Newborns don red hats for Heart Month

Babies born at Antelope Valley Medical Center (AVMC) in February are receiving red hats knitted and crocheted by volunteers for the American Heart Association (AHA) in celebration of American Heart Month. AVMC is one of 30 Los Angeles-area hospitals participating in the AHA’s Little Hats Big Hearts program, which raises awareness of heart disease and congenital heart defects, the nation’s most common type of birth defect.

“While most of the 4,700 babies we deliver annually are strong and healthy, some arrive with critical health needs like congenital heart defects,” said hospital CEO Ed Mirzabegian. “We appreciate the opportunity to partner with the American Heart Association to bring awareness to this important issue and provide a little handmade gift to our new parents.”

The Little Hats, Big Hearts program provides hats to hundreds of thousands of newborn babies in 40 states across the country. For more information on the program, visit the American Heart Association’s website at www.heart.org/LittleHatsBigHearts.

“Our goal with Little Hats, Big Hearts is not only to raise awareness, but also to encourage moms to live heart-healthy and help their children grow healthy and strong,” said Shawn Casey, Affiliate Development Officer for the American Heart Association. “We send our message of thanks to the volunteers who hand-made every hat with love, as well as the participating hospitals.”

American Heart Month is an annual celebration in February that began in 1963 to encourage Americans to join the battle against heart disease. A presidential proclamation pays tribute each year to researchers, physicians, public health professionals and volunteers for their tireless efforts in preventing, treating and researching heart disease.