HomeMy WebLinkAbout012715_Renton Heart Month website: rentonwa.gov
City of Renton - 1055 South Grady Way
Renton, WA 98057
January 27, 2015
For more information contact:
Mark Peterson, Fire Chief/Emergency Services Administrator, Renton Fire & Emergency
Services, 425-430-7000
Preeti Shridhar, Deputy Public Affairs Administrator, 425-430-6569
February is Renton Heart Month
“Life’s Simple Seven”
RENTON: During the month of February, the City of Renton will be conducting its annual “Heart
Month” community outreach program at various locations throughout the city. Renton Fire &
Emergency Services is partnering with Valley Medical Center, Renton School District, Renton
Community Foundation and City of Renton Community Services Departmen t to provide free
preventative blood pressure and blood sugar screenings to the public. Renton firefighters and
emergency medical technicians will perform the screenings at schools, businesses and
community groups throughout the greater Renton area.
“Renton Heart Month has helped raise awareness that heart disease is the leading killer of men
and women in our country and closing the gap between awareness and prevention of heart
disease remains a critical public health priority,” said Mayor Denis Law. “The screenings only
take a couple of minutes, but those minutes could save your life or the life of a loved one. “
Early detection can lead to early intervention and improved quality of life. From 1998 to 2008,
cardiovascular disease (CVD) death rates declined 30.6%. However, CVD is still the leading
cause of death in the U.S. and strokes remain the leading cause of disability in the U.S. The
American Heart Association has identified “Life’s Simple 7” as key measures to assess your
heart health and take preventative measures. The three health factors are : knowing your blood
pressure, your blood sugar, and your cholesterol. The four lifestyle behavior factors are:
physical activity, eating habits, weight and tobacco use.
In nine years, Renton Fire & Emergency Services Department has performed over 50,000
screenings during the month of February. Of those, nearly 15% were found to have high blood
pressure or elevated-to-dangerous blood sugar levels. Those at risk were encouraged to see
their doctor to help prevent future medical complications. For more information visit
rentonwa.gov or call 425-430-7000.