Volunteers Welcomed to Create Little Hats for Big Hearts
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on Wednesday, December 6, 2017
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Heart health complications can occur at any age. To draw attention to heart health issues, Spencer Hospital is joining the American Heart Association, The Children’s Heart Foundation, and hospitals across the state, in Iowa’s Little Hats, Big Hearts initiative. The program outfits newborns with knitted red caps during Heart Month in February to raise awareness of heart disease, the number one killer of Americans, and congenital heart defects, a condition that affects 1 in every 110 babies born in the US. All babies born at participating hospitals during the month of February will receive a hat.
“Little Hats, Big Hearts brings attention to congenital heart defects, the most common type of birth defect in Iowa” said Susan Zulk, Spencer Hospital representative. “We are proud to partner with the American Heart Association and the Children’s Heart Foundation to bring the community together in support of local families affected by heart disease, and thank the incredible volunteers who make the program possible.”
The American Heart Association is asking for volunteers to knit or crochet red baby hats to distribute to participating hospitals. Participation is easy, go to www.heart.org/littlehatsbighearts to find knitting patterns, participating offices and more. The AHA is also accepting donations to support the program, including yarn, for those who would like to contribute but don’t knit or crochet. The AHA plans to deliver more than 3,000 hats to hospitals across the state this year.
Little Hats, Big hearts began in Chicago in 2014. The project has grown to include 660 hospitals in 40 states handing out more than 100,000 hats. In addition to using red hats to raise awareness of heart disease and congenital heart defects, Little Hat, Big Hearts also drives awareness for the American Heart Association’s Support Network, an online forum for families affected by heart disease and stroke.
- childbirth
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