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Cardiac Care /
Cardiac Care Month
Cardiac Care Month
What is Cardiac Care Month?
Each February, Alpha Phi sponsors a Cardiac Care Month to raise public
awareness about cardiovascular disease—the #1 killer of women in North
America. Collegiate and alumnae chapters nationwide hold events to help their
communities learn more about the causes, prevention and treatment of
heart disease.
What is National Wear
Red Day?
National Wear Red Day is a day when Americans nationwide wear red to
show their support for women's heart disease awareness. In honor of
National Wear Red Day, we ask all Alpha Phis wear their Alpha Phi red
dress pins with pride and wear red for Alpha Phi.
National Wear Red Day: February 5, 2010
Cardiac Care Month Event Ideas
Below are general guidelines
and activities suggestions that will help your collegiate or alumnae
chapter hold a successful Cardiac Care Month. Be creative in coordinating
our red dress theme with your events!
Alpha Phi Paper Red Dress
Create a paper replica of the Alpha Phi Foundation's Red Dress
Pin and sell them on campus for $1. Hang paper Red Dresses in a common area on campus so all can see the schools support of cardiac care!
Cardiac Arrest
Sell warrants to jail students and local celebrities. Arrest the mayor,
fraternity and sorority presidents, the university president, Greek advisor,
and radio and television personalities. Take them to a visible area on campus
where they can make phone calls to raise bail.
Tighten Your Grip on Heart Disease
Make “stress balls” as a chapter sisterhood event. Just fill
red balloons with flour or sand and tie – instant stress relief! You
can even order balloons printed with an Alpha Phi message. Pass them out
on campus with information about the Foundation and fighting heart disease.
Eat Your Heart Out
Work with dining services on campus to sponsor a heart-healthy dinner. The
entire chapter can get involved by handing out heart-saving information from
the Foundation. It’s a great way to spread Alpha Phi’s name on
campus while getting the word out about preventing heart disease!
Board It Up
Decorate bulletin boards on campus with heart-saving information. Or chalk
sidewalks, hang banners, set up tables—whatever works best on your
campus.
Keep the Beat
Sponsor an event at your student recreation center such as cholesterol and/or
blood pressure checks, or special cardio exercise classes. Pass out healthy-heart
tips and healthy snacks.
Silence Heart Disease
Collect big-ticket prizes from local businesses for a silent auction and
dinner. Invite parents, professors and administrators to hear a guest speaker
on heart disease and the work of the Foundation before the auction.
Get Physical
Exercise and physical activity is important for cardiac health. Sponsor
athletic competitions or tournaments – it’s good for everyone’s
heart! Some ideas that work: “Phi Ball” kick ball or soccer tournament, “Hoops
for Hearts” 3-on-3 basketball, “Tee’d Off for Heart Disease” golf
tournament, “Bat’tling Heart Disease” baseball or softball
tournament and “Mud Olympics.”
Heart Throb
Get hearts beating with campus men. Have a contest – a talent competition
or athletic challenge. Charge admission to the show or include fundraising
as part of the contest for the men.
Helping Hearts
Coordinate with a grocery store and a local dietitian to give a store tour
demonstrating how to read food labels and choose heart-healthy foods. Or
sponsor CPR certification classes for the campus and community.
Heart & Soul
Conclude Cardiac Care Month with a Valentine date party or formal. Have fun!
Helpful Hints for Cardiac Care Month
- Nominate a hospital, research organization or school for the Alpha
Phi Foundation Heart to Heart Grant.
- Get the word out with public service announcements on radio stations
or TV (it’s free!)
- Send press releases to local newspapers.
- Advertise Alpha Phi and the Foundation with signs, banners and
T-shirts.
Caring for Women's Hearts Video Viewing and Presentation
The Alpha Phi Foundation video provides a ready-made resource for explaining
our philanthropic involvement. Invite your campus, community and local
alumnae chapter to the viewing. Have a member to introduce the video by providing
a few statistics on women’s heart disease. Following the video, have
another member talk about opportunities for more “happy endings” through
the Foundation’s commitment to cardiac care education. Or plan to have
a nursing major from the chapter speak on the special risks to women,
the importance of learning CPR, or another heart health-related topic. Keep
the discussion upbeat and interesting with an emphasis on prevention and
healthy living, and leave the guests with a desire to know and do more about
preventing heart disease.
A Heartfelt Note
This idea invites the Alpha Phi members and guests to complete a brief note
to mail to a local women’s cardiac care unit. Following a short presentation
on women’s heart disease, all participants will receive the preprinted
postcard to complete. Give everyone a few minutes to add their personal message
and address to the postcard. Participants may then leave the card for the
chapter to mail, or create a decorated mailbox in which participants can
drop their cards. For tips to create your chapters postcards call the Foundation Office at 847.475.4532.
Stress Release Party
Host a fun, informal party at which guests use their creativity to make
stress squeeze toys. After a short presentation on campus resources
for coping with stress and the role of stress in heart disease, seat
guests at tables of four to six. Let each guest partially fill an empty balloon
with rice or sand, then decorate and attach a tag to the balloon. Let
guests know that their stress squeeze toys will be donated either to students
on campus during Cardiac Care Month or finals week. These may also be donated
to a local cardiac care unit – check local hospitals to find the rules
and regulations on this type of donation.
Women’s Heart Disease
Hold a meeting about Women’s heart disease to educate people on healthy
living. This meeting should be open to the entire campus, alumnae, and the
community. Invite a speaker from the campus health center or from a local
organization to educate the attendees on the high risks for cardiac disease.
Also invite volunteers to take blood pressure for the participants. Teach
them to live a heart healthy lifestyle.
Striving for a Common Goal
Volunteer for heart organizations in your area to help with their special
projects. Donate your time to help with their fundraising, educational
or marketing events. The Internet is a great start in finding a heart
project.
You might also choose to:
- Tutor children after school
- Help at a local retirement home
- Volunteer at another local community organization
Questions about Cardiac Care Month activities?
Call the Foundation at 847.475.4532
or email foundation@alphaphi.org.
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