Throughout the year, our blog will feature AHA volunteer stories of survival and hope. We know there are thousands of stories like these - thats why we want to say “Thanks” to all of you for giving your time and sharing your lives with us. You can’t spell CURE without U! Thank you for all you do to build healthier lives free of cardiovascular disease and stroke. YOU’RE THE CURE!

Wednesday, June 30, 2010

New Website Educates Public on Healthcare Laws

As health care reform implementation moves forward, there are a number of new rules, programs, and resources rolling out that heart disease and stroke patients need to be informed about. A new insurance program created by the Affordable Care Act, called Pre-existing Condition Insurance Plans, begins in many states starting July 1st. While the exact terms and conditions of the coverage will vary by state, this is an important option for uninsured individuals with pre-existing conditions to explore. And to help consumers explore and better understand their health insurance options, both private and public, the Department of Health and Human Services is also launching their new consumer website, healthcare.gov, on July 1st. This site will be a valuable resource to all Americans looking to determine what the new health care law means to them. Below are some sample social media messages to help spread the word.

FACEBOOK POSTS-
Pre-Ex Plan Launch- link to http://yourethecure.blogspot.com/2010/06/new-health-insurance-resources-launch.html

Today marks the beginning of a more affordable health care coverage option for uninsured Americans with pre-existing conditions. Learn more about these new Pre-existing Condition Insurance Plans today.

Are you or a loved one uninsured and been denied insurance because of a pre-existing medical condition? If so, you may be eligible for a new program intended to make health care coverage affordable to you. Learn more …
Web Portal Launch- link to www.healthcare.gov

Be an informed health insurance consumer. Visit the Department of Health and Human Services’ new site to learn about your options and protections under the new health care reform law.

Today, healthcare.gov launched to help provide consumers with the information they need to better understand their health care coverage options. Visit the site today to learn what the new health care reform law means for you.

As a heart disease or stroke survivor, navigating your health care insurance options can be challenging. But a new online resource from the Dept. of Health and Human Services aims to make identifying your options easier. Check it out today!

Wondering what the new health care reform laws mean for you? Check out the Department of Health and Human Services’ new website for more information about the public and private health insurance programs and plans that may be available to you.

TWITTER “TWEETS”
Pre-existing condition insurance plans will help uninsured heart disease and stroke patients attain health coverage. www.healthcare.gov

AHA encourages heart disease and stroke patients to take advantage of Pre-existing condition insurance plans. www.healthcare.gov

New insurance program provides temporary relief for uninsured individuals with pre-existing conditions www.healthcare.gov

@HHSGov launches www.healthcare.gov aimed at providing helpful tools and resources to consumers

New @HHSGov health reform website will help consumers find options for insurance coverage- www.healthcare.gov

Monday, June 21, 2010

Take the AHA’s online Healthy Kids Quiz and join our fight for healthier kids today!

Do you know how many kids are struggling with childhood obesity in the U.S.? Or what percentage of schools provide physical education? I think you’ll be shocked to learn the answers.

Take the AHA’s online Healthy Kids Quiz to test your knowledge about the health of our kids and to learn what you can do to make a difference: http://healthykidquiz.heart.org/quiz/Quiz.html
Right now, Congress is working on the Child Nutrition Act reauthorization, which is a big opportunity to improve nutrition and physical activity in our nation’s schools. So, we must do our part to urge our legislators to act now and make the health of our kids a priority.

Take the quiz at http://healthykidquiz.heart.org/quiz/Quiz.html, learn the facts, and help join the AHA’s fight for healthier kids today!
Share this post with your friends on Facebook and Twitter, here are some suggested posts:
Facebook: link to http://healthykidquiz.heart.org/quiz/Quiz.html
Do you know how many kids are considered obese in the U.S.? Or what percentage of schools provide daily physical education? Test your knowledge by taking the AHA’s Healthy Kids Quiz!

Knowledge is power! Take the AHA’s online Healthy Kids Quiz and join our fight for healthier kids today!

In just two minutes, you can find out how much you know about our kids’ health and what you can do to make a difference. Take the AHA’s Healthy Kids Quiz today!

Proper nutrition and regular physical education for our kids at school? Yes, please! Take the AHA’s Healthy Kids Quiz to learn more and to join our fight for healthier kids!

Twitter: link to http://bit.ly/anTINg

Knowledge is power! Take the AHA’s online Healthy Kids Quiz and join the fight for healthier kids today! http://bit.ly/anTINg

How much you know about our kids’ health and what you can do to make a difference? Take the AHA’s Healthy Kids Quiz! http://bit.ly/anTINg
Check out this great AHA quiz to test your knowledge about the health of our kids! http://bit.ly/anTINg

Tuesday, June 1, 2010

Lend Your Voice to CPR & AED Awareness in June!

The sad truth is most people don’t survive a cardiac arrest. Getting people to act quickly in a cardiac arrest emergency is critical to a victim’s survival because time is not on their side. Four to six minutes is the window of opportunity for someone to act before it is too late, but fewer than one-third of cardiac arrest victims get CPR from someone nearby.

The American Heart Association wants more people to take action and help cardiac arrest victims. That’s why we’re challenging 1 million people to learn about CPR during National CPR & AED Awareness Week, June 1-7. by learning about Hands-Only CPR, playing Be the Beat to learn the correct rate of CPR compressions, or recording your CPR & AED training or the training you gave someone else.

Explore the site and be sure to get counted every time you train or train someone else. The counter will stay open throughout May and June, so don’t stop! Every training helps us create safer communities and save lives.

Here's some social media messages you can post to your Twitter, Facebook, and other social media accounts to help spread the word:

Twitter:
The Amer Heart Assoc wants a million people to learn about CPR during #cprweek June 1-7. Find out how at www.cprweek.org
It’s #cprweek. Be one of a million. Take a class, watch a video, or play an online game to learn more about CPR and AEDs. www.cprweek.org
Learn about CPR and log your experiences at www.cprweek.org. Our goal is to get a million people educated about CPR and AEDs. #cprweek
More than 92% of people who suffer cardiac arrest outside the hospital die from it. But you can help. #cprweek June 1-7. www.cprweek.org

Facebook:

· The American Heart Association wants one million teens and adults to learn about cardiopulmonary resuscitation during CPR Week, June 1-7. Our goal is to increase awareness about CPR and automated external defibrillator (AEDs) so that people will know what to do if someone suddenly collapses from cardiac arrest.

LINK TO: www.cprweek.org

· It’s CPR Week! We’ve made learning the basics of CPR and how to use an AED fun and entertaining through interactive games, music and videos. Take an action and get counted toward our goal of getting 1 million teens and adults to learn about CPR.

LINK TO: www.cprweek.org

· Take a class, watch a Hands-Only demonstration video, play our “Be the Beat” game or train on a CPR Anytime kit. Once you have learned about CPR, log your experience online! A real-time heat map will track the number of people who have taken action in communities nationwide.

LINK TO: www.cprweek.org

General Post for Tuesday, June 1:

· CPR Week starts today! Our goal is to get a million teens and adults to learn about cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Will you help? Learn about CPR and log your activities online!

LINK: www.cprweek.org