WHAT:
The American Heart Association’s First Coast market and USO at NAS are partnering with the Executives with Heart campaign to host a Healthy Family Training Camp that includes fun, interactive activities to practice healthy habits for all ages. The event will also include demonstrating hands-only CPR to adults and kids as young as five years old. The first 100 military families will receive a free Adult Anytime CPR training kit to practice how to be a lifesaver. The kits include a mannikin, DVD demonstration and manual in both English and Spanish. Availity representatives will also be in attendance. Availity CEO Russ Thomas is the chairperson for the American Heart Associations’ Heart Challenge campaign that oversees the Executives with Heart campaign as well as the First Coast Heart Walk, and company field days.
This year’s CPR Anytime Kit donation is made possible by the Executives with Heart campaign. This campaign aims to bring local executives together to raise money to purchase and place 1,000 adult cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training kits in our military community. The American Heart Association is challenging Americans to Be the Beat and have at least one member of every household know how to perform hands-only CPR. To date, the campaign has raised more than $200,000 and fundraising will continue throughout the summer, concluding at the end of August.
This timely delivery falls at the end of National Safety Month, a national awareness month, used as an observance to increase awareness and prevention of leading safety and health risks. Earlier in the month, June 1-7, was National CPR and AED Awareness Week, where the American Heart Association stresses that every second counts in cardiac arrest and people CAN save lives by knowing how to perform CPR and use an AED.
WHEN: Tuesday, June 27 at 2 p.m.
The delivery is the first round as part of the organization’s 2023 Executives with Heart Challenge.
Media are encouraged to arrive by 1:45pm. and are welcome to stay throughout the presentation for additional questions, photos or B-roll.
WHERE:
USO Center NAS Jax 6
6801 Yorktown Avenue Building 1050
Jacksonville, FL 32025
*Please allow time for security checks to get on base. Formal ID’s are required for anyone attending at the gate check to be given base access.
WHO:
Caitlin Brunell, Executive Director of American Heart Association
Carmen Stokes, Senior Heart Challenge Director
Michelle Barry, Director, Expert Health Plan Provider Data Management – Availity. Michelle also oversees Availity’s VetAvaility D&I Team
Ryan Fitzgerald "Fitz" USO Florida/Jacksonville Center Operations & Program Manager COPM
VISUALS:
Photo and video opportunities include:
- CPR kit delivery to 100 military families
- Activities to encourage physical activity for healthier hearts
- Free blood-pressure checks from volunteer nurses
- Hands-only CPR demonstrations with adults and children as young as age five
- Interviews with American Heart Association, Availity, USO representatives and military families.
CONTACT:
Marissa Cockrell (American Heart Association)
484-919-3185 (cell) • Marissa.Cockrell@heart.org