Kern County Heart Ball Raises Funds for Cardiovascular Health
Residents of Kern County, California, gathered for the annual Heart Ball to raise funds and awareness for the fight against cardiovascular disease and stroke, the nation's leading cause of death. The event, locally presented by Adventist Health, brought together community leaders, volunteers, and survivors to highlight the impact of research, advocacy, and education on health outcomes. A key focus was the importance of community readiness for cardiac arrest emergencies, emphasizing CPR education and access to automated external defibrillators (AEDs). Cardiac arrest survivor Matt Clark shared his personal story of survival thanks to immediate CPR and AED use, underscoring statistics that immediate intervention can double or triple survival chances. Steve Matejka, chair of the American Heart Association's Kern County Board, noted that while deaths from cardiovascular diseases have halved since 1924, the rising prevalence of these conditions makes continued support critical. Donations from the event will support the American Heart Association's ongoing efforts in research, policy advocacy, and public health education to improve heart and brain health outcomes in Bakersfield and beyond.
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Kern County Heart Ball Raises Funds for Cardiovascular Health
Residents of Kern County, California, gathered for the annual Heart Ball to raise funds and awareness for the fight against cardiovascular disease and stroke, the nation's leading cause of death. The event, locally presented by Adventist Health, brought together community leaders, volunteers, and survivors to highlight the impact of research, advocacy, and education on health outcomes. A key focus was the importance of community readiness for cardiac arrest emergencies, emphasizing CPR education and access to automated external defibrillators (AEDs). Cardiac arrest survivor Matt Clark shared his personal story of survival thanks to immediate CPR and AED use, underscoring statistics that immediate intervention can double or triple survival chances. Steve Matejka, chair of the American Heart Association's Kern County Board, noted that while deaths from cardiovascular diseases have halved since 1924, the rising prevalence of these conditions makes continued support critical. Donations from the event will support the American Heart Association's ongoing efforts in research, policy advocacy, and public health education to improve heart and brain health outcomes in Bakersfield and beyond.
American Heart Association