The 2020-2021 Hot Springs Sweethearts will be introduced virtually, June 12, during the Heart Ball.
The American Heart Association (AHA) will conduct its annual Hot Springs Heart Ball virtually at 6:30 p.m, Saturday, June 12, shining a light on those affected by heart disease and stroke.
This year marks the 15th anniversary of the AHA Sweetheart program in Hot Springs, headed by Kathryn Russell. Sweethearts are sophomore-age girls from local schools who commit to learning about cardiovascular diseases and lead healthy lifestyles by participating in heart healthy activities from October through March.
The program culminates with the introduction of the Sweethearts at the Heart Ball, chaired this year by Dr. Eric and Lori Bowen. The Heart Ball is presented by National Park Medical Center.
In Hot Springs and around the state, AHA advocates rallied to help pass two laws that help remove barriers to health. One law includes advanced training for 911 call takers in telecommunicator CPR, or TCPR. The state’s 911 operators will soon be able to instruct CPR over the phone, which doubles to triples an individual’s chances of survival in an instance of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.
Also, this year, the AHA helped pass a law that requires water bottle filling stations in all new schools and in school renovations and additions. Having clean drinking water throughout the day helps keep kids at a healthy weight.
More information is available at HotSpringsHeartBall.heart.org or by emailing Allison.Johnson@heart.org.
