The Bainbridge Island Downtown Association and local merchants have teamed up with the American Heart Association Puget Sound Chapter to raise awareness of and money to combat heart disease. February is National Heart Month and, throughout the month, you can participate in the campaign by buying a red heart from participating merchants. The hearts will be plastered all over downtown, turning the streets red with love.
Nearly 20 businesses have signed on for the 2014 campaign. Donations run from $1 to $10. All funds collected will be given to the AHA.
Jessica Shire, Business Development Director the Puget Sound Heart & Stroke Walk, was grateful to the Bainbridge community: ” We are so thankful to be partnering with local business owners and the Bainbridge Island Downtown Association for the second year in a row.” She said cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the United States.
At the Downtown Association’s Quarterly Merchants Meeting, guest speakers shared their personal stories about heart health. Islander Cindi Pierce spoke about how her family helped pioneer the distribution of AEDs, automated external defibrillators, to local elementary schools for use in emergencies. She said her interest in AEDs stemmed from the experiences of having a son with a heart condition.
The AHA wants you to know the warning signs of a heart attack, which may include one or more of the following:
- Discomfort in the center of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes or that goes away and comes back. It can feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness, or pain.
- Pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw, or stomach.
- Shortness of breath with or without chest discomfort.
- Cold sweat, nausea, or lightheadedness.
Here are the participating merchants: Blinx, Closet Transfer Consignment Boutique, Columbia Bank, Dana’s Showhouse, Eagle Harbor Book Company, Island Renew Day Spa, KiDiMu, Kitsap Bank, Lollipop’s Children’s Boutique, Paper Products Etc., Schmidt’s Home Appliance, Sweet deal, The Berry Patch, The Lost Quill, The Traveler, and Wildernest Outdoor Store.
Art by Banksy. Photo by Eva Blue.