(Photo Illustration/MetroCreative)
PARKERSBURG — A program in West Virginia to help hunters recognize the signs of a stroke or heart attack has kicked off for 2023.
The American Heart Association’s Heart Healthy Hunting campaign returns to West Virginia, the only state where the life-saving initiative is conducted.
A quarter of the calls received by the West Virginia Department of Natural Resources Law Enforcement Division during hunting season are related to heart attacks or strokes.
“Hunting is a big part of our Appalachian culture and a tradition for many West Virginia families,” Emily Hanna, government relations director for the American Heart Association, said. “With this campaign, we are helping make sure that this traditional activity is one that our hunters not only enjoy, but one they will come home safely from every time they head out on the trail.”
The campaign will include messaging on the signs and symptoms of a heart attack and stroke, offer heart healthy snack recipes, include important planning steps every hunter should take and will feature tips from Dr. Steven Eschenaur, executive director of the Kanawha-Charleston Health Department, Capt. Warren Goodson of the Department of Natural Resources Law Enforcement Division, P.J. Cooper, who survived a heart attack while hunting, and Delaney Roberts, who lost her grandfather and great uncle to heart attacks suffered while hunting.
Throughout November, the Heart Association will work with Cabela’s at its Southridge location to offer blood pressure screenings for hunters.
“We have heard from so many people, hunters and their family members, who have shared with us how much they appreciate this campaign,” Hanna said. “The Heart Healthy Hunting messaging really shines a light on the fact that hunting is stressful on the body and heart attacks and strokes can happen to anyone, including those out in the woods for the season.”
The campaign runs through Nov. 30.
For more information, contact Hanna at [email protected] or Kevin Pauley, marketing communications director, at [email protected].
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2023-11-02 04:02:15
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