Conversations on heart health with the American Heart Association, and the importance of organ donors with Gift of Life Michigan (01-22-23)

On this week's program: In part one of the show, host Phil Tower welcomes Matt Johnson, Communications Director American Heart Association, West Michigan. Matt joined Phil to talk about the importance of knowing CPR, especially when someone's heart stops beating, as in the case with Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin. Matt explained how hands-only CPR is becoming more widely used to save lives today. We also spoke about the importance of having AED devices located in as many public places as possible to save a life when someone's heart stops. Matt reminded us that the annual “Grand Rapids Go Red for Women” luncheon is Thursday, February 16, 2023. The Go Red for Women movement was created to educate millions of women about their No. 1 killer: cardiovascular disease.
Online:
https://ahagrandrapids.ejoinme.org/MyEvents/20222023GrandRapidsMIGoRedLuncheon/tabid/1315748/Default.aspx

In part two of this week's program, Phil welcomes Dorrie Dils, President & CEO of Gift of Life Michigan. Gift of Life Michigan is a federally designated organ procurement organization that serves Michigan as the intermediary between donors, their families, and hospital staff. Gift of Life Michigan helped a record 463 people become organ donors and 1,821 give the gift of tissue last year, saving thousands of lives and healing tens of thousands more. Dorrie told us that those numbers represent a 14% increase in tissue donors over the previous record in 2019 and about an 8% increase in organ donors over 2021.

More online:
https://giftoflifemichigan.org/