American Heart Association pumping programs through the region

The Southeast Kentucky Chamber of Commerce hosted a Lunch and Learn event Tuesday, shining a spotlight on the American Heart Association.

The program provided information about the association and its partnerships, diving into the rural health crisis, CPR, and strategies to improve rural health.

Representatives discussed the importance of research, including the type being done at the University of Pikeville, which helps provide funding to impact those in need.

According to the speakers, the association works closely with area hospitals and EMS to make sure proper guidelines and priorities are in place. They said, especially in rural areas and large counties like Pike County, those guidelines are saving lives and keeping folks safe.

“To help us identify the gaps that each community faces and how we can really address those together,” said Exec. Director for AHA Central and Eastern KY, Andrea Ooten.

The event brought some of the association’s community work to light.

“The American Heart Association has so many resources nationally, internationally. But, really, our goal is to pull everything together from that scientific background and really implement it in local communities at a level that is necessary,” Ooten said.

The association also has an advocacy focus, which has placed Cardiac Emergency Response Plans in schools and made CPR a learning focus for students.

Representatives say the association worked with Shaping Our Appalachian Region to recently acquire Appalachian Regional Commission funding, which will be used to invest in businesses that promote health and wellness in the region. It has also awarded scholarships to 16 women in STEM through the Carol Barr Fund.

On top of those efforts, they say the group is also working with libraries. During Tuesday’s presentation, they said the AHA provided blood pressure cuffs, educational materials, and more to the library in Blackey.

Thanks to the support of several local leaders in fundraising, representatives say they have helped support funding for a UPIKE emergency response planning program.

“So that if something happens on campus and there’s a cardiac emergency, everyone knows what to do and jump into action quickly,” said Ooten.

The university will be placing more AEDs and resources on campus, and in the surrounding community, as well as providing access to the materials to the local law enforcement teams.

”That means you don’t have to be a college student in order to use one of these AED because a heart attack does not differentiate between a college student and a community member," said Public Safety Director Lee Upchurch.

The college plans to provide education to students, faculty, and staff about the emergency response plans. The program will also provide CPR training kits for folks to practice hands only CPR.

“Gonna help us to make Pikeville and Eastern Kentucky a much safer place,” said Upchurch.

Upchurch also referenced an app called PulsePoint Respond, which people can download to find out where AEDs and medical response teams or area hospitals are located.