By KAREN AUSTIN

February is commonly associated with hearts because of Valentine’s Day, but there is another important reason to focus on hearts this month.

Since 1963, February has been designated as American Heart Month which aims to raise awareness about cardiovascular disease, including coronary artery disease, heart rhythm problems, and congenital heart defects. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, heart disease has been the leading cause of death in the U.S., claiming more than 600,000 lives each year. (Cancer and COVID-19 are the two other biggest reasons for loss of life these days).

The American Heart Association documents that some 350,000 of these deaths are the result of out-of-hospital cardiac arrests. Specifically, the result of a sudden, unexpected loss of heart function, breathing and consciousness. A staggering 88% of people who experience sudden cardiac arrest (SCA), will die. The remaining, probably survive because they were lucky to have someone nearby who took life-saving steps to help them.

Alvarado Estates resident, Bella Flores, wants to help increase the rate of survival.

She knows first-hand what it’s like to be at risk of sudden cardiac arrest, having been diagnosed with a rare heart condition when she was seven years old. She’s getting involved because she believes, “It is important to be a heart-safe advocate because being an advocate means saving lives.” She is certified to help save a life and she’s encouraging others to be ready, too. Flores believes that, “learning the tools you need to know to save another person’s life is invaluable.”

Now, a junior in high school at Academy of Our Lady of Peace (OLP), Flores is helping to increase awareness on her campus and in our community. She’s particularly committed to increasing opportunities for cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training, as well as increasing access and use of automated external defibrillators (AEDs). Both known to greatly increase a person’s chance of survival if intervention begins quickly. “Having a rare heart condition myself,” she says, “that puts me at risk of sudden cardiac arrest, makes me realize the importance of knowing this life-saving skill.”

At just 16, Flores was recently recognized nationally for her advocacy as one of 40 emerging leaders under 40 years of age by the Citizen CPR Foundation. The 40 Under-40 Class of 2021 recognizes individuals who are dedicated to strengthening the future of CPR training, response and survival. The award recipients have demonstrated extreme passion and have made meaningful contributions to SCA outcomes in either personal or professional settings.

One of her recent efforts has been advocating for “Heart Safe Schools.” She secured two separate CPR training kits for employees and students at OLP, which will greatly increase the number of people on campus who are prepared to save a life. Flores was also instrumental in helping her former grade school, Old Town Academy (OTA), accomplish Heart Safe School accreditation, with the development of a practiced plan to respond to a sudden cardiac arrest. In 2016, OTA became the first Heart Safe School in California. With the Flores family’s continued advocacy, OTA was designated a Project ADAM (Automated Defibrillators in Adam’s Memory), Heart Safe School in March, 2021.

In addition to her advocacy in support of heart safe schools, Flores is helping to organize an upcoming event in recognition of American Heart Month for the residents of her Alvarado Estates neighborhood. Those who attend will be able to learn more about heart disease and sudden cardiac arrest from local health experts, and also have the opportunity to take part in a hands-only CPR/AED training.

There are many opportunities online, in the College-Area, and throughout San Diego to learn about the common risk factors and warning signs of heart disease, how to take care of your own heart, and, like Bella Flores, how to be ready to save a life.

Consult these websites for heart health information and CPR classes:

Citizen CPR Foundation at citizencpr.org

American Heart Association at heart.org

American Red Cross at redcross.org

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at cdc.gov/heartdisease/index.htm

Heart Safe Schools initiative at projectadam.com

– Karen Austin writes on behalf of the Alvarado Estates Association.