Henderson Fire Department to host a series of heart-healthy fairs to prevent cardiac-related problems

The Henderson Fire Department is slated to host two Healthy Heart Fairs in February to help reduce the risk of cardiovascular problems and related health issues in honor of American Heart Month.

"It's good to create awareness," said Kathleen Richards, a spokeswoman with the city of Henderson. "Heart disease is the leading cause of death, out weighing cancer or diabetes."

The first fair is slated to take place from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Feb. 8 at the Heritage Park Senior Facility, 300 S. Racetrack Road, and the second is scheduled for 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Feb. 22 at Fire Station 99, 2401 Atchley Drive. Both are free and open to the public.

Both events are expected to include vendors, including nursing homes, local businesses and senior assisted-living facilities .

Richards said even though the fairs are targeted for seniors , the knowledge is useful for all people.

A class on the basics of cardiopulmonary resuscitation also is expected to be offered.

"People think you need to be CPR-certified to save a life," Richards said.

Richards said studies by the American Red Cross have shown that administering chest compressions after someone has collapsed from a heart attack can help save a life.

The class is expected to teach the basics of hand placement, how often to press down and compression depth.

Richards said the fire department has a machine that tells if responders are compressing too slowly or too softly.

"The truth is, you're probably going to break a rib when doing it," Richards said. "Better breaking their ribs than them dying of a heart attack."

Richards added that people never know where or when they might use this skill.

"You could be having dinner at a restaurant and save some guy's life," Richards said.

The department also plans to offer a free blood-pressure check.

The fire department has been looking into the latest life-saving techniques and implemented technology in 2010, including induced therapeutic hypothermia, which cools the body 3 to 6 degrees to prevent cells from dying .

Richards said because of these techniques, the Henderson Fire Department has been able to increase the survivability rates in instances of cardiac arrest due to ventricular fibrillation in 2011.

"We are the highest in the nation with 50 percent survivability," Richards said. "The rest of the country is about 20 to 30 percent."

Of that 50 percent, Richards said, about 29 percent of those patients return home neurologically intact.

"This success rate doesn't just happen," Henderson Fire Chief Steve Goble said in a statement. "Our consistent training and use of best practices puts the highest level of training and technology in the hands of our firefighters."

Contact Henderson/Anthem View reporter Michael Lyle at mlyle@viewnews.com or 387-5201.