Richmond, VA – On Wednesday, September 19, the American Heart Association hosted the inaugural Hard Hats With Heart event at Atlas 42 in Innsbrook. Hard Hats With Heart is an initiative that brings science-based, workplace wellness resources to the construction industry. With higher than national averages for smoking and obesity, workers in the construction industry are at an increased risk for heart disease and stroke.
The AHA Heart Walk team presented information on the importance of physical activity.
“Some of the factors that impact our coworkers’ health include diet, consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages, tobacco usage, high stress and lack of exercise. So, when the American Heart Association approached me about starting a Hard Hats With Heart initiative to raise awareness and bring education to Richmond construction companies, I readily agreed,” said Mark Hourigan, Owner & President of Hourigan.
Attendees visited health stations and learned how to prevent and manage hypertension, perform Hands-Only CPR , eat healthy and much more. Hourigan also encouraged attendees “to know their blood pressure, cholesterol, body mass index and blood sugar levels.”
Mark Hillard, a Superintendent at Hourigan, attended the event and stressed to his colleagues the importance of paying attention to your health and the health of those around you. Hillard survived a heart attack and received help just in time to save his life. Attendees watched a video of Hillard talk about how he was able to pay it forward when, because of his own experience, he recognized the classic symptoms of angina in a coworker and urged him to receive life-saving medical treatment. “Every time I start a new job I make sure my team knows my health conditions and that I know theirs. Having that mutual understanding can make all the difference,” said Hillard.
If you’re interested in becoming part of the Hard Hats for Heart initiative in Central Virginia, please contact Sommer Goldsmith at sommer.goldsmith@heart.org.
Our mission is to be a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. For nearly 100 years, we’ve been fighting heart disease and stroke, striving to save and improve lives. Heart disease is the No. 1 killer worldwide, and stroke ranks second globally. Even when those conditions don’t result in death, they cause disability and diminish quality of life. We want to see a world free of cardiovascular diseases and stroke.