......?Family birthdays and weddings... Beautiful sunsets... Goodnight hugs... We want all people to experience more of life’s precious moments with healthy hearts and minds.And we’ve already made an extraordinary impact on heart and brain health.But until the world is free of heart disease and stroke, we’ll keep working to make a healthier, longer life possible for everyone.What is your why? Your reason for living a healthier life? For volunteering? For donating?

life is why™

Healthy Communities Important public policy victories: • all newborns are screened for

heart defects• $150,000 for cardiac monitors for rural EMS services• state Medicaid benefits include

quit-smoking help• statewide smoke-free law• increased PE in Lincoln public high schools• law encouraging use of AEDs

We’re working to: • make CPR a high school graduation requirement • enhance acute cardiovascular systems of care

Quality Health CarePatient outcomes improve when they are transported and treated according to up-to-date science-based guidelines.• Mission: Lifeline is building statewide STEMI system of care with funding from Helmsley Rural Health Program/other groups• 66% of Nebraska residents have access to a hospital that meets our treatment guidelines

CPR & First Aid Most cardiac arrests occur outside the hospital. Immediate CPR can double your survival rate. • 14.6 million trained nationwide last year • 71,765 Nebraska residents trained

Helping You Make Healthy DecisionsLess than 1% of Americans have ideal heart health.

• 9,903 women have joined the Go Red movement or participated in Go Red heart-health events• 47,980 children fought obesity through Jump Rope For Heart/Hoops For Heart last year

• 39 companies with 47,565 employees became Fit-Friendly Worksites

Equitable Health for All African Americans have nearly twice the risk of stroke. Hispanic women tend to get heart disease 10 years earlier

than non-Hispanic white women.

Lifesaving Donations83.6 million heart disease and stroke survivors prove that donations make a difference.• Corporate, individual, planned and

foundation giving; special events• $2.8 million raised statewide in

fiscal year 2013-2014

Heart & Stroke ResearchWe are the leading funder of cardiovascular research after the federal government.• $3.7 billion invested nationwide since 1949 • $2.68 million for 15 new & continuing studies in Nebraska in 2014

At 36, Lisa Bockman, of Omaha, suffered cardiac arrest at home. Fortunately, her husband

called 911, her neighbor performed CPR and first responders used an AED to save her life. Lisa, who now lives with a defibrillator and

a pacemaker, is an advocate for CPR in schools and a Go Red volunteer

who shares her story to help others.

Our Mission: NebraskaBuilding healthier lives, free of cardiovascular diseases & stroke.We’re helping individuals and communities build a culture of health so all people can live life to the fullest with healthy hearts and brains.

Lisa is why

• Power To End Stroke® educated 4,000 African Americans about reducing their high risk for stroke

• Go Red Por Tu Corazón™

reached 500 Hispanic women with heart-health messages

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©2014, American Heart Association. Also known as the Heart Fund. November 2014

What We doMatteRS.You Can Save Lives. Volunteer. Donate. Make healthy choices. Learn CPR. Visit heart.org to learn more!

Death rates for cardiovascular diseases, including stroke, dropped over 30%from 2000-2012. The reasons include:

• scientific research & medical advances • laws creating healthier environments • better emergency care • lower smoking, blood pressure & cholesterol levels • improved diagnosis & treatment of patients • increased awareness about healthy living

Sioux40%

Keith 28.1%

Perkins33.3%

Chase 24.1%

Dundy23.3%

Deuel27.3%

Scotts Bluff31%

Banner16.7%

Cheyenne34.5%

Kimball16.7%

Box Butte32.8%

Morrill31.6%

Garden35%

Cherry26.9%

Sheridan47.8%

Dawes24.2%

Dawson31.9%

Furnas31.9%

Red Willow28.6%

Hitchcock29.6%

Frontier29.4%

Hayes0%

Lincoln35.1%

McPherson33.3%

Hooker71.4%

Grant25%

Arthur0%

Gosper23.5%

Garfield37.9%

Loup83.3%

Sherman34%

Kearney29.1%

Franklin31.6%

Buffalo30.6%

Phelps24.6%

Harlan35.2%

Brown29.7%

Blaine33.3%

Thomas40%

Logan100%

Custer41.6%

Clay32.4%

Nuckolls25.8%

Webster30.7%

Adams38.8%

Hall 21.4%

Howard29.5%

Greeley31.3%

Valley42.6%

Wheeler50%

Holt33.3%

Boyd 46.2%Keya Paha40%

Rock28.6%

Polk 31.3%

Merrick26.7%

Hamilton31.7%

Nance29.3%

Cedar30.4%

Pierce47.4%

Antelope27.3%

Boone26.8%

Knox40.8%

Pawnee32.3%

Gage28.9%Jefferson

26.8%Thayer42.9%

Butler35%

Seward34.6%

Otoe 35%

Lancaster24.9%

Johnson29.5

Nemaha18.5%

Richardson27.7%

Saline28.4%

Fillmore34.9%

York 37.3%

Washing- ton

29%

Dodge27.3%

Burt 30.6%

Cuming42.7%

Saunders28.6%

Colfax25.6%

Stanton20%

Wayne36% Thurston

26.6%

Dakota26.5%

Dixon34.6%

Madison33%

Platte31.9%

Cass28.1%

Sarpy27.6%

Douglas27.7%

Fighting heart disease and stroke in Nebraska

Cardiovascular diseases, including stroke, are the leading cause of death in Nebraska. This map shows the percent of deaths from these diseases in each county in 2012 (latest figures available). Statewide, they caused 4,630 deaths (29.4% of all deaths) that year.

These “total cardiovascular disease” statistics [ICD/10 codes I00-I99 and Q20-Q28] were provided by the Nebraska Dept. of Health. The percents show the relative importance of cardiovascular disease and stroke as causes of death. They are not a measure of the risk of dying of these dis-eases or a basis for comparing counties or measuring progress in lowering death rates.

Families in every Nebraska communitybenefit from research we’ve funded nationwide that has led to many lifesaving discoveries, including CPR, pacemakers, bypass surgery,

artificial heart valves, microsurgery and life-extending drugs. But many medical challenges remain.

New research studies funded in the past 5 years (2010-2014) by the American Heart Association:

Creighton University, Omaha 1 study $52,00University of Nebraska, Lincoln 4 studies $1,044,808University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha 24 studies $3,171,672

Total: 29 studies $4,268,480

We appreciate support from

• United Way of the Midlands

• Combined Federal Campaign

2012 (latest available)

Leading Causes of Death in Nebraska

Total Cardiovascular Diseases

including stroke & congenital heart defects 4,630 (29.4%)

Cancer 3,458 (22%)

Chronic Lung Diseases 957 (6.1%)

Accidents 701 (4.5%)

Diabetes 472 (3%)

Alzheimer’s Disease 557 (3.5%)

2013How Your Donations Save lives

Nationwide, fiscal year 2013-14 (latest figures available)

Public HealthEducation

36.4%

Research21.8%

ProfessionalEducation& Training

14.2%Community Services

6.7%

Management& General

8.6%

Fund Raising12.3%

How Your Donations Save Lives

American Heart Association, 2013-14 fiscal year

Regional offices Lincoln (402-489-5115) Omaha (402-810-6870)

• Call us to reach the staff who serve your area of Nebraska.• Visit heart.org and click on “Your Local Branch” for programs/events.

• Visit heart.org or call 800-AHA-USA1 for lifesaving tools.

AmericanHeartAssociationOmaha @AHANebraska

AmericanHeartAssociationLincoln

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