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  • Celebrate the 50th Anniversary of CPR!

    In 1960, a group of resuscitation pioneers combined mouth-to-mouth breathing with chest compressions to create Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation, the lifesaving action we now call “CPR.” This action, when provided immediately after a sudden cardiac arrest, can double – even triple – a victim’s chance of survival.

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  • You're the Cure

    You don't have to be a doctor to save lives. Just be willing to deliver a lifesaving message to public officials whenever you can. Maybe you've already participated with the American Heart Association before by walking in a Heart Walk. Or perhaps you've helped organize a gala event. Maybe you even helped someone survive a heart attack or stroke. At moments like these, You're the Cure. Even if you're someone who wants to get involved for the first time, you can be part of the cure.
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You are all well aware of our Action Alerts - you're the ones receiving them! Have you ever wondered what kind of impact they make? Well here's an update on the last year for you!

For the Great Rivers Affiliate (Delaware, Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia) our advocates sent 46,869 email messages to key decision-makers in the past year!

This is absolutely amazing! These messages keep our issues in the forefront of legislators' minds and let them know what issues YOU care about (remember, they work for you!). When our staff meet with legislators to talk about issues, they'll often say, "Oh yes, I've heard from your folks on this issue" and proceed to share the information they already have because YOU educated them. This makes a positive impact and truly helps legislators to make the best--and most educated--deicisions possible.

Each state worked on many issues this year, but each also had a few standout issues that our advocates truly rallied around.

Delaware advocates should celebrate the movement around menu labeling legislation which brought in 17% of your messages this year. Also, saving tobacco prevention funding from being cut. In fact, 10% of your email messages were about saving tobacco prevention funding--and you succeeded!

Kentucky advocates can celebrate a policy win in the passage of Senate Bill 1 for primary stroke center designation. You sent messages to the legislature every step of the way resulting in over 300 messages on this topic alone - which all helped in the final passage of SB1! Thank you!

Ohio advocates can also celebrate the passage of SB210, Healthy Choices for Healthy Children legislation, which was a great first step in addressing childhood obesity in Ohio. Ohio advocates sent an amazing 2000 messages around this issue! Ohio also saw significant movement around tobacco prevention funding, with over 6000 messages (30% of all messages!).

Pennsylvania advocates also spoke out in favor of tobacco prevention. Over 4000 messages were sent to help save Master Settlement Agreement funds, as well as other tobacco-related issues in Pennsylvania.

West Virginia advocates also rallied around tobacco prevention funding, sending over 400 messages to their lawmakers! And throughout the year, West Virginians continued to speak out for smoke-free air!

We are so thankful for each and every one of these messages delivered, because they ALL make a difference! We look forward to your continued support of our heart-health issues.  Remember to keep clicking--your legislators need to know what matters to YOU!

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Welcome to the online home for American Heart Association advocacy in the Great Rivers Affiliate! The Great Rivers Affiliate includes Delaware, Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia.

We update regularly about our ongoing legislative issues (for example: tobacco prevention and cessation, childhood obesity, nutrition, stroke and STEMI systems of care, etc). We hope this blog proves to be a resource to keep our amazing advocates up-to-date with our fast-paced legislative happenings!

You don't have to be a doctor to save lives - just an advocate with the American Heart Association and its division the American Stroke Association. In just a few moments, you can make a huge difference. All you have to do is respond to the issues and action alerts that you feel are important.

Join You're the Cure today!