NEW WINDSOR, N.Y. (February 11, 2019) — February is American Heart Month and Mobile Life Support Services, the largest emergency medical provider in the Hudson Valley, has taken measures to raise awareness about heart disease and methods of prevention.
On Friday, Feb. 1, members of the Mobile Life team participated in National Wear Red Day, a kickoff initiative that encourages people across the country to wear red to raise awareness about heart disease. Signs and symptoms can be subtle and/or obscure, especially for women. Wear Red Day is a good reminder to pay attention to the signals your body sends you and to get checked out if you suspect you may have a cardiac issue.
Risk factors for heart disease include smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity, physical inactivity and diabetes. Age and family history can also be indicative of a person’s risk for developing the disease. Lifestyle changes, such as refraining from smoking, eating heart-healthy foods and engaging in regular exercise can reduce an individual’s risk of heart disease.
The AHA strongly urges everyone to learn proper CPR techniques. Each year, over 350,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests occur in the U.S. Statistics show that if more people knew CPR, more lives would be saved. To register for a class, please visit www.mobilelife.com/education.
“Knowing CPR is really our human duty. You do not have to be a neurosurgeon to be effective at saving someone’s life,” said Mobile Life Director of Human Resources Emily Smith. “The American Heart Association’s guidelines for CPR are universal. Everyone – from a teenager in a babysitting class to medical doctors of the highest level – learn the exact same CPR technique.”
Smith, a long-time paramedic and AHA liaison for Mobile Life, has arranged for the company to sponsor a team for CycleNation, an event that is part of the Go Red for Women initiative, later this month. Mobile Life Staff will take turns riding a stationary bike to raise money for the cause. Cardiovascular diseases, which include stroke, claim the life of a woman about every 80 seconds. Go Red for Women provides a platform for women and their families to lead healthier lives and focuses on preventing heart disease and stroke by promoting healthy lifestyles and building awareness.
Mobile Life is committed to the mission of decreasing mortality and morbidity from heart disease and stroke. The company’s more than 500 emergency service professionals utilize treatment modalities and medications researched and developed by the AHA. Mobile Life is also an AHA Authorized Provider of CPR and ECC (Emergency Cardiovascular Care) courses. Its New Windsor headquarters has been an American Heart Association Community Training Center for more than 20 years.
For a full list of available courses, or to learn more about Mobile Life, visit the company’s website at www.mobilelife.com.
About Mobile Life Support Services, Inc.
Mobile Life Support Services, Inc. is a New York State Certified Advanced Life Support paramedic ambulance company that provides emergency services to communities and healthcare facilities throughout the Hudson Valley Region of New York State, including the counties of Dutchess, Orange, Rockland, Ulster, and Westchester. Founded in 1981 by Rick and Gayle Metzger, Mobile Life is composed of more than 500 EMS professionals across the region and operates a fleet of more than 60 ambulances and 26 stations. With a collective population of more than 1,000,000 residents, Mobile Life handles approximately 100,000 calls per year. For more information, visit www.mobilelife.com.
