Healthy lifestyle program goes straight to the heart

One pupil said she was interested to see how everyday choices affect the heart.
By SHERRI L. SHAULIS
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
LIBERTY -- Eighth-grader Amanda Ritt cringed a little as she held her hands out in front of her. Even with gloves on, she could feel the coolness of the muscle she held.
"It was slimy and cold," she said, as she held her hands up in front of her, afraid to touch anything until she washed them. "All I kept thinking was, 'I am holding a dead person's heart.'"
Ritt and other seventh- and eighth-grade pupils from W.S. Guy Middle School viewed the human cadaver hearts Friday as part of Humility of Mary Health Partner's Heart and Vascular Services' Student of the Month Program.
The cooperative program between the hospital and schools throughout Trumbull and Mahoning counties aims to teach pupils about the risk factors of heart disease, the importance of healthy lifestyle choices and what they and their families can do to promote heart health.
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As the teenagers held the hearts, Dr. Larry Woods, a cardiologist at St. Elizabeth Health Center, showed the effects of heart disease, heart attacks and drug use on the organs. Pupils crowded around, some making faces, examining the reddish-brown muscles.
"You're at an age right now where if you start thinking about prevention, you have a lesser chance of having a problem with your heart," Dr. Woods told them.
Ritt said the program hit close to home for her, since her father has experienced some health problems related to his heart. She was one of the only girls in the class to volunteer to hold a cadaver heart during the presentation.
"My dad is having problems with his heart, and if he has to have surgery, I want to know what his heart might look like," she said. "But it's weird, because you got to see how everyday things in your life can affect your heart. It's almost scary."
The program
The Student of the Month Program not only visits schools to promote heart health, but encourages pupils to look at career options in health care. Each month, students can submit original essays discussing the importance of heart health and submit a plan for a heart-healthy activity they will implement in their school. Student essays and projects are nominated to the program by their teacher.
Those chosen as Student of the Month are then invited to spend a day at St. Elizabeth Health Center with Dr. Woods, participate in a Heartsaver CPR class and see what health-oriented careers are available to them.
The program is sponsored by the St. Elizabeth and St. Joseph Development Foundations.
slshaulis@vindy.com