February is American Heart Month. Heart disease has probably already touched you or someone you know. According to the American Heart Association every 36 seconds someone dies from heart and blood vessel diseases, making it America’s number one killer. More than 82 million American adults are estimated to have one or more types of cardiovascular disease, 1 out of every 3 people.

The New Lenox Fire Protection District would like to help promote
awareness of this disease and help prevent heart attacks by educating citizens.

For example, you should know the warning signs so you can call 911 right away, either for yourself or someone else. Acting quickly can save a life. Some heart attacks are sudden and intense but many are slow and silent. Some of the warning signs are:

• Uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, or burning pain in the center of your chest. It lasts more than a few minutes, or can go away and return.
• Pain or discomfort in one or both arms, back, neck, jaw or stomach.
• Shortness of breath with or without chest discomfort or pain.
• Other signs such as breaking out into a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness.

If you or someone you are with has chest discomfort, especially with one or more other signs don’t wait, call 911 immediately.

The New Lenox Fire Protection District offers free blood pressure checks at all four stations to help citizens monitor their health and keep the information for their records and for their physicians. The Fire District also holds CPR classes every first Saturday of each month at Station One.

The New Lenox Fire Foundation has raised money to purchase 12 Lead Electrocardiogram (EKG) monitors for all four Advanced Life Support (ALS) ambulances and is still raising money to equip all fire engines and the fire truck with the monitors. The 12 Lead EKG monitor allows paramedics to assess a patient with the above symptoms as soon as they arrive and view the heart from 12 different angles.

By viewing the heart this way they are able to identify quickly if someone is having a heart attack, start the proper treatment, and send the information directly to the emergency room even before leaving the scene. This technology allows the hospital staff to prepare for the patient and even send them straight to surgery upon arrival to the hospital.

The New Lenox Fire Foundation is promoting the Save-A-Life Program to make sure all fire department apparatus has this capability by holding one main raffle and two early bird raffles to continue to raise money to purchase the 12 Lead EKG monitors.

The grand prize winner will win $1000.00 in cash, second, third, fourth, and fifth prizes are 32-inch flat screen TV’s. As a bonus for buying a raffle ticket early, the Foundation will be placing the names in a drawing for a 22-inch flat screen TV at the New Lenox Fire District Pancake Breakfast held on Saturday, February 26, 2011 and Saturday, March 26, 2011 from 8 a.m. until  030 a.m.

The names will be placed back into the drawing for the grand prize, which will be held Sunday, May 8, 2011 at noon at New Lenox Fire Station #1, 261 E. Maple Street. The winner need not be present. The prizes were generously donated by local business in support of the New Lenox Fire Foundation and the Save-A-Life Program.

If you would like to purchase raffle tickets you may do so by stopping at any of the four fire stations in New Lenox or at Suburban Bank and Trust located at 400 E. Lincoln Highway in New Lenox.

If you would like to learn more regarding heart health talk to your doctor, nurse, or other health-care professionals. Knowledge can mean the difference between life and death.

For further information regarding the New Lenox Fire Foundation Save-A-Life Program or to attend a CPR class contact New Lenox Fire District Station One at 815-463-4500.