations and the Department of Homeland Security, met to evaluate the response to such emergencies.  Using data and evidence from existing military and recent civilian experiences, the conferees identified early control of hemorrhage as critical to improving survival from these incidents. The committee’s position was articulated in what is now known as the Hartford Consensus I.

Tragically soon after the group’s initial meeting, the Boston Marathon bombing occurred. As a result, the committee’s consensus statement was expanded to focus on improving survival, not just from active shooter events but all intentional mass casualty situations. Today, the chief tenet of the Hartford Consensus is that no one, under any circumstances, should die from uncontrolled bleeding, whatever the cause.

STOP THE BLEED® program officially launched in October 2015, when President Barack Obama and Vice-President Joe Biden issued policy directives stating the need to be prepared to help victims of intentional and accidental causes of severe bleeding. The STOP THE BLEED® program, a partnership between the ACS and the National Security Council, trains individuals on a three-step process similar to what military troops learn before deployment.

Today the ACS point to the STOP THE BLEED® program as a model for surgeon leaders looking to initiate a new program. Leaders of the ACS achieve their stature within the organization by consistently identifying healthcare issues that they believe require the surgeon’s perspective, collaborating with other experts on an issue, achieving consensus, developing a strategic plan, operationalizing the plan, and continuing to work with relevant committees and leadership to sustain the program.  STOP THE BLEED® is a shining example of recognizing an opportunity, mobilizing the right resources, and empowering the individual through training to provide care during those initial critical minutes.  

The STOP THE BLEED® campaign has trained over 2.6 million people worldwide, including notable organizations such as the Chicago Cubs, who in March 2023 became the first MLB team to install STOP THE BLEED® kits and training for ballpark staff and Cubs associates on how to respond if someone is bleeding from an injury.  STOP THE BLEED® training teaches people how to recognize life-threatening bleeding and respond effectively using basic tools and techniques. The program aims to empower the general public to help save lives by learning the basic skills to control bleeding in emergencies before professional help arrives.  

The need for STOP THE BLEED® training arises from uncontrolled bleeding being the leading cause of preventable deaths in trauma situations. In many cases, bleeding can be stopped or slowed down by someone on the scene before paramedics or other medical professionals arrive. However, studies have shown that bystanders often hesitate to intervene in bleeding emergencies due to a lack of knowledge or fear of causing further harm.

STOP THE BLEED® training helps to overcome this hesitation by providing people with the knowledge and skills needed to take action and potentially save a life. This training is especially relevant in situations such as mass shootings, accidents, or natural disasters where multiple people may be injured, and medical personnel may not be immediately available.

ACLS Academy’s STOP THE BLEED® training is a blended learning course where an in-person hands skill session online follows the course work. 

WHAT YOU WILL LEARN

What stops bleeding? In a STOP THE BLEED® course, you’ll learn three quick techniques to help save a life before someone bleeds out: (1) How to use your hands to apply pressure to a wound; (2) How to pack a wound to control bleeding; (3) How to apply a tourniquet correctly. These three techniques will empower you to assist in an emergency and potentially save a life.

WHO CAN TAKE THE COURSE

A STOP THE BLEED® course is for people interested in learning this lifesaving skill, including students, teachers, and community groups. ACLS Academy is committed to training anyone old enough to understand what the course teaches and is interested in learning how to STOP THE BLEED® and save a life.

HOW TO TAKE THE COURSE

This STOP THE BLEED® Interactive Course is free. The interactive course is a virtual alternative to the in-person lecture presentation. The STOP, THE BLEED® Interactive Course guides individuals through the three methods of bleeding control using video demonstrations, interactive learning, and spontaneous quizzes. Once you complete the course, please attend a STOP THE BLEED® skills session to receive your certificate of completion. Please remember to bring the e-mail with your quiz results to the Skills-Only Course!

Join this worldwide movement to take action in a life-threatening scenario to help STOP THE BLEED®.  Our ACLS Academy STOP THE BLEED® course information and registration are here.

Congrats to Nurse & Medical Student Graduates!

To many people, the December holidays are their favorite time of the year, but for all of us at ACLS Academy, June is our favorite month when all the Nursing and Medical Students graduate and spread out across the country to make their mark on the world through the care and healing of their patients.  

We wish heartfelt congratulations to all the nurse and medical student graduates! These individuals have completed a rigorous and demanding program, and their achievement is truly remarkable. This accomplishment demonstrates their dedication, hard work, and commitment to the noble healthcare profession.

As a nurse or medical graduate, they have chosen a challenging yet rewarding career path. Their education has prepared them to provide compassionate care and support to patients during their most vulnerable moments. They have learned how to assess, diagnose, and treat illnesses and communicate effectively with patients, families, and colleagues. They have also developed critical thinking skills, which will serve them well as they encounter complex medical situations.  

The world needs skilled and compassionate healthcare professionals more than ever before. The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the vital role that nurses and doctors play in society.  They are entering the workforce when their skills and expertise are in high demand, and we do not doubt that they will rise to the occasion and positively impact their patients' lives. We celebrate the graduation of the 2023 healthcare students as a testament to their resilience and adaptability in the face of unprecedented challenges and their readiness to take on these challenges. The staff and educators here at ACLS Academy understand firsthand the importance of these graduates' role in society and the challenges that come with this profession. We know the high mental and physical stress they will experience daily and the ever-increasing shortage of practicing nurses and doctors. Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a pronounced shortage of healthcare workers.  As of 2021, 30% of healthcare workers considered leaving their profession, and 60% reported serious mental health struggles, a problem that is especially severe among nurses. 

As they embark on their new careers, we emphasize that learning never stops. Medicine and healthcare are constantly evolving, and staying up-to-date with the latest research and best practices is important. These graduates will now learn from their patients and peers rather than their professors. We encourage them to remain open to new ideas, perspectives, information, and ways of using their knowledge and skills. Take advantage of continuing education and professional development opportunities, and seek mentorship and guidance from experienced healthcare professionals.  Be open to sharing their expertise and mentoring those who come after you.

As they start their career, be brave, have high expectations, and set goals to be the best! Find a good work/family balance even when things get tough. At ACLS Academy, our instructors are part of the front-line healthcare industry these graduates are entering. Self-care and work-life balance are essential, though challenging to achieve, to cope with lifelong learning of these professions and deliver effective care to our patients.  We implore these graduates to keep that front of mind to try and achieve that balance.

These 2023 graduates have chosen a noble profession that requires knowledge and technical skills, empathy, compassion, and a genuine desire to help others. Their work as a nurse or doctor is not just a job – it is a calling. They have the power to make a real difference in the lives of their patients, and we are confident that they will do so with excellence and dedication.  We want these graduates to remember that they have been given a great gift, a patient's trust. Cherish it and respect it. Treat every patient as if they were a loved family member, and in return, they will receive excellent personal satisfaction, and their career will never work.

Once again, congratulations on your graduation. This is a historic moment to have the privilege to be in medicine, with all of its heartache and uplifting moments. You are an important part of America’s most respected profession. Your achievement is something to be proud of, and we wish you all the best as you begin this exciting new chapter in your life. 

May is Stroke Awareness Month

A stroke occurs every 40 seconds in the United States. Every 3.5 minutes, someone in the country dies due to a stroke.  Stroke is the third leading cause of death worldwide and a major cause of severe adult disability in developed countries. When it comes to stroke, every second counts! Nearly 2 million brain cells die each minute a stroke remains untreated, so knowing the signs of a stroke and obtaining medical treatment fast can often make the difference between a full recovery and permanent health issues.

A stroke occurs when the blood supply to a part of the brain is disrupted, leading to damage or death of brain cells. This can happen due to a blockage in a blood vessel (ischemic stroke) or bleeding in the brain (hemorrhagic stroke).

Three Main Stroke Types

Ischemic strokes happen when blood flow is blocked through an artery that delivers blood to the brain. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, these strokes account for the vast majority of all strokes.

Transient ischemic attacks, sometimes called "mini-strokes," are different from ischemic strokes because these strokes block blood flow from the brain for a short period — often as short as five minutes. Like ischemic strokes, these strokes are also usually caused by blood clots.  Although short-lived, transient ischemic attacks warn of future strokes and are medical emergencies. According to the CDC, more than a third of people who experience these do not receive treatment and have a major stroke within a year.

A hemorrhagic stroke is another type of stroke that occurs when an artery in the brain leaks blood or ruptures. The leaked blood puts pressure on brain cells and damages them. High blood pressure and aneurysms can cause these strokes, the CDC says.

Stroke Symptoms

The signs and symptoms of a stroke include sudden weakness or numbness of the face, arm, or leg, especially on one side of the body; confusion or trouble speaking or understanding speech; trouble seeing in one or both eyes; difficulty walking, dizziness, or loss of balance or coordination; and a severe headache with no known cause.

As an easy way to remember the symptom of stroke, the acronym FAST was originated in February 2009 by the Department of Health in England when it launched the Face, Arm, Speech, and Time (FAST) mass media campaign, to raise public awareness of stroke symptoms and the need for emergency response.  Since then, it has been broadly used by the National Stroke Association, which in 2019 folded its activities into the American Stroke Association, a division of the American Heart Association, and other organizations to educate the public on detecting symptoms of a stroke. 

If you aren’t sure whether you’re seeing or experiencing a stroke, remember to act F.A.S.T:

• F – FACE: Is there numbness or drooping in the face? Ask them to smile. Is it uneven?

• A – ARMS: Is one arm weak or numb? Ask them to raise both arms. Does one pull downward?

• S – SPEECH: Is speech slurred or strange? Ask them to repeat a simple phrase.

• T – TIME: If you see any of these signs, call 9-1-1 immediately.

The American Stroke Association encourages anyone who spots these sudden and severe symptoms to call 911 immediately. In some cases, a clot-busting drug can be given to dissolve the blood clot causing the stroke, but this needs to be done within a few hours of the onset of symptoms. Other treatments include surgery to remove the clot or repair the bleeding blood vessel, rehabilitation, and medications to manage the risk factors for stroke.

Risk Factors for Strokes

The risk factors for stroke include high blood pressure, smoking, and diabetes, which can also damage the heart and increase the risk of heart disease. Additionally, a stroke can cause complications that affect the heart, such as an irregular heartbeat or changes in blood pressure. Those with a heart condition may also be more susceptible to a stroke. This is because many heart conditions can increase the risk of blood clots forming in the heart. When these blood clots break loose, they can travel to the brain and cause a stroke. Some examples of heart conditions that increase the risk of stroke include atrial fibrillation, an irregular heartbeat that can cause blood clots to form in the heart, and heart valve disease, which can also cause blood clots to form.

While strokes are more commonly associated with older adults, there has been an increase in strokes in young people in recent years. Stroke rates in adults younger than 49 are increasing, according to the American Stroke Association.  Some of the factors contributing to this increase mirror the risk factors for all ages and may include:

• Obesity and unhealthy lifestyle habits: The rise in obesity rates, particularly in young people, has been linked to increased risk factors for stroke, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes. Unhealthy lifestyle habits, such as a lack of physical activity and poor diet, can also contribute to these risk factors.

• Diabetes: From 1990 through 2019, the incidence of type 2 diabetes among people aged 15 to 39 years jumped 56%, according to JAMA. If you have diabetes, your chances of having a stroke are 2 times higher than in people who don't have diabetes.

• Smoking: Smoking contributes to plaque buildup in your arteries, increases the risk of blood clots, reduces the oxygen in your blood, and makes your heart work harder.  Smokers are two times more likely to have a heart attack or stroke.

• Substance abuse: The use of drugs, particularly opioids, and cocaine, has been linked to an increased risk of stroke in young people.

• Lack of regular doctor visits:  Younger adults may be less inclined to visit their primary care physician for regular check-ups, labs, and blood pressure checks. These annual visits are key to catching issues before they progress.

It’s important for young people to be aware of their risk factors for stroke and to take steps to reduce their risk. This includes maintaining a healthy weight, being physically active, avoiding substance abuse, managing chronic health conditions, and talking to a healthcare provider about the risks and benefits of certain medications. 

The good news for young adults is that if no other health conditions are present that might interfere with stroke recovery, younger people tend to recover better from stroke damage than older people. Recovery in young people may also continue for a longer time period. Doctors believe improved recovery may be connected to the younger brain’s natural ability to use undamaged brain circuits to take over the functions of damaged circuits. In older patients, that brain plasticity may be reduced, but recovery does continue.

Overall to prevent stroke, follow the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s Life’s Simple 7 Tips:

• Manage blood pressure

• Control cholesterol

• Reduce blood sugar

• Get active

• Eat better

• Lose weight

• Stop smoking

Celebrate Those Amazing Nurses During Nurses Week - May 6th to May 12th 2023

Nurses week is an annual event celebrated in many countries worldwide, typically during the week of May 12th, which is the birthday of Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing. Nursing is the nation's largest healthcare profession, with nearly 4.2 million registered nurses, according to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing. The week-long celebration is a time to honor and appreciate the hard work and dedication of nurses, who play a critical role in healthcare and society at large. 

Nurses are highly skilled and trained healthcare professionals who provide essential patient care in hospitals, clinics, long-term care facilities, and many other settings. They are responsible for various tasks, including administering medications, monitoring vital signs, assisting with medical procedures, and providing emotional support to patients and their families.

In addition to their technical skills, nurses are known for their compassion, empathy, and commitment to their patients. They often work long hours under stressful conditions and are frequently the first line of defense in emergencies.

Nurses are valuable to society because they are essential to the healthcare system. They help to prevent and manage illnesses, provide comfort and support to patients and their families, and improve the overall quality of healthcare. Nurses also play a vital role beyond the healthcare system. In times of crisis, they are often at the forefront of disaster relief efforts, providing critical care to victims of natural disasters and emergencies. 

With more than three times as many RNs in the United States as physicians, nursing delivers an extended array of healthcare services, including primary and preventive care, by nurse practitioners with specialized education in pediatrics, family health, women's health, and gerontological care. Here are just some of the reasons why nurses are indispensable to our healthcare industry:

• Patient care: Nurses are responsible for providing hands-on care, monitoring their vital signs, administering medications, and performing other essential tasks. They are often patients' first point of contact and play a vital role in helping them feel comfortable and cared for.

• Advocacy: Nurses advocate for patients, ensuring they receive the best possible care and treatment. They work closely with doctors and other healthcare professionals to ensure that patient's needs are met and receive appropriate care.

• Education: Nurses are essential in educating patients and their families about their conditions, treatments, and self-care. They provide information about healthy lifestyles and disease prevention, and they help patients understand how to manage their conditions and medications.

• Support: Nurses provide emotional support to patients and their families, helping them cope with the stress and anxiety that often come with illness or injury. They also support other healthcare professionals, working as part of a team to ensure that patients receive comprehensive care.

Nurses Week is an excellent opportunity to show appreciation and recognize nurses' hard work and dedication in the United States. Here are just a few suggestions as to how we can celebrate these critical members of the healthcare team during Nurses Week:

• Say thank you: A simple "thank you" can go a long way in expressing your gratitude and appreciation for their hard work and dedication to the hard work that nurses do. You can say it in person, on a card, or through an email.

• Create a gratitude wall: Set up a digital or physical gratitude wall where nurses can leave messages of appreciation for one another. It's an excellent way for nurses to uplift and support each other.

• Create a nurse-led education program: Organize a virtual education program led by nurses on a topic of their choice. This is a great way to recognize nurses' expertise and encourage continuing education.

• Decorate the workplace: You can decorate the workplace with balloons, banners, and posters to create a festive atmosphere and show appreciation for the nurses' hard work.

• Support a cause: You can support a cause close to the nurses' hearts, such as a charity that helps nurses in need or a fundraiser for a healthcare-related cause.

In honor of Nurses Week, ACLS Academy is giving away a YETI tumbler and tote bag.  Tag your favorite nurse to win!  How to enter:  

• Follow @aclsacademy on Instagram

• Tag a nurse (or several for more entries!) in the comment section of this post

• For bonus entries:  Share this post to your story and tag @aclsacademy for an extra entry!

Remember, Nurses Week is a time to celebrate and recognize nurses' important work every day. Their skills, compassion, and dedication make a significant difference in the lives of those they care for, and their contributions are invaluable to healthcare and beyond.  THANK YOU, NURSES!

Is It Time for My Recertification? Don’t Worry. We’ve Got You Covered.

You did all the course work, either online or in person. You’ve taken the necessary skills training and are back at work focused on your day-to-day routine, not realizing how much time has gone by and wondering what month, or worse – what year, my certification will expire.  

Don’t worry! If you have taken a certification class at ACLS Academy, we track your certification status to ensure it doesn’t lapse. We have a system to send you a reminder with plenty of time to take the relevant training and renew your certification. While most course completion cards are valid for two years through the end of the month during which the course completion card was issued, there are a couple like the Emergency Nurse’s Association’s Trauma Nurse Core Course (TNCC) and Emergency Nurse Pediatric Course (ENPC), which are on a four-year expiration cycle.  

Here’s how we’ll remind you.

• Two months before your certification lapses, we’ll send you an email reminder with the course name, expiration date, and information about upcoming training courses at our facilities. 

• Suppose you haven’t signed up for an ACLS Academy training course after our first reminder, one month before your certification expiration. In that case, we’ll send you another reminder to sign up for an upcoming class.

Also, remember, if you take a course with ACLS Academy, you will receive a discount on all future classes FOREVER! We’ll include the discount information in our certification reminder email to you! 

We’ve got three convenient training facilities in the greater Boston area to provide flexibility in location and date/ time to renew your certification. Our facilities are located at:

Quincy Location (accessible by MBTA red line)

300 Crown Colony Dr, Suite 106

Quincy, MA 02169 

Bridgewater Location  

555 Bedford Street, Suite 2A

Bridgewater, MA 02324 

Newton Center Location (accessible by MBTA green line)

53 Langley Road, Suite 350A

Newton Center, MA 02459

Don’t have the time for a full in-person class? We always try to ensure ACLS Academy is here for our local community by providing a breadth of courses and flexible schedules to help you keep current on the certifications you need. Many of our classes have an option of a blended format, including the AHA online class, followed by a short skills session. See more about our blended courses in our recent blog.  

CPR is Essential Training for Fitness Instructors and Personal Trainers

As a fitness instructor or personal trainer, your client’s health and well-being are one of your top priorities, or you wouldn’t have invested your time, money, and sweat equity in helping your clients get healthier and more robust. The physical training of your clients is not the only hat you wear. You are their therapist, cheerleader, nutritionist, teacher, and coach on their journey to a healthier version of themselves. 

No matter what type of fitness instructor or personal trainer you are: spin, strength and condition coach, yoga, or Pilates, we know your job as a fitness professional is to get your client's heart rates up, but do you know what to do when your client experiences a medical emergency?  

It is crucial to have knowledge of CPR and how to operate an AED, as cardiac distress can happen unexpectedly to anyone. According to the American Heart Association, more than 350,000 people suffer out-of-hospital cardiac arrests each year throughout the United States.

According to the American Heart Association, CPR or Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation – is an emergency lifesaving procedure performed when the heart stops beating. Immediate CPR can double or triple the chances of survival after cardiac arrest. In conjunction with CPR, an AED, or automated external defibrillator, is an essential piece of equipment that should be present in all gyms and fitness centers. AEDs deliver an electric shock to the heart in case of a sudden cardiac arrest, potentially saving your client’s life. In addition to having an AED readily available, gym and fitness centers need to check that the AED is functioning correctly. Having an AED and knowing how to use it can provide a safe and prepared environment for your clients, potentially saving a life in a cardiac emergency.

Signs of cardiac emergency are chest discomfort, shortness of breath, lightheadedness or dizziness, and palpitations or irregular heartbeat are all warning signs that should not be ignored. If a client experiences these symptoms, stopping the activity and seeking medical attention immediately is essential. If a client collapses, do you know what to do? 

If your client is experiencing cardiac distress:

1. Position your client on their back on a firm surface

2. Check for breathing or a pulse

3. Gently shake your client

4. If your client does not wake up, assign someone to call 911 

5. Begin CPR. CPR is rapid chest compression that mimics the heart beating to encourage blood flow.

6. An AED, or automated external defibrillator, is used to help those experiencing cardiac arrest. It's a medical device that can analyze the heart's rhythm and, if necessary, deliver an electrical shock, or defibrillation, to help the heart re-establish an effective rhythm. Pick someone to find the closest automated external defibrillator (AED) and bring it to you quickly. 

7. Ask someone to meet medical personnel at the front door and bring them to your location. As you know, fitness centers can be large with different fitness studios, and if your client is having cardiac distress, time is of the essence.

Did you know these steps? Learn from our experts at ACLS Academy.

ACLS Academy is an authorized American Heart Associate (AHA) Aligned Training Center. We have three convenient locations in Massachusetts – Quincy, Bridgewater, and Newton Center - and offer Heartsaver CPR/ AED/ First Aid and Heartsaver CPR/ AED training. In addition to CPR and AED use, the Heartsaver course offers an additional, supplemental First Aid training component which can be done as a stand-alone course or as an add-on to the CPR and AED training.

Our Heartsaver course covers the following:

• Responding to and managing illnesses and injuries in adults, children, and infants.

• First aid basics for common first aid emergencies.

• How to perform lifesaving skills. 

• How to recognize cardiac arrest and what to do until EMS arrives.

We have Heartsaver CPR hybrid learning courses where the course work is online, and the skills session is in person or fully online, facilitated through the American Heart Association.  

The online portion provides the flexibility of completing training at your own pace, either at work, at home, or wherever you have Internet access. The hands-on portion includes a skills practice and testing session conducted in person with an AHA Instructor. The skills session can take approximately 1-2 hours. 

Sign up here for ACLS Academy's Heartsaver courses, or contact us for questions or additional information.

Benefits of Continuing Education (CE) Blended (Online + Skills Session) Courses

There are never enough hours in the day- work, family, grocery shopping, and maybe a social life!?! Add in continuing education (CE) for the job you love, but your field is constantly innovating and changing, and it is hard to find the time. Have you ever thought of taking part in your continuing education classes online?  

Blended classes, where the course work is completed online followed by an in-person skills session, offer a range of advantages that make them an attractive option. The convenience and flexibility of completion of the course work online allows you to learn at your own pace and on your schedule, which is particularly beneficial when you have work or family commitments. Then putting the course work knowledge into practice in a face-to-face skills session, with experienced instructor oversight, allows for refinement of the skill and confidence in its application.   

Completing the course work portion online offers several benefits that make them an attractive option:

• Flexibility: Online classes allow you to learn at your own pace, on your schedule, and in your comfy clothes. Who would not like that?

• Convenience: Learn at work, at home, or wherever you have Internet access. Then come in for a brief skills session

• Personalized learning: Tailored to meet the specific learning needs you need. You can rewind and review course materials as often as necessary to grasp the concept fully.

• Actionable: The ability to immediately apply what you have learned in your role.

Overall, blended classes provide an excellent opportunity to pursue your continuing education and achieve your career goals in the best way for you!  Learn in this blended format from our experts at ACLS Academy!

ACLS Academy is an authorized American Heart Associate (AHA) Aligned Training Center. We have three convenient locations in Massachusetts – Quincy, Bridgewater, and Newton Center with some of our classes including an online component to minimize in-class time. The following courses at ACLS Academy offer the option to complete the coursework in a blended format:

• Heartsaver CPR/AED or CPR/AED/First Aid or Pediatric CPR/AED/First Aid

• Stop the Bleed

• Heartcode BLS

• Heartcode ACLS

• Heartcode PALS

Each class has an online module with links to additional information that you are provided before the course date to let you learn at your own pace, apply what you know, and receive immediate feedback.  Plus, you can refer back to the information at any time. The modules are a complete case study process — taking you through an entire sequence of care, followed by the in-person skills session to develop your proficiency of the procedure.  

Sign up here for ACLS Academy's courses, or contact us for questions or additional information.

April is Stress Awareness Month

The cost of living is rising. Employers are asking more and more of employees. Listening to the news can raise most of our stress and anxiety levels. And most of us feel like our days, weeks, and months are spent trying to keep all the spinning plates in the air without letting them fall, again leading to stress. Most of us have heard that stress is unhealthy, but how does it affect the body?

Good Stress vs. Bad Stress

Well, it turns out some stress is good. It can meet your daily challenges and motivate you to reach your goals, ultimately making you smarter, happier, and healthier. Good stress, or eustress, is the stress you feel when you’re excited. Your pulse quickens, and your hormones surge, but no threat or fear exists.

Good stress is vital for a healthy life. This is the type of stress when you may feel riding a thrill ride at the amusement park, going on an interview, competing in a sport, or even walking through a haunted house at Halloween. Good stress is short-term, inspiring and motivating you, focusing your energy, and enhancing performance.

Your body’s response to stress is supposed to protect you. Bad stress, however, can wear you out, leaving you irritable, angry, fatigued, and unable to sleep. Bad stress or distress can lead to anxiety, confusion, poor concentration, and decreased performance. Bad stress can be short-term (acute) or long-term (chronic). Acute stress doesn’t take a heavy toll on your body if you can find ways to manage it actively. However, chronic stress, if constant, can take a heavy toll on your body and harm your health. Chronic stress can cause headaches, digestive issues, weight gain, and anxiety. It can also result in high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke.

The hormone cortisol is released in response to stress. Studies suggest that high cortisol levels from long-term stress can increase blood cholesterol, triglycerides, blood sugar, and blood pressure. This stress can also cause changes that promote the buildup of plaque deposits in the arteries. These are common risk factors for heart disease.

Even minor stress can trigger heart problems like poor blood flow to the heart muscle, in which the heart doesn't get enough blood or oxygen. Additionally, long-term stress can affect how the blood clots. This makes the blood stickier and increases the risk of stroke. 

Approaches to managing stress

Exercise

Exercise can help counteract the harmful effects of stress. It doesn’t mean you must hit the gym or run a marathon. Living a lifestyle that naturally encouraging movement without thinking about it can also be beneficial. Any exercise can help to improve cardiovascular health by controlling weight, improving cholesterol, and lowering blood pressure. Exercise has another benefit that lowers stress. People who exercise have a reduced physical response to stress. Their blood pressure and heart rates don't go up as high as people under stress who don't exercise.

Building a strong support system

Research shows having a strong support network, people you can talk to and trust, or belonging to organizations or religion can reduce your stress level and your risk of heart disease. A strong support system helps you take better care of yourself, too. Research shows that a lack of social support increases the chance of engaging in unhealthy behaviors like smoking, eating a high-fat diet, and drinking too much alcohol.

Reduce work stress

Studies show demanding jobs that offer few opportunities to make decisions or provide little reward can increase your risk for heart disease. Stress at work becomes even more of a problem when you don't have a strong support system, or you have long-term anxiety. If changing jobs isn’t an option, smaller changes like taking some time every day away from work to do something that is relaxing and that you enjoy can reduce the stress even temporarily. It may be reading, walking, or deep breathing. 

Positive Self-Talk

When we say things to ourselves like “I can do this” or “everything will be OK, this can help us calm down and manage stress. To make it work, practice positive self-talk every day – in the car, at your desk, before you go to bed, or whenever you notice negative thoughts.

Nature Time

Spending time in nature can help relieve stress and anxiety, improve your mood, and boost feelings of happiness and well-being. Stress is relieved within minutes of exposure to nature as measured by muscle tension, blood pressure, and brain activity. Time in green spaces significantly reduces your cortisol, a stress hormone. Nature also boosts endorphin levels and dopamine production, which promotes happiness. 

Take a Breath

When you breathe deeply, it sends a message to your brain to calm down and relax. The brain then sends this message to your body. Those things that happen when you are stressed, such as increased heart rate, fast breathing, and high blood pressure, all decrease as you breathe deeply to relax.

Down Shift

Stress leads to chronic inflammation associated with every major age-related disease. Establishing a daily routine to shed the stress to reverse this trend.  

So this month, take a few moments to acknowledge the stressors in your life and actively manage them if they negatively impact your physical and mental well-being. Reducing stress makes for a healthier heart and a happier version of you.

ACLS Academy has new digs in Bridgewater!

If you visited us in our previous East Bridgewater location, we have moved, and you’ll love our new Bridgewater location at 555 Bedford St, Suite 2A, Bridgewater, MA 02324. We are in a larger, bright, and sunny space to accommodate the plethora of classes available for students in Plymouth County.

If you don’t see a scheduled class you need in our Bridgewater location, contact us, and we’ll work with you to ensure you receive the certification you need in the timeframe you require.

Our new Bridgewater location is a bit hidden, so if you visit us here, look for our email before your course date, which provides all the details you need to find us. Plus, we’ve got lots of parking near the building, so there is no need to worry about extra time hunting for a parking spot.

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ACLS Skills Session

HeartCode® ACLS is the AHA’s ACLS blended learning delivery method. Blended learning is a combination of eLearning, in which a student completes part of the course in a self-directed manner, followed by a hands-on session. The online portion of this comprehensive eLearning program uses eSimulation technology to allow students to assess and treat patients in virtual healthcare settings.

BLS and PALS skills sessions may be scheduled before or after ACLS Skills session. Please contact us or see our schedule if you need multiple certifications.

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Bloodborne Pathogens

This classroom course teaches employees how to protect themselves and others from being exposed to blood or blood-containing materials. This course is designed to meet OSHA requirements for bloodborne pathogens training when paired with site-specific instruction.

Heartsaver Bloodborne Pathogens was designed specifically for workers with a reasonable chance of coming into contact with bloodborne pathogens such as:

• Childcare workers

• Security guards

• Maintenance workers

• School Personnel

• Hotel housekeepers

• Health and fitness club staff

• Tattoo artists

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BLS Provider Course (initials and renewals)

HeartCode® BLS is the AHA’s BLS blended learning delivery method. Blended learning is a combination of eLearning, in which a student completes part of the course in a self-directed manner, followed by a hands-on session.

The skills session can take approximately 1 hour. We keep our class sizes small and can often complete all requirements efficiently.

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Heartsaver Skills Session (CPR/AED/First Aid, CPR/AED, Pediatric CPR/AED/First Air or First Aid)

Heartsaver Blended Learning courses include an online portion and a hands-on session. The online portion provides the flexibility of completing training at your own pace, either at work, at home, or wherever you have Internet access. The hands-on portion includes a skills practice and testing session conducted in person with an AHA Instructor.

Heartsaver CPR/AED is not Basic Life Support (needed for healthcare providers, nursing students, and anyone with direct patient care). Heartsaver is for the non-healthcare provider.

The skills session can take approximately 1 hour.

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NRP

The Neonatal Resuscitation Program® (NRP®) course conveys an evidence-based approach to the care of the newborn at birth. It facilitates effective team-based care for healthcare professionals who care for newborns at delivery. NRP utilizes a blended learning approach, including online testing, case-based simulations, and hands-on simulation/debriefing focusing on critical leadership, communication, and teamwork skills.​​

After completing the online modules, the skills session takes approximately 3 hours.

There are two versions of the online portion Essentials and Advanced – Essentials is for those providers that may have to initiate resuscitation but wouldn’t be involved in a full-resuscitation (ex. OBs, midwives, lactation consultants, EMTs) – Advanced is for RNs, RTs, pediatricians that would need to fully resuscitate a newborn including intubation, chest compressions, and medications

The classroom portion is the same for all learners  - so the only difference is in the online curriculum, they choose to purchase. If you are unsure which version you should take, I recommend the Advanced Provider curriculum since both costs are the same.

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PALS Skills Session

HeartCode® PALS is the AHA’s PALS blended learning delivery method. Blended learning is a combination of eLearning, in which a student completes part of the course in a self-directed manner, followed by a hands-on session. The online portion of this comprehensive eLearning program uses eSimulation technology to allow students to assess and treat patients in virtual healthcare settings.

High blood pressure and high cholesterol are linked and may increase your heart risk

There is almost always more than one number to consider when assessing the health of any mammal – human being or animal. For humans and cardiovascular disease, the link and numbers between high blood pressure and high cholesterol put you at a greater risk for heart disease.

What is the relationship between high cholesterol and high blood pressure?

High cholesterol and high blood pressure (hypertension) are the two main risk factors for heart disease and stroke. They are among a cluster of conditions that together are called metabolic syndrome. Metabolic syndrome raises your risk for diabetes, heart disease, and stroke. When high blood pressure and high cholesterol occur together, they can damage blood vessels, significantly increasing the risk for future complications. To prevent heart disease and stroke, getting your cholesterol and blood pressure checked and under control is vital.

What is cholesterol?

The body does not need cholesterol from food and can naturally manufacture it. The liver naturally produces cholesterol, a fatty substance that helps the body make hormones and digest fatty foods.  However, there is also cholesterol in animal-based foods, such as eggs and meat, which we consume and may impact our cholesterol numbers.

Cholesterol tests measure two types of cholesterol:

• Low-density lipoprotein (LDL): This type of cholesterol is what many people consider the “bad” kind. High levels of LDL can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, clogged arteries, and other heart health issues.

• High-density lipoprotein (HDL): This “good” cholesterol can help remove and carry it back to the liver. Higher levels of HDL may lower a person’s risk of cardiovascular disease. 

Total cholesterol is a measure of HDL plus LDL and also triglycerides.  Triglycerides are a type of fat or lipid most influenced by what we eat and are closely related to cholesterol.  Triglyceride levels change throughout the day and can also be a risk factor for heart attack and stroke.

What is a normal cholesterol level? 

For most people, John Hopkins recommends these healthy cholesterol levels. However, the numbers are general guidelines because actual target goals may depend on the number of risk factors you have for heart disease.

• Total cholesterol: less than 200 milligrams per deciliter

• LDL “bad” cholesterol: Optimal is less than 100 mg/dL

• HDL “good” cholesterol: higher than 40 mg/dL

• Triglycerides: less than 150 mg/dL

As part of your annual preventative visit with your doctor, blood work is typically run to test a few different forms of lipids or cholesterol, which may include triglyceride levels.  Both you and your physician should review these numbers to assess potential health risks and whether lifestyle changes or medications may be needed to manage the levels. 

If a person has low HDL and high LDL cholesterol, their risk of heart disease is higher.  High cholesterol is a common health condition in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 94 million adults over the age of 20 have what could be considered borderline high cholesterol. Yet because this condition often presents without symptoms, many are unaware they have high cholesterol until they visit their doctor. 

However, as mentioned previously, your body naturally makes cholesterol, and while what you eat matters, it has less impact on cholesterol level than people might think.  One of the most significant factors determining your cholesterol levels is your genes. While the science behind this is pretty complicated, it’s safe to say that high cholesterol tends to run in families. And because genes are something we can’t change, medications are essential for treating high cholesterol. 

Other variables affecting cholesterol

While certain foods can contribute to higher cholesterol, a number of studies have found that the cholesterol a person gets from food does not substantially increase blood cholesterol. However, any change to healthier eating benefits overall heart and body health.  Additionally, we all know by now that exercise is always a component of good heart and body health and can contribute to potentially reducing cholesterol.   However, it may be less known that alcohol consumption can affect your cholesterol levels, raising both your triglyceride and cholesterol levels in your blood.    This is because the body breaks alcohol down into triglycerides, and if triglyceride levels become too high, that can increase LDL or bad cholesterol levels. 

Other variables which may play a part in high cholesterol may include other health conditions like type 2 diabetes, Rheumatoid arthritis, Lupus, Psoriasis, Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and even gum disease. 

Even medications, like birth control pills, retinoids, corticosteroids, antivirals, and anticonvulsants, can negatively impact your cholesterol levels. 

Cholesterol and high blood pressure run together

Unfortunately, high cholesterol and high blood pressure tend to run together. One doesn’t necessarily cause the other, but seeing both in an individual is very common. And indeed, both of them contribute to raising the risk of heart attack and stroke. 

Almost half of all adults have high blood pressure. But the tricky part is that many people don’t know they have this condition. This is because when a person’s blood pressure is high, they might not feel symptoms like cholesterol. That’s why it is important to understand your numbers and what category you fall into.

Your blood pressure is recorded as two numbers

When taking your blood pressure, keep in mind blood pressure has two numbers: systolic and diastolic. The systolic is the top number, the pressure on your arteries when the heart beats.  The diastolic is the bottom number, and it’s the pressure in between beats.  Both numbers get taken into consideration by your doctor to figure out what category you may fall into. 

Blood pressure categories

The five blood pressure (BP) ranges as recognized by the American Heart Association are:

Normal

Blood pressure numbers under 120/80 mm Hg are considered within the normal range. If your results fall into this category, stick with heart-healthy habits like following a balanced diet and getting regular exercise.

Elevated

Elevated blood pressure is when readings consistently range from 120-129 systolic and less than 80 mm Hg diastolic. People with elevated blood pressure will likely develop high blood pressure unless steps are taken to control the condition.

Hypertension Stage 1

Hypertension Stage 1 is when blood pressure consistently ranges from 130-139 systolic or 80-89 mm Hg diastolic. At this stage of high blood pressure, doctors are likely to prescribe lifestyle changes. They may consider adding blood pressure medication based on your risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases (ASCVD), such as heart attack or stroke.

Hypertension Stage 2

Hypertension Stage 2 is when blood pressure consistently ranges at 140/90 mm Hg or higher. At this stage of high blood pressure, doctors are likely to prescribe a combination of blood pressure medications and lifestyle changes.

Hypertensive crisis

This stage of high blood pressure requires medical attention. If your blood pressure readings suddenly exceed 180/120 mm Hg, wait five minutes and then test your blood pressure again. If your readings are still unusually high, contact your doctor immediately. You could be experiencing a hypertensive crisis.

If your blood pressure is higher than 180/120 mm Hg and you are experiencing signs of possible organ damage such as chest pain, shortness of breath, back pain, numbness/weakness, change in vision, or difficulty speaking, do not wait to see if your pressure comes down on its own. Call 911.

Options to address high blood pressure

The same lifestyle changes you make to adjust your cholesterol can also lower your blood pressure numbers: quit smoking, increase your physical activity, eat heart-healthy foods, and lose weight if you are overweight.  Reducing your sodium intake to less than 1,500 milligrams a day is optimal, but any reduction may be beneficial.   Blood pressure-lowering medications are also an option to be discussed between you and your doctor after considering attempts at lifestyle changes and any other medical conditions and medications you may be taking. 

It is important to clarify medications that lower cholesterol does not have as much impact on lowering blood pressure. Hence, people with high blood pressure and cholesterol typically need different medications that target each problem separately.

Knowing your cholesterol and blood pressure numbers is essential while managing your blood pressure; cholesterol levels are important to staying healthy. 

How Do Cold Winter Temperatures Affect Your Heart?

When you think of health issues related to cold weather, two that usually come to mind are hypothermia and frostbite. However, a drop in temperature can impact your heart in a manner you may not expect. 

The main reason risk factor is biological. When you are cold, blood vessels narrow in your skin, fingers, and toes so that less heat is lost. But this narrowing (called ‘vasoconstriction’) creates more pressure in the rest of the circulation, meaning the heart has to work harder to pump blood around the body, increasing heart rate and blood pressure. This is a normal response to the cold, but the extra strain can lead to heart symptoms for people with an existing condition, especially during exercise.

Also, your heart works extra hard in the cold to maintain a healthy body temperature. Winter wind can make this more difficult because it causes your body to lose heat more quickly. If your body temperature drops below 95 degrees, hypothermia can damage your heart muscle.

People with angina or chest pain due to coronary heart disease may experience worsening symptoms during winter or find that they cannot be physically active when it’s cold. At the same time, the blood itself can become thicker and stickier and more likely to form clots – which can lead to a heart attack or stroke. So if you have a heart condition, staying warm in winter is important. If you feel worse when it’s cold, stay in on the coldest days, and exercise indoors.

Infection, particularly influenza (the flu), is more common in the colder months and affects our heart health. If you get the flu, your immune system aggressively fights the virus. The response leads to internal inflammation, elevating your blood pressure and putting extra stress on your heart. In this situation, plaque buildup (a waxy, fatty substance) in arteries becomes increasingly vulnerable to ruptures. As the plaque weakens and breaks, artery-clogging clots can form and disrupt blood flow to your heart — a blockage could trigger a heart attack. 

The increase in winter cardiac events holds even in milder climates. In a study of deaths from coronary heart disease in Los Angeles County between 1985 and 1996, death rates were highest in December and January and lowest in the summer and early fall. So even in milder climates such as the Southwest, people assimilate and get used to an environment when it’s even mildly colder that might be enough to increase cardiac events.

Of course, lifestyle factors also may explain the increase in heart-related incidents during the winter. For example, people tend to eat more fattening, salty foods and overindulge in alcohol during winter holidays, increasing their risk of heart troubles. 

Love sitting in front of a cozy fire when the temperatures drop and the snow starts to fall?  That, too, can affect your heart health as smoke from fireplaces contributes to more significant indoor air pollution, which can contribute to cardiovascular events.

Ways to mitigate winter impacts on your health

High-risk patients – older people and those with risk factors such as diabetes, obesity, hypertension, and high cholesterol should be more aware of the risks of cold weather and how they can protect themselves. Here are some preventive measures to keep in mind when it’s cold outside:

• Keeping yourself warm

• Stay active physically

• Eat a healthy diet

• Keep closely monitoring medical conditions like diabetes, blood pressure, kidney, and vascular problems.

• Don’t overexert yourself

• Consume warm food during winter to maintain your body temperature.

• If you are a heart patient, you should stay indoors on chilly days to prevent sudden cold strokes.

Keeping your heart healthy all year can make the winter months even easier. These additional tips are always in season. 

• Know your blood pressure, cholesterol & blood sugar numbers and work with your doctor to keep them in the normal range

• Take steps to manage your stress

• Listen to your body, and if you feel different, see your doctor

Can Blood Types Affect Your Heart Health?

A+, A-, B+, B-, AB+, AB-, O+, O-.  We all know these are the blood types everyone has, but is it possible your blood type can secretly affect your heart health? And how many of us know our blood type? A 2019 survey by Quest Diagnostics, a clinical laboratory company, found that 43% of Americans don’t know their blood types.

How can I find out my blood type?

Let’s start with how to learn your blood type. Unfortunately, the typical blood workup run by your PCP annually doesn’t usually include a test to determine your blood type, as it’s not considered a necessary part of routine exams or wellness checks. Additionally, insurance providers may not cover it unless there’s a medical reason for the test. However, there are a couple of ways you can learn this information. First, if you’ve had a surgical procedure or given birth, your blood type is likely on record and available upon request. If that doesn’t apply, donating blood is another relatively easy way to determine your blood type.  Not only do you find out a key piece of information about your body, but you can also help others by contributing to the short blood supply. 

In the United States, O+ is the most common blood type, found in about 37% of the population, followed by A+ in around 36% of people, according to the Stanford School of Medicine Blood Center. AB- is the rarest, occurring in less than 1% of Americans. The Red Cross considers people with Type O- blood the “universal blood donor” because it can be used in emergency blood transfusions for any other blood type.  Your blood type is determined by genetics and generally does not change during your lifetime.  However, in some cases, the blood types can change due to unusual circumstances, such as having a bone marrow transplant or getting certain cancers or infections. Not all of the changes in blood type are permanent.

How can blood type affect the health of your heart?

Scientists have been trying to better understand the relationship between disease and blood type since the early 1900s. When they first discovered antibodies and antigens on blood cells and plasma were inherited, the question about blood type and disease arose. The risk of heart disease came to the forefront in the late 1960s. It became clearer in the 1970s after the publication of the results from the Framingham Heart Study, which was the first large-scale study to identify common factors or characteristics that contribute to cardiovascular disease.

Since that early heart health study, a finding that continues to surface in various studies is people with type O blood could have a slightly different risk profile than people with type A & B blood types when it comes to certain health conditions. People with a non-O blood type (A, B, and AB) are at a higher risk of developing cardiovascular diseases, heart attacks, or experiencing heart failure. While the increased risk is small (types A or B had a combined 8% higher risk of heart attack and 10% increased risk of heart failure), the difference in blood clotting rates is much higher. People with type A and B blood were 51% more likely to develop deep vein thrombosis, clots usually occurring in the leg, and 47% more likely to develop a pulmonary embolism. This severe blood clotting disorder can also increase the risk of heart failure.

This increased risk might have to do with inflammation in the bodies of people with type A, type B, or type AB blood. The proteins in type A and type B blood may cause more "blockage" or "thickening" in the veins and arteries, increasing the risk of clotting and heart disease. 

While the research shows that blood type can tip the scale regarding someone's risk of developing heart disease, big factors such as diet, exercise, or even the level of pollution you're exposed to in your community are the major players in determining heart disease health. 

Should I change my lifestyle based on my blood type? 

There isn’t enough information to move this variable to the list of risk factors that physicians discuss with their patients, like age, cholesterol, nicotine habits, or blood pressure. While there is an effect of blood type on certain health variables, it is probably small and not nearly as consequential as having other more impactful health conditions such as diabetes. 

A person can’t change their blood type, but they can change behaviors like quitting smoking or exercising to reduce their risk for heart disease, which is where we should all be focused; variables that are under our control. 

More to come on how blood type affects your health, so stay tuned.

Research on whether your blood type affects your chances of disease is ongoing. Studies are investigating how blood types affect:

• Gastrointestinal microbiome (and related to this, your healthiest food choices).

• Blood clotting.

• Coronary heart disease.

• Developing certain types of cancer, such as stomach (gastric) and pancreatic cancer.

ACLS Instructor Highlight: Kristine DiCarlo, DNP, RN, BC-NPD, C-MNN

At ACLS Academy, one of the things we are most proud of is our instructors and their impeccable qualifications. Let us introduce you to Kristine DiCarlo, an experienced practitioner, and educator in Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP). 

What do you teach at ALCS? 

I teach the Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP), which I have taught for over ten years at various hospitals.

Tell us about your medical career experience & your current employment:

I’m the Nurse Educator for the NICU and Special Care Nursery at South Shore Hospital. I have almost 20 years of experience as a maternity nurse, including as the Clinical Nurse Educator for the Maternal Newborn Pavilion at Signature Healthcare Brockton Hospital. I am Board Certified in Nursing Professional Development and Certified in Maternal Newborn Nursing.

What is your educational background?

I received a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Boston College and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of South Carolina. Then I obtained my Master’s Degree in Nursing Education from Framingham State University.  I just recently received my Doctorate of Nursing Practice from Aspen University.

What inspired you to become a nurse educator? 

I didn’t think I would enjoy teaching as I was a super shy person through high school and college. My hospital co-workers encouraged me to become an NRP instructor, leading me to become a nurse educator pursuing my Master's and Doctorate. It's been the best thing I've ever done! 

Why a Maternity Nursing specialty?

I became interested in the maternity nursing specialty after having both of my daughters with a midwife in a birth center instead of a hospital. I loved my personalized, supportive relationship with my midwife during my pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum period. The experiences of my two deliveries piqued my desire to support and care for other women similarly.

How does your educational background prepare you as an instructor? 

It reinforces the importance of education and provides a higher level of thinking to bring the course content to different types of student learners. I’m approaching the instruction both as an educator and as a practitioner. 

What do you love about your current role? 

The opportunity to advance nursing practice on my unit as the Nurse Educator while still having the ability to be at the bedside. I love being an educator in the hospital setting because I can still be involved in direct patient care if needed. While I no longer take a patient assignments, I will jump in and help if they need it. It’s great to step in and be the baby nurse for that delivery or help you get the sick baby admitted to the NICU.  

When did you join ACLS? 

About four years ago.

What is the typical background of your ACLS Academy NRP students?

I have a wide range of participants, though typically, my students are individuals without any experience with NRP. I like to tailor the course to the needs of my students. For example, I teach nurses trying to get into maternity, student nurse midwives who require the class for their coursework, and paramedics looking to expand their knowledge. But I also teach travel nurses who need the course before their next assignment or midwives who do home births. Most of my students are not experienced practitioners, so they are very new to the course content.

What part of the NRP course is your favorite?

We practice all of the skills needed to resuscitate a baby. I love the hands-on piece; we have the mannequin, Ambu bag, and other equipment. The class ends in a mock code, putting it all together; here’s the scenario, here’s your baby, now resuscitate it for me – like a dress rehearsal for an event. 

Why ACLS Academy?  

I love how supportive Shelley and Chad are of their educators. They value the instructors, what we do, and the background we bring to the classroom.  They just appreciate what we do regardless of the frequency of each instructor's classes. 

Do you ever have a “Heartstrings moment” teaching at ACLS Academy? 

Pretty much every class. I teach evenings after I’ve worked a full day, and sometimes you hit that low energy point, but I get into the classroom and love it. Because my students aren’t experienced in NRP, I’m making a difference by teaching them these procedures. I usually conclude all my classes with a question as to what they’ve learned in our evening together, and the feedback and excitement about the information and skills I’ve imparted to them make me feel good. It’s even better when I’ve heard nurses indicate their real excitement and interest in pursuing maternity because of my class.  

When you aren’t working or teaching, what is your favorite thing to do?

My favorite thing to do when I can is to travel. I have traveled to Italy, Spain, Aruba, Bermuda, and the Bahamas, just to name a few places. My next trip is to Iceland to see the Northern Lights. Someday I hope to travel to Germany, Ireland, and Scotland!

Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) versus Emergency Nurse Pediatric Course (ENPC) Explained

You care for medical and major trauma pediatric patients in the ER. You want to take a good peds course, and maybe you are wondering if you should take a PALS or ENPC course. Or both?  Many nurses have felt stressed caring for pediatric emergency patients and are dissatisfied with their knowledge and skills for caring for this population. The complexity of the care of the pediatric patient requires specialized education, yet many emergency nurses lack this. In addition, most emergency nurses have limited experience in pediatrics. So which training course will set nurses and other medical professionals up for success when administering to children? Let’s explore PALS vs. ENPC to identify which courses are right for you.

What is PALS? 

PALS was developed by the American Heart Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics in 1988 as a specialty certification that specifically teaches medical professionals life-saving care to infants and children. PALS is not designed for the critically ill neonate and is not used in the NICU setting, the nursery in a hospital that provides around-the-clock care to sick or preterm babies. It is designed for healthcare providers who respond to emergencies in infants and children and for personnel in emergency response, emergency medicine, intensive care, and critical care units. PALS is more fundamental than ENPC and concentrates on airway and cardiac life support, like ACLS for infants and children.  

What does a PALS course teach?

Our ACLS Academy, PALS Provider Course, aims to improve outcomes for pediatric patients by preparing healthcare providers to properly assess patients with respiratory emergencies, shock, and cardiopulmonary arrest, provide advanced interventions, and utilize scenarios while applying critical thinking skills. The course includes a series of case scenario practices with simulations reinforcing essential concepts.

After successfully completing a PALS course, students will be able to:

• Perform high‐quality cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) per American Heart Association (AHA) basic life support (BLS) recommendations

• Differentiate between patients who do and do not require immediate intervention

• Recognize cardiopulmonary arrest early and begin CPR within 10 seconds

• Apply team dynamics

• Differentiate between respiratory distress and failure

• Perform early interventions for respiratory distress and failure

• Differentiate between compensated and decompensated (hypotensive) shock

• Perform early interventions for the treatment of shock

• Differentiate between unstable and stable patients with arrhythmias

• Describe clinical characteristics of instability in patients with arrhythmias

• Implement post-cardiac arrest management

What is ENPC?  

ENPC is a course designed to provide core-level pediatric knowledge and psychomotor skills needed to care for pediatric patients. 

Although Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS, American Heart Association) and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS, American Heart Association) have been available since the1980s, they did not focus on the nurse's role. Instead, these courses focused primarily on pediatric resuscitation, which is required by only a small percentage of pediatric patients seeking emergency care. In 1991, the Emergency Nurses Association formed its pediatric committee in response to a request from its membership for a greater focus on pediatric emergency care. As Pediatric patients often react more severely to physically traumatic events because of the size of their bodies and the lack of strength of some of their bodily systems, their healthcare provider community understood specialized training would be highly beneficial. The pediatric committee conducted a needs assessment which overwhelmingly supported the need for a pediatric emergency course. Thus, the Emergency Nursing Pediatric Course (ENPC) was developed and implemented in 1993. The goal of the ENPC is to improve the care of the pediatric patient as well as to improve the skill and confidence of the nurse providing the care in the emergency department setting and is similar to the Trauma Nursing Core Course (TNCC) except that it is designed for the especially fragile pediatric population.   

What does an ENPC course cover?

ACLS Academy’s ENPC is an 18-hour course designed to provide core-level pediatric knowledge and psychomotor skills needed to care for pediatric patients in the emergency setting. The course presents a systematic assessment model, integrates anatomy, physiology, and pathophysiology, and identifies appropriate interventions. The Emergency Nurse Association’s (ENA) Emergency Nursing Pediatric Course allows participants to strengthen and develop their pediatric emergency nursing skills while expanding their personal growth by collaborating with nurses from various practice settings. ENPC brings together participants from various emergency department settings and nurses in other nursing specialties. Course materials include the newly released 5th Edition with added content on dermatologic and environmental emergencies, human trafficking, and food allergies; it will be a great resource for you even after completing the course.

Course content covers: 

• Early patient assessment

• Systematic assessment of the pediatric patient

• Pediatric pathophysiology

• Pediatric triage

• Early interventions

• Family presence

• Pediatric care from birth through the teenage years

The course is taught using a variety of formats, including online modules, live simulations, patient experience videos, and instructor-led classroom discussions and skills stations that encourage participants to integrate their psychomotor abilities into a patient situation in a risk-free setting.  Upon successful course completion, you will receive a 4-year, internationally recognized verification as an ENPC provider and earn 18.25 contact hours of CNE.

Now deciding which course to take

Even if you’ve worked with adult populations for years, you may be surprised at the differences in caring for younger populations. Taking a training course specific to their care is prudent.  For medical professionals who need a good overview of pediatric care, PALS will provide training for administering to pediatric patients experiencing life-threatening medical emergencies. ACLS Academy provides a flexible schedule of PALS courses at multiple locations on the South Shore, including Quincy, East Bridgewater, and Newton Center.

However, if you are a nurse, ENPC is an extremely informative class designed especially for nurses in pediatric fields, representing the newest guidelines in pediatric trauma care as designated by the ENA. By taking the ENPC course, you’ll feel more confident in the nursing care that you are giving and take your nursing practice to the next level with continuing certifications that recognize your dedication to your important field.  Ready to take this next step?  Sign up for an ACLS Academy ENPC course today. 

An ACLS Academy Founder is an Inspirational Role Model

“When Shelley dreams, she dreams big. When she has a vision, she doesn’t stop until she makes it happen. For the past three years, our three sons and I have watched Shelley grow and develop as a student, mentor, and educator. Every night has been a late night, and every semester was a grind. She balanced school, work, family, and friends. Her drive was relentless, and her pursuit of excellence was inspiring.” – Chad Lynch, Shelley’s husband and business partner.

This past November, ACLS Co-Founder, Shelley Lynch, earned the title “Dr.” as she officially became Dr. Shelley Lynch.  Dr. Lynch graduated from the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill as The Diane Kjervik, JD, RN Scholar, earning her Doctorate of Nursing Practice.  UNC–Chapel Hill’s renowned Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program prepares nurses for the highest level of professional nursing practice. With the committed mentorship of dedicated faculty, DNP graduates are equipped to transform patient care in complex healthcare settings.  Evidence-based practice, organization and systems leadership, finance, health policy, information technology, population health, patient safety, and translational research to improve health outcomes are all emphasized in this rigorous — and rewarding — course of study.

We asked Dr. Lynch some questions about her educational journey and attaining the crowning achievement as a DNP:

1.     What is your Doctorate, and how long did the program take?

I have been in school for 25 years and since Kindergarten!

Four years for a Bachelor of Science in Nursing

Three years for a Master of Science in Nursing Education

Two years for a Post-Master's Certificate in Graduate Studies as a Nurse Practitioner

Three years to complete my Doctor of Nursing Practice

2.     What motivated you to make this commitment to furthering your education?

I have a strong desire to advance clinical practice and the application of research in the clinical area. I wanted to prepare for the advancement of clinical practice, leadership positions, management of health care delivery, and provide a strong influence on health policy. I wanted to obtain the skills needed to meet the many challenges of the modern healthcare system. 

3.     Why UNC-Chapel Hill?

UNC-Chapel is a world-class program and 6th in the country for a DNP. I originally wanted to study under and learn from Dr. Jones- Cheryl B. Jones, RN, Ph.D., FAAN. She is a professor and director of the Hillman Scholars Program in Nursing Innovation and a Research Fellow at the Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC-CH). I found a faculty of world-class professors that motivated me to push harder and problem-solve. I’m proud to share that the chair of my research, Dr. Ashley Kellish, along with my committee members, Dr. Nancy Street and Dr. Leslie Sharpe, plan to publish my dissertation this year.  

4.    What was your favorite class in your Doctorate Program?

I am a perfectionist when it comes to school. All of them except applied statistics! I wish I could retake a few of them to learn without the pressure of wanting an A.

One of my favorite experiences was not a class but working as a research assistant with Dr. Jones on a Pandemic Workforce Study conducted during the pandemic outbreak. We presented the research findings to the General Assembly in North Carolina. It was a life-changing moment in my academic career. 

5.     What did you find to be the most challenging class or topic in your Doctorate Program?

Economics and Financing of Health Care Systems was my most challenging class, which is interesting because I have built companies, but learning the theories of economics was intense during my final semester. It made me even more grateful to have my co-owner and husband, with his MBA in management, to help run the companies!

6.     Explain in layperson's terms your dissertation/capstone topic of Social Determinants of Health and what you learned.

Health is impacted by where we live, where we play, and where we work. If healthcare providers strive to improve health, we must focus on the social determinants of health (SDOH). To improve the social determinants of health, we need to start with screening for them during office or hospital visits and provide a link from patients to community services to help improve the social determinants.

7.     What was your favorite guilty pleasure during your Doctorate journey?

Popcorn and hot sauce during writing sessions.

8.     What are your thoughts about being the Diane Kjervik, JD, RN Scholar at UNC Chapel Hill?

I am honored and humbled—all of us nurses have some big shoes to fill with Dr. Kjervik's passing. 

9.     What was the hardest challenge of balancing school, work, family, and friends?

My husband is my rock. I don't know how he managed it all since there were times when I was disconnected entirely. When COVID hit, and I was working a 60+ hour night shift in the critical care unit, he held us all together. We are a true partnership, and success is rarely accomplished alone. I owe my success to the support of my excellent partner in life and to running this company. 

10.  Your advice to others considering a Doctorate.

 There is never a good time. A journey of 1000 miles begins with one step. 

11.  What's next for you in utilizing your new Doctorate?  And are there any additional academic degrees in your future?

I have promised my friends and family that this is it. No post-doctoral studies for me in the near future. It's time to continue to lead and encourage others to lead. 

12.  Any final thoughts?

 Wahooo!!!!

(we couldn’t agree more, Shelley!)

Congratulations, Dr. Shelley Lynch. ACLS Academy is very proud of your achievement and your vision and commitment to educating others in the practice of AHA lifesaving skills. The global healthcare community has a brighter future with your vision, stewardship, and compassion.

Cardiac Arrest in the News with Recent Athlete and Celebrity Medical Incidents

Cardiac arrest has been front and center this last month with the medical emergencies for two high-profile individuals – Damar Hamlin and Lisa Marie Presley.  

Lisa Marie Presley, daughter of Elvis Presley, died at 54 after going into cardiac arrest and being rushed to a hospital.

Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin, 24, went into cardiac arrest and collapsed on the field on January 2 during a game between the Bills and the Cincinnati Bengals. Players, spectators, and a national television audience watching the playoff game were horrified to see a young professional athlete fighting for his life on the field of play in real-time. Few people have ever witnessed someone go into cardiac arrest - or a medical team making a picture-perfect lifesaving response. 

We all typically think of heart problems being associated with older individuals who may not be in the best physical health and may experience a heart attack. We wouldn’t envision a young athlete succumbing to a cardiovascular incident seemingly out of the blue. So what exactly is the difference between cardiac arrest versus a heart attack?  Let’s break it down.

What is a Cardiac Arrest?

Cardiac arrest is when a heart unexpectedly stops beating because of rapid, abnormal impulses that override the heart’s natural rhythm. The result is a lack of blood supply to any organs, the patient stops breathing, and everything stops. When there is a lack of blood circulation to the body’s organs, cells in the organs begin to die. It is often referred to as an “electrical” problem.   

Symptoms of cardiac arrest—which may start without warning—include fainting, racing heartbeat, dizziness, or lightheadedness. Those most likely to be affected by cardiac arrest are adults, with more than 356,000 Americans experiencing it outside of a hospital each year. Unfortunately, about 89% of people who have a cardiac arrest outside of a hospital will die.

Cardiac arrest is very different from the more common heart attack.

What is a Heart Attack?

A heart attack, which doctors call myocardial infarction, is when the heart cannot circulate blood, typically due to a blockage. It is a circulation, or “plumbing,” problem usually caused by a blockage to an artery that reaches the heart, disrupting circulation and causing the muscle, or part of it, to die.  A buildup of plaque in the arteries mainly causes blockages causing heart attacks. Plaque forms when cholesterol combines with fat, calcium, and other substances in the blood. Combined, these elements harden into plaque, which can then rupture, causing a blood clot. Large clots can completely block the flow of blood through an artery. The damage is much more localized, and people usually feel symptoms.

Common warning signs of a heart attack are discomfort or pain in the chest; discomfort in other upper body areas, including pain in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw, or stomach; and shortness of breath. Other possible signs include cold sweat, nausea, or lightheadedness.  Symptoms usually start slowly and persist for hours, days, or weeks, though they can also be immediate.

People at risk for heart attacks have a family history of heart attacks, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, lack of exercise, and cigarette smoking. About 635,000 Americans have new heart attacks each year. Almost half of them will have a second one. The risk of heart attack is great for those over 45. Heart attacks can be fatal but do not automatically lead to death. Immediate emergency medical help can often prevent a serious outcome. About 1 in 7 Americans die of coronary heart disease, which includes heart attacks. Overall, heart attacks are more common than cardiac arrest in the United States, and a heart attack can cause cardiac arrest. 

Young athletes almost never have a heart attack because their arteries aren't compromised by diabetes or high blood pressure. You can have perfect plumbing in your home but still, have an electrical problem. A young athlete might have perfect plumbing around his heart but still, develop or have an electrical problem.  Though it’s important to note that cardiac arrest in young athletes is rare - a 2018 study found just under seven deaths per 100,000 teen athletes a year - less than half a percent.

We can all be trained to take action when every second counts

In the case of Damar Hamlin and his cardiac arrest on the playing field, the doctors say the immediate CPR restored his heartbeat, while the AED restored the rhythm, enabling his amazing recovery. Damar Hamlin is just one of the many individuals who are living proof of why everyone should know CPR. You don't have to be an expert. You just have to be available and willing. 

Being CPR trained means you know how to quickly and properly administer CPR. This can mean life or death for someone in medical distress. Those responsible for children, the elderly, or anyone not fully capable of taking care of themselves should consider CPR training and anyone in a position that requires them to be around the water, live electrical lines, or do other dangerous activities regularly.

CPR is quick and easy to learn. It can be easily mastered with sufficient hands-on training and practice. CPR courses can take anywhere from 2-4 hours long in duration. The steps are fairly simple, and in a hands-on skills training class, you'll use a CPR training mannequin to learn exactly where and how hard you need to press to provide effective chest compressions. For those who are reluctant to learn CPR for fear of "doing it wrong" or causing physical harm to the victim, remember that CPR is designed for someone who isn't breathing and doesn't have a heartbeat. They are clinically dead, and you cannot make their condition worse. As a bystander, the only wrong thing you could do is nothing at all. We strongly doubt anything you can learn in about 2-4 hours is as effective as this.

At ACLS Academy, we have three different variations of Heartsaver CPR courses: 

1. HEARTSAVER CPR/AED/FIRST AID

2. HEARTSAVER CPR/AED, OR

3. PEDIATRIC CPR/AED/FIRST AID

American Heart Association Heartsaver courses are designed to prepare non-healthcare providers for the ability to effectively administer CPR, including the use of AEDs for adult, child, and/ or infant responses. These courses are typically required for lifeguards, physical trainers, restaurant workers, coaches, and similar groups. In addition to CPR & AED use, the Heartsaver course offers an additional, supplemental First Aid training component which can be done as a stand-alone course or as an add-on to the CPR & AED training.

Our Heartsaver course covers the following:

• Responding to and managing illnesses and injuries in adults, children, and infants.

• First aid basics for common first aid emergencies.

• How to perform lifesaving skills. 

• How to recognize cardiac arrest and what to do until EMS arrives.

Our Heartsaver Blended Learning courses include an online portion and a hands-on skills session. The online portion provides the flexibility of completing training at your own pace, either at work, home, or wherever you have Internet access. The hands-on portion includes a skills practice and testing session conducted in person with an AHA Instructor. The skills session can take approximately 1-2 hours. 

Sign up here for ACLS Academy's Heartsaver courses, or contact us for questions or additional information.

We Have a New Look!

You may have noticed we have a new look these days! We recently updated our logo to include our parent company name and our status as an AHA-aligned training center. (insert logo image)

We are proud that ACLS Academy has been designated an AHA Training Center. The American Heart Association has established a fleet of Training Centers to help deliver Emergency Cardiovascular Care (ECC) educational courses. This fleet of Training Centers helps strengthen the Chain of Survival by monitoring the proper administration and quality of the Emergency Cardiovascular Care Courses.

As an AHA Training Center, ACLS Academy had to meet AHA criteria, including:

1. Teaching AHA courses in accordance with the official AHA Guidelines.

2. Maintaining at least five AHA Instructors who collectively train at least 3000 BLS students, 600 ACLS students, and 450 PALS students each year.

3. Owning and maintaining all equipment needed for teaching AHA courses.

4. Meeting minimum technical requirements such as using the latest version of one of the top Internet browsers, maintaining knowledge of and effectively using the AHA Instructor Network, eCards, eLearning, eBooks, etc.

As an AHA Training Center, ACLS Academy is responsible for managing many moving pieces, some of which include:

• Providing our Training Sites and instructors with timely communication of any new or updated information about the Training Centers

• Regional or National procedures

• Course content

• Policies

• Course administration could affect an instructor while carrying out their responsibilities

American Heart Association Training Centers are the most recognized and supported training collective in the United States because of the AHA's quality research and curriculum. Furthermore, AHA Training Centers are known for having the most consistent instructor quality and the best background in the courses they teach. Looking for us on the AHA website? We are listed as ACLS Academy – Lynch Medical Consulting (MA21003).

We took this opportunity to celebrate our new status as an AHA-Training Center with a new logo! As you can see, we only changed a few things, including adding our official company name, Lynch Medical Consulting, and the designation as an AHA Training Center. We updated the font to be more modern too! We hope you love it.

We invite you to attend an upcoming training to learn more about the quality ACLS Academy delivers!

February is American Heart Month in the United States

Why do we observe American Heart Month every February?  Because heart disease is the number one cause of death for most groups, affecting all ages, genders, and ethnicities, with more than 650,000 Americans dying from it every year. 

The annual celebration began in 1963 to encourage Americans to join the battle against heart disease. In 1964, President Lyndon B. Johnson recognized February as the nation’s first official American Heart Month.10 days after President Lyndon’s Proclamation, Congress issued a joint resolution requesting the President to issue an annual proclamation, which has been honored annually by every sitting President since. (both presidents capitalized or none...)

In his remarks announcing February 1964 as the first American Heart Month, President Johnson urged “the people of the United States to give heed to the nationwide problem of the heart and blood-vessel diseases, and to support the programs required to bring about its solution.” Johnson’s action marked a pivotal point in the nation’s approach to addressing cardiovascular disease. From 1960 to 2010, the US population increased by more than 72 percent, yet the annual deaths from cardiovascular diseases decreased by the tens of thousands! We’ve come a long way since 1964.

In February 2022, President Biden’s proclamation unveiled a new health initiative stating, “My Administration is committed to supporting Americans in their efforts to achieve better heart health, as well as closing the racial gaps in cardiovascular disease. That is why I have asked Congress to launch a major new initiative — the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health, or ARPA-H—which would invest billions of dollars in preventing, detecting, and treating cancer, cardiovascular conditions, and other deadly diseases.  My administration is also working across Federal agencies to develop new programs to alleviate heart health disparities, including those that threaten maternal health.” 

Additionally, following tradition, President Biden’s proclamation also recognized Friday, February 4th, as National Wear Red Day to honor those we have lost to heart disease and raise awareness of the actions we can take to prevent it.  National Wear Red Day was established in 2004 as the “The Go Red for Women” campaign by the American Heart Association to raise awareness about the number 1 cause of death in women. The recognition of this day and its campaign is now part of the American Heart Month tradition.

American Heart Month brings together a wide array of public, private, and governmental organizations to shed light on how far we’ve come and the work that needs to continue. While annual deaths from cardiovascular disease and stroke have declined since the inaugural American Heart Month, heart disease continues to be a public health burden and a leading cause of death for both men and women. Cardiovascular disease accounts for one of every four deaths in the United States every year, and many of these are preventable.

Often considered a condition for the older generation, heart disease and other associated illnesses are rising across all age groups. That is why American Heart Month is so important to us all. It is a fantastic opportunity to learn more about the warning signs and symptoms and what we can do in our everyday lives to mitigate risk to our hearts.

Consider the following.

• Heart disease kills more people than all forms of cancer combined.

• Heart attacks affect more people every year than the population of Dallas, Texas.

• 83% believe heart attacks can be prevented but are not motivated to do anything.

• 72% of Americans do not consider themselves at risk for heart disease.

• 58% put no effort into improving their heart health.

Risk factors for heart disease include obesity, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, smoking, diabetes, and excessive alcohol use.

The good news is heart disease is preventable in most cases with healthy choices, which include not smoking, maintaining a healthy weight, controlling blood sugar and cholesterol, treating high blood pressure, getting at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity a week, and getting regular checkups. American Heart Month is a great chance to start some heart-healthy habits!

Hospitals and health systems around the country celebrate American Hearth Month by raising awareness in their communities about heart disease. It provides a significant opportunity to emphasize sharing best practices, aligning measurements, advancing implementation strategies, and providing leadership to focus on the burden of cardiovascular disease. 

If you’re not doing so, get involved in your local community’s American Heart Month. Spread the word about strategies for preventing heart disease and living healthy lives.

One fun way to celebrate American Heart Month is by enrolling in a lifesaving course so you can be the hero to someone who might need it! Our Basic Life Support (BLS) class provides instructions for CPR & AED (automated external defibrillator) use. Register here!

Join Damar’s #3forHeart CPR Challenge

February is American Heart Month, and this year the AHA wants everyone to ‘Be the Beat’ so every household has at least one person who knows CPR.

Resources here! Hands-Only CPR | American Heart Association CPR & First Aid

• Don’t Drop The Beat Playlist

• Learn CPR Poster

• Cardiac Arrest vs. Heart Attack Factsheet

Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin’s tragic cardiac arrest during a game of Monday Night Football is a reminder to the world about the importance of everyone knowing CPR.

Each day, nearly 1,000 people in the U.S. die from a sudden cardiac arrest. Immediate CPR was key in Hamlin’s survival, and the Be the Beat campaign can be our response for companies and volunteers who are following his story and are looking for a way to be a part of the solution.

Join Damar’s #3forHeart CPR Challenge Damar Hamlin's #3forHeart CPR Challenge | American Heart Association

Step 1. Learn CPR As Damar knows, CPR saves lives. Join Damar in watching this short video to learn Hands-Only CPR. You can be the beat for someone you love.

Step 2. Give Donate to the American Heart Association to fund CPR education and training, and other lifesaving programs and scientific research.

Step 3: Share Challenge 3 friends by tagging them with #3forHeart on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

Register for a class to learn CPR and save lives!