CUTLINE – Pictured are staff from the HCMC Women’s Center in the nursery displaying the new red beanies that will be given away during the month of February thanks to the American heart Association’s Little Hats Big Hearts Campaign.
Paris, TN — The American Heart Association’s “Little Hats Big Hearts” campaign raises awareness among new parents that congenital heart defects are the most common type of birth defect, affecting about 1 in 100 newborns each year.
In recognition of this as well as National Wear Red Day and American Heart Month, the Women’s Center at Henry County Medical Center has partnered with the American Heart Association to distribute red beanies to all the newborns delivered in February or until supplies run out.
HCMC joins other West TN hospitals including Jackson Madison County General, West TN Healthcare Volunteer Hospital, and West TN Healthcare Dyersburg in distributing these beanies to celebrate the new life and heart health of newborns as part of the American Heart Association’s National Wear Red Day campaign. Local volunteers across West TN have knitted these little hats with love.
“We are excited to provide our new moms and babies these cute little beanies to recognize American Heart Month,” said Rhonda Crossett, Director of HCMC Women’s Center. “Our staff will enjoy sharing this gift from the American Heart Association with our new arrivals in February.”
Additionally, HCMC Departments will be part of a “Wear Red” movement on Friday, February 1 by participating in a photo contest with partners from each department wearing red and taking photos that will be posted to our social media platforms for the community to judge what department wears red the best. Be sure to look for all our photos on Friday and select the department you would like to win! The photo with the most “likes” will win and receive bragging rights.
“It is so important to bring awareness to the No. 1 killer in the US, TN, and Henry County,” said Tory Daughrity, Director of Marketing and Public Relations at HCMC. “We hope that with these two creative activities as well as our annual Heart Health Fair on Feb. 19, we can encourage our community and region to make heart health a priority.”
Our Annual Listen to Your Heart health fair will be Tuesday, February 19 at the HCMC Diagnostic Center Atrium from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. with many educational booths and screenings including blood pressure checks, cholesterol lipid panel, blood glucose, body mass index, stroke assessments, sleep assessments, and carotid artery ultrasounds by appointment. Goodies, give-aways and healthy snacks will also be available.
For more information about all our Heart Health activities at HCMC, call our FindLine at 731-644-3463.
American Heart Association
The American Heart Association funds more research into congenital heart defects than any other organization outside of the federal government. In November 2015, the AHA and Children’s Heart Foundation committed $22.5 million to congenital heart defect research through 2021.In January 2016, the two organizations gave almost $800,000 to fund seven research projects investigating congenital heart defects, the nation’s leading killer of infants with birth defects. About 40,000 children are born with a heart defect each year, the most common kind of birth defect. Defects range from simple problems to severe malformations. Research advances have allowed more infants to survive to adulthood.
About Henry County Medical Center
Located in Paris, TN, Henry County Medical Center is a progressive, integrated healthcare organization committed to serving the healthcare needs of Henry County and the adjoining region. Including a 142-bed hospital and other facilities, the medical center provides a variety of outpatient services, as well as inpatient care. Henry County Medical Center is a county-owned and operated nonprofit institution. For more information: www.hcmc-tn.org.