Overview

Did you know February is National Heart Health Month? Heart disease is the leading cause of death for men and women in the United States. During this special month, help kids and adults understand the importance of a healthy heart and actions they can take to live a heart healthy life.

Take Action

• Do daily classroom physical activity breaks. Start small and work your way up to the recommended ten minutes per day.
• Teach a lesson about heart health and ways to keep a healthy heart and body.
• Host a month-long writing or art contest where students compose poems, letters, stories, artwork, etc. about healthy hearts.
• Coordinate a day in February where your entire school wears red to promote a healthy heart (National Wear Red Day is the first Friday of the month). Post photos on social media to spread awareness to your community.
• Host a CPR/AED training for staff or older students to teach critical, life-saving skills.
• Host a healthy fundraiser and donate all or some of the proceeds to an organization the promotes heart health.
• Invite your local hospital or health clinic to do free cholesterol screenings for staff and parents.
• Feature healthy eating and physical activity tips in your school newsletter or on your school’s website and social media, and connect it back to heart health.
• Host a Family Fitness Night and share literature about the importance of physical activity in preventing heart disease.
• Conduct a taste test and cooking demonstration using heart-healthy recipes.
• Teach students, staff and families how to manage stress. Offer a stress management workshop or meditation or yoga class.
• Did you know healthy teeth and gums can prevent heart disease? Invite a dentist to come to your school to talk about the importance of dental health.
• Add heart health information to your morning announcements.