TMH to host heart, wellness fair

Tallahassee Memorial Heart and Vascular Center will host its first Heart to Heart CPR and Wellness Fair on Saturday.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States.

Matthew Jamison, a Tallahassee resident, is aware of the importance of health.

“I work out at least four times a week,” Jamison said. “I also try to eat healthy as much as I can. That way I’ll have plenty of energy throughout the day.”

The wellness fair is designed to educate the community on simple ways to keep the heart healthy. It also allows everyone the opportunity to receive proper CPR training, which will be performed by Leon County EMS.

Riley Taylor, a third-year criminal justice student from Orlando, said he used to be certified in CPR.

“I think everyone should know CPR,” Riley said, “because you never know when it could come in handy.”

The CPR portion of the fair will be from 10 a.m. to noon. CPR training will also be available at no cost, and it will be limited to the first 380 participants. However, it won’t include a valid CPR certification.

The family-friendly fair will also have activities for all ages, including activities such as jump roping, hula hooping, a basketball shootout, Zumba, exercise demonstrations and line dancing to jump-start the heart, as well as a face-painting station and a DJ booth.

Aaron Kinnon, Tallahassee Memorial Healthcare foundation director of development, said the event will be fun yet educational.

“That’s what the event is about, educating people so they can then go and teach someone else what they’ve learned.”

People will be able to walk through an exhibit-size heart and visually learn about the heart, how it functions and heart disease.

Kinnon also said that the event wouldn’t be possible without the help of the Alpha Phi Foundation.

“We are grateful for the Alpha Phi Foundation for supplying us with a $50,000 grant, which allows us to be able to put on this event,” Kinnon said.

Registration for the free event at the Civic Center will be offered Saturday. The fair is scheduled to last from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.