What
Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) will kick off the fund-raising season for the Central Massachusetts Heart Walk, an annual event sponsored by the American Heart Association (AHA), with a talk on how to become "heart healthy," CPR training, and information on how to register for the May 2 Heart Walk, which will be held at Cristoforo Columbo Park in Worcester. The kick-off is open to the public. WPI has strong ties to the American Heart Association; biomedical engineering assistant professors Glenn R. Gaudette and Marsha W. Rolle are, respectively, co-chair of this year's Central Mass. Heart Walk and a Heart Walk Executive Leadership Team member. In addition, WPI has been awarded two AHA grants and an AHA summer student research fellowship, which demonstrate that money raised from the AHA comes back to support research in the Worcester region.
Kick-off events are:
- "Preventing and Surviving a Heart Attack," a talk by Robert Phillips, MD, PhD, director of the Heart and Vascular Center of Excellence at UMass Memorial Healthcare in Worcester.
- "CPR Anytime," a free, 30-minute instruction by WPI EMT students on emergency bystander resuscitation, 1-6 p.m. This is not a full certification, but an abbreviated training course. The AHA will also have "CPR Anytime" home-training kits available for purchase;
- AHA staff will be on hand to promote the organization's "Start!" walking program and to register new teams for the Central Mass. Heart Walk.
When
Tuesday, March 24: noon to 7 p.m.
Where
Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Campus Center Odeum, 100 Institute Road, Worcester, Mass.
About the American Heart Association
Founded in 1924, the American Heart Association is the nation's oldest and largest voluntary health organization dedicated to building healthier lives, free of heart disease and stroke. To help prevent, treat and defeat these diseases — America's No. 1 and No. 3 killers — it funds cutting-edge research, conducts lifesaving public and professional educational programs, and advocates to protect public health. To learn more or join in helping all Americans, call 1-800-AHA-USA1 or visit americanheart.org.
