While the American Heart Association states that over 44% of women 20 years and older are currently battling some form of cardiovascular disease, the good news is that help is out there and no one has to go through it alone. On Thursday, April 3, Northwest Indiana came together to rally behind Region ladies during the Go Red for Women Symposium, creating a strong sense of community, support, and educational opportunities for women and their loved ones in regards to their cardiovascular health and what to do in emergency situations.
“The Go Red for Women event specifically targets heart disease in women/ We’ve been doing this for a number of years because heart disease in women is a lead killer, and it presents differently in women than in men,” said Dr. Marsha King, event attendee and retired dean from the University of St. Francis in Crown Point. “It’s important to bring that education to our community members and women of all races, ethnicities, and ages.”
Held at Merrillville’s Avalon Manor, the symposium featured resources designed to empower and connect women while keeping their hearts strong, including CPR training and blood pressure screenings. Upon arrival, guests had the option to browse vendor booths before listening in on an expert panel consisting of a neurology nurse practitioner, a cardiologist, and a first responder, followed by lunch and the main program of the afternoon.
By providing a variety of ways to engage in topics related to heart health, attendees could be fully immersed in education and experiences to improve their overall health and well-being.
“The whole program is focused on risk factor education as well as the signs and symptoms of heart issues and what to do if someone collapses,” said Erin Crawford, development director for the American Heart Association. “CPR education is a big focus of this year’s program. Attendees will walk away knowing exactly what to do in an emergency situation if someone were to go into cardiac arrest. My hope is that attendees are inspired to share with friends and family what they learned today. Nine out of 10 out of hospital cardiac arrests do not survive, and that’s why a big focus of today’s program is the CPR education component because we want to empower more community members to spring into action when the need arises.”
In addition to the resources provided by the American Heart Association, many throughout the Northwest Indiana community also got involved with Thursday’s symposium to show their support. Team Chevrolet of Valparaiso General Manager David “Dave” Brubaker was asked to be this year’s Northwest Indiana Go Red for Women campaign executive chair for his personal activism that stemmed from losing a beloved Team Chevy employee, Ronnie Howell, to sudden cardiac arrest in 2019. Now, Brubaker and his team at the dealership help honor Howell’s legacy by further spreading awareness on heart health through means such as fundraising efforts, opportunities for people to share their stories related to cardiovascular disease, and events such as Thursday’s symposium.
“It’s been amazing to help spread awareness,” David Brubaker said. “We were able to provide CPR kits for Valparaiso High School and Portage High School, and bringing more CPR training and awareness to Northwest Indiana is what it’s all about. I hope people are inspired to do more after today’s event."
While strong advocates for heart health before, losing Howell prompted David Brubaker and Team Chevy to become even further involved in spreading awareness. Members of the Brubaker family, many of whom know other loved ones affected by heart issues, have also joined in on the fight and accompanied him to many luncheons, symposiums, and other events supporting resources for cardiovascular health. Providing education in these instances can be a key component in saving someone’s life, and they know firsthand just how much of a difference having that knowledge can make.
“I’ve been coming to the Go Red for Women event for about 10 years, and my brother and I have been on a campaign together since September of last year raising money,” said Traci Brubaker, a woman of impact for the American Heart Association and David Brubaker’s sister. “I have tons of friends and family who have survived and also lost, so it’s really important to hear the stories of survivors as well as the signs. A lot of signs are different for men and women for heart health, so a lot of women don’t recognize the signs that they need to get to the hospital before it’s too late.”
Other Team Chevy employees are also proud to be a part of the crusade. As the only woman salesperson on the dealership’s floor, Callie Baird felt it was especially important to join in with her coworkers to help offer her viewpoint to other ladies at the event.
“I’m the only girl on the sales floor there, so I wanted to be here to represent Team Chevy,” she said.
Through education, advocacy, and unwavering support, the Go Red for Women Symposium has been a vital force in promoting heart health across Northwest Indiana. With the community's continued involvement, this event helps ensure that the Region’s heart health can beat strong – both now and for generations to come.
“This symposium is a great way to learn more about what the issues are with how to keep yourself healthy and what to do if you do have heart issues,” said Rachel Saxon, executive leadership team member and past chair. “It gives people a great resource and community by being in the same room with so many people who have similar issues. “I hope attendees will learn how to prevent their own heart issues if possible and also how to do CPR because that can save so many lives if we all knew how to do that.”
The American Heart Association is making an impact in the lives of people and their loved ones fighting cardiovascular disease. To learn more about its prominent resources and how to get involved throughout the state, visit heart.org/en/affiliates/indiana.