Results Statement: People across the lifespan have good cardiovascular health.

Heart disease is the #1 cause of death for men and women in Carroll County, as it is in Maryland and in the United States. Stroke is the #3 cause of death, and a leading cause of disability.

Much progress has been made in the treatment of heart disease, but the largest impact will occur when individuals make heart-healthy lifestyle choices. Controllable risk factors for heart disease include tobacco use, physical activity, diet, weight, blood pressure, cholesterol, and diabetes. Heart health improvement efforts also focus on early detection and access to emergency response systems such as Automated External Defibrillators (AED's). Many of the initiatives within the Prevention and Wellness CHIA cross over to impact heart health.

Partnership Staff Contact:
Carol Ann Bauman
410-876-4958
CBauman@dhmh.state.md.us

Click on the organizational chart items to view the details of each.

Heart Health Leadership Team

The Heart Health Leadership Team seeks to improve the cardiovascular health and quality of life of adults and children in our community through prevention, detection and treatment of disease. The objectives of the Heart Health Team are to:

• Support efforts to increase youth and family physical activity, by initiatives such as “Project ACES - Active Children Excel in School” and L.E.A.N. Carroll.
• Support efforts of adults to control blood pressure through community screenings by Carroll Hospital Center and Carroll County Health Department.
• Increase awareness of early warning signs of heart attack and stroke and importance of early access to emergency response system.
• Advocate for increased access to Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs).
• Support efforts to increase awareness of women’s heart health and warning signs.

Children's Heart Health Action Team

The Children’s Heart Health Action Team formed in 1996 as a coalition of community partners working to improve heart health in children, by promoting non-use of tobacco, heart-healthy nutrition and increased physical activity. They designed the physical activity challenge “Project ACES- Active Children Excel in School” in 2000. The project has grown to a huge two-week challenge each fall in all public elementary schools for students and staff to track at least 60 minutes each day of moderate physical activity. Project ACES has won three state awards and a national award as an innovative program to increase physical activity in youth.

Team members include Carroll County Public Schools, Carroll County Health Department, Carroll Community College, Carroll Hospital Center, Carroll County Department of Recreation and Parks, Cigarette Restitution Fund Program, and Westminster City Department of Recreation and Parks.

As of August 2009, Carroll County Public Schools is the lead agency for Project ACES. For more information or to get involved, contact Linda Kephart at 410-751-3056 or LMKepha@carrollk12.carr.org.

AED Action Team

This Team works to increase the number of Automated External Defibrillators in Carroll County and increase training in CPR/AED, maintenance and upkeep of AED’s. Placement of AED’s is regulated by the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems. See complete information regarding placement, training and maintenance at their website.

Members of this group have been instrumental in the steady increase of AED’s available throughout the county, in places where large numbers of people gather, such as workplaces, churches, fitness centers, government facilities and schools. All CCPS high schools have three AED’s on site and trained staff. Thanks to the efforts of the CCPS Education Foundation, PTAs, PTOs, and public and private organizations, funds have been raised to place an AED in each public elementary and middle school in Carroll County, beginning with the 2010/2011 school year.

Women's Heart Health Action Team

The Women’s Heart Health Action Team was formed to increase awareness of the different and sometimes subtle signs of heart disease and heart attacks in women. Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both women and men in America. According to the Centers for Disease Control, one-third of adult females have some type of cardiovascular disease. However, many people are not aware of the seriousness of the heart disease threat to women.

This action team plans programs and promotions to encourage women to take an active role in preventing and managing heart disease. It seeks to teach the warning signs of heart disease and heart attack in women, and to teach people to get immediate help when these signs are present. The Heart Health Leadership Team feels that focusing on women’s heart health will decrease the overall rate of deaths due to heart disease and stroke.

Links

American Heart Association
American Stroke Association
Hands-Only CPR - American Heart Association
Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Systems Services
National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease
National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute
New C-A-B order for CPR
Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans
Project ACES 2006-2009

Page updated: 01/12