Yearly Guide to the Most Important Heart Days – (and Why You Need to Put Each Heart Day in Your Calendar!)

We talk about our hearts racing, our hearts breaking, and our hearts stopping… but do we ever talk about how to keep our blood-pumping hearts healthy?

The organ in our chest works overtime to keep us alive – but not everyone has a healthy heart! That is why heart-focused days started to make an appearance and people started to make an effort to acknowledge the disconnect. Throughout the year, events take place around the world that are designed to bring attention to heart disease, improving heart health, and prevention of cardiac emergencies. Are you doing enough for your heart? Are you helping your loved ones do enough too? Take a look at the various heart days and put them in your calendar!

Heart Month

Date: February 1-28/29th 

For the entire month of February, the world is working to raise awareness for heart disease and heart health. Organizations across the globe create heart month campaigns that individuals can participate in either online (ex. social media campaigns, hashtags, educational post shares, profile picture filters, etc.) or in person (walkathons, fundraisers, lectures, etc.). If you are looking to get involved, be sure to check out to your local heart-focused charities or follow @firsteditionfirstaid on social media for how you can get involved!

Wear Red Day

Date: February 4th 

Did you know that women are more susceptible to heart disease than men? Focusing on raising awareness for women’s heart health, Wear Red Day is an easy one to take part in! Simply putting on the color red and being open to discussions about how women’s heart health is important makes a difference! Want to get involved? Check out the Women’s Heart Health Centre in Ottawa closer to the date for more information!

Heart Failure Awareness Week

Date: May (*Dates dependent upon location)

Heart Failure Awareness Week is celebrated at different times of the year depending upon the organization. The Heart Failure Society of America participated in February, where they asked “the public and related organizations to take action by supporting the society’s efforts to promote heart failure awareness, patient education, and heart failure prevention.” Alternatively, the Canadian Heart Failure Society held their event in May and also promoted heart failure awareness and “spearheaded this Canadian initiative together with its partner organizations”. If you want to get involved, be sure to keep an eye out for upcoming events on the websites!

National CPR and AED Awareness Week

Date: June 1-7th 

Did you know that according to the Heart and Stroke Foundation, 35,000 Canadians suffer a cardiac arrest? In the first week of June, we come together to raise awareness for CPR and AED usage for emergencies. This week brings attention to the importance of these first aid skills and the devices (AEDs) that can kick a heart back into a normal rhythm. When it comes to saving lives, we need to make sure everyone is aware of how defibrillators and CPR can help in an emergency!

World Blood Donor Day

Date: June 14th 

For World Blood Donor Day on June 14th, the world is striving to increase blood donations and raise awareness for the importance of donating. Giving blood can make a huge impact for a person in need and even save a life! Your blood could go to cancer patients, car accident victims, organ transplant patients, surgery patients, and many others. Spread the word, get involved, and donate on this important day and any other day of the year!

World Heart Day

Date: September 29th 

On the 29th of September, join the World Heart Federation in celebrating the heart! This annual campaign is shared with people across the world who get involved to make a difference. Through the use of social media platforms, hashtags (ex. #UseHeart), shareable digital designs, and educational opportunities, the world is bringing attention to the heart!

National Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) Awareness Month

Date: October

According to the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, “cardiac arrests occur outside of a hospital setting in Canada each year, with between 80 and 85 per cent of these cases happening in the home.” Would you know how to help someone suffering a cardiac arrest in your home? If you answered no, this is your chance to learn more and raise awareness on how to aid individuals suffering from sudden cardiac arrest! Get involved, donate, or simply learn more alongside The Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation. As well, join the Heart and Stroke Foundation on October 16th for World Restart a Heart Day!

CPR Month

Date: November 

CPR Month is all about sharing, training, and raising awareness for CPR. This easily learned skill is covered in every first aid course, and can even be learned online! It is a skill that has proven to save lives. What many do not realize is that there are bystander laws to protect people from administering CPR, and that CPR doesn’t need to be mouth to mouth if you are not comfortable! There are compression-only options too! Follow First Edition First Aid on our Facebook, Instagram, or by connecting with our AED Ambassador David Kirkpatrick on LinkedIn to learn CPR tips, hear inspiring stories, and get involved in sharing more about it with your friends and family!

Mark these dates in your calendar, get involved, and start spreading healthier hearts to everyone around you!

Heart disease is the leading cause of death, but did you know that women are more susceptible to heart disease? Many may not even be aware that they are at risk! Take a look at the reasons why women are more susceptible and understand the symptoms and actions that can be taken to prevent it!