NYS Lobby Day!

   On Tuesday, April 15, I was honored to participate in the American Heart Association's New York State Lobby Day in Albany. I started off the day with other advocates at a small session teaching us how to communicate with lawmakers effectively. We also reviewed our "asks" for the day: asking law makers to support the CPR in School Bill (making it mandatory for students to learn CPR as a graduation requirement), and asking lawmakers to support a Pulse Ox Bill (making it mandatory for all newborns to be screened for heart defects using a pulse ox).

   Afterwards, I headed over the the official Hands Only CPR station, where I volunteered to teach people walking by Hands Only CPR. Michele, the woman in charge of the station was so nice, and I had a great time taking an hour from my day to teach people CPR.

Teaching Hands Only CPR to people!

   After teaching CPR, I went straight to my first meeting. I first met with Lisa Lombardo, who was a staff member in Assemblyman Thiele's office. The meeting went well, and I even gave her the link to my Southampton High School CPR video, which you can see here. Later, I met with Senator LaValle who I was thrilled to hear supported both bills one hundred percent! After our meeting, I even got to discuss school and my plans for the future with him! He was such a nice man! Next, I met off the floor with Assemblyman McDonough and I got some good vibes from him! My last meeting of the day was with a staff member of Senator Martins, and it seemed to be a positive meeting!

With Senator LaValle after my meeting with him!

In front of the Lobby Day sign!

   I had such a great time at the Lobby Day! I would like to thank Julie Hart and Robin Vitale for inviting me to take part in a day dedicated to raising awareness and making a difference. I also want to thank Jessica DiMeo who attended all of the meetings with my mom and me. She was wonderful company and helped us so much! Lastly, thank you to my mom who drove me to Albany and allowed me to take part in Lobby Day. Soon, I'll be able to drive myself! :)

XOXO

Sarah

Southampton High School Students Learn Hands Only CPR in Gym Classes

   Because February is Heart Month, I planned a few special events at my high school. The previous events included the two Red Out Basketball Games and Go Red Week (read all about those events here). The next thing I had up my sleeve was to teach the students in my school hands only CPR.

   The American Heart Association believes that everyone, including kids, should learn basic hands only CPR. This is because you never know when someone is going to suffer from cardiac arrest. A high school student is just as capable of saving a life as an adult is. However, in New York State, CPR is not a graduation requirement. CPR isn't even taught in health class at Southampton High School. As a Youth Advocate for the American Heart Association, I have spoken to New York legislators about this issue, and I believe it is my job to spread awareness of this as well. 

   After speaking to my principal, my school's gym teachers, and the Southampton Volunteer EMS, the plan was a go. From February 12-15, students learned hands only CPR in their gym classes. Volunteer EMS members came into these classes to teach the student how to save lives with CPR. The students also learned how to use an AED so that they may use one before an ambulance arrives. Here are some pictures of the students learning CPR:

I also made a video for the occasion:

*note: students were not CPR certified, but trained in hands only CPR

   I have to thank all of the people who helped me make this a reality. First I need to thank Dr. Brian Zahn, the Southampton High School principal. Without his support, I would have had a very hard time raising awareness in my school. Next, I would like to thank the gym teachers at my school. They were so helpful and I was very thankful for the fact that they gave up time to fit the CPR into the curriculum. I also need to thank all of the volunteers of the Southampton EMS who took time from their day to teach students how to save a life. Lastly, I would like to thank Terri Zenobio, Robin Vitale, and everyone from the American Heart Association for providing me the tools to make this possible. Without any of these people, I don't know what I would have done. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart. 

   Don't forget to check back at this blog to stay up to date on all things Heart U! If you haven't already, like us on Facebook too! More exciting things are to come!

XOXO,

Sarah

To learn more about American Heart Association Advocacy and CPR click here.

To like us on Facebook click here.

If you live in the Southampton area and would like to take a CPR/AED certification class from the Southampton Village EMS, click here.

Southampton High School Goes Red for Women in 2013!

   During the week of January 27, Southampton High School students celebrated the days leading up to National Go Red for Women Day. Starting on Tuesday, volunteers sold special American Heart Association t-shirts, bracelets, and Red Dress pins to the students, and continued to sell the special merchandise through Thursday.

Billy, Kaley, and I selling American Heart Association merchandise. Madison also helped out!

   On January 29, the Southampton High School Junior Varsity and Varsity basketball teams participated in the 2nd Annual Go Red for Women Basketball Game against Wyandanch High School. Both teams wore red American Heart Association t-shirts during their warm ups. During both half times, I was able to speak to the crowd about heart disease and the importance of staying heart healthy. My friends and I also collected donations for the American Heart Association. It was a very successful night for raising awareness!

The Junior Varsity team wears the American Heart Association t-shirts during warm ups!

With the Varsity team... they won their game!

With the Junior Varsity team... they won their game as well!

   Students wrapped up their week by wearing red to school on February 1- National Go Red for Women Day. I was thrilled to see that more students wore red compared to last year! With the help of my mother (who is a wonderful photographer), I was even able to get a picture of all of the students and teachers who wore red to school! We even tried to arrange ourselves into a heart shape!

Students and teachers from my school who wore red on National Go Red for Women Day!

   Thank you to my principal, Dr. Zahn, who allowed me to hold this successful week-long event. Also, thank you to both the Southampton and Wyandanch Varsity and Junior Varsity teams for allowing me to raise awareness of heart disease at their basketball game. Congratulations to both teams! Lastly, thank you to the students of Southampton High School who wore red on National Go Red for Women Day. With your help, we were able to raise awareness in our community.

   As always, please remember to follow Heart U on this blog, as well as the official Heart U Facebook page so that you can see what we are doing to raise awareness of living heart healthy lifestyles. Exciting things are to come in 2013!

XOXO,

Sarah

New Yorkers: We Need YOUR Help!

   Attention, New Yorkers! The CPR in Our Schools Bill is posted for a hearing in the Assembly Education Committee TOMORROW! The American Heart Association needs YOU to call Speaker Sheldon Silver at 518-455-3791 as soon as you can today (June 18, 2012) and thank him for championing this legislation. This change to school curriculums can help SAVE MANY LIVES! Thank you!

XOXO,

Sarah

CPR in Our Schools Bill in the Senate

   Good morning everyone! Yesterday I learned that the CPR in Our Schools bill, a piece of legislation that other American Heart Association Advocates and I worked to hard to advocate for in Albany, passed in the Senate and is currently being brought to the Assembly! This is a HUGE advancement in Heart-Healthy legislation in New York State.
   For many years, the American Heart Association has made it a point to certify as many people as possible in CPR. I first heard of CPR in Our Schools when beginning with my youth advocacy work at the American Heart Association a few years ago. I learned that the CPR in Our Schools bill would require high school students to be trained in CPR before they graduate. One of my many jobs was to ask Heart Walk attendees to sign a petition that would be sent to Albany. Let me tell you, many people were surprised to hear that CPR was not a requirement to graduate high school! I also spoke with Fred Thiele (who I hope will continue to support the bill in the Assembly and fight hard to convince his fellow Assembly members to pass it, as well) and Ken LeValle (who co-sponsored the bill) about the bill during Lobby Day in New York State.

Other Youth Advocates and I with Senator LaValle during Lobby Day in Albany!

   This is great news for New York and for the American Heart Association. A special thank you goes out to Senator LeValle for being a huge supporter of the CPR in Our Schools bill! Also, thank you to Assemblyman Thiele, who I hope will fight for the bill as well!

XOXO,
Sarah

Southampton High School's Eighth Annual Science Research Symposium

   I was so excited to be apart of my high school's eighth annual Science Research Symposium on Monday, June 4th. The Science Research class is a program designed for science loving students! The class is an optional extra science class where students can design and carry out their own research projects, based on their interests. This past school year was my first year in the program, and I had been eager to start the research process. 

   At the Science Research Symposium, my classmates and I were able to present our year's worth of work for our research. As a first year student, I was given the task of presenting a poster and research paper based on one of the many scientific articles that I have read. My topic, which is very closely associated with Heart U, is The Effect of Physical Fitness on Academic Achievement. I will eventually be researching how physical activity affects the memory and academic achievement in elementary school students.

Presenting my topic to everyone who attended the Science Research Symposium!

My classmate, Natalie, and I receiving awards for our research work at Brookhaven National Lab this year!

   Thank you so much to my Science Research teacher, Mrs. Milton, our school librarian, Ms. Liss, and all of the Science Research Students for allowing the Symposium to run as smoothly as possible!

XOXO,

Sarah

How YOU Can Help Spread Awareness!

   The official Heart U Facebook page has 78 "likes" already! We need YOUR help to spread awareness! Heart U is trying to boost its "likes" to 100 by midnight on Sunday, June 3! You can help by liking the page, and encouraging your friends and family to do the same! Together, we can spread awareness and help to defeat heart disease!

XOXO,

Sarah