Updated October 30, 2026
Stories and information for hunters will be highlighted all month long
Your American Heart Association is excited to bring back a very special initiative for hunters across the Mountain State. During the month of November, the “Heart Healthy Hunting” campaign will return for its fifth year, bringing life-saving messaging to hunters in order to help prevent cardiac and stroke-related deaths while on the trail.
“We’ve learned that, unfortunately, each year many hunters experience a heart attack or stroke while hunting and, for many, they are fatal,” said Emily Hanna, government relations director for the Heart Association. “Through this campaign we are able to share simple messaging and important stories to help reduce those numbers and bring our hunters home safely this season.”
The campaign will include social media messaging based on educating hunters on the signs/symptoms of heart attacks and strokes as well as the importance of having a daily plan for when and where hunters will be, and when they plan to return home. There will also be heart-healthy snack recipes and videos featuring life-saving tips, such as how to perform Hands-Only CPR and the importance of talking to your doctor before going into the woods.
There will also be support from the Kanawha-Charleston Health Department, West Virginia Department of Natural Resources, and from Delaney Roberts, a spokesperson for the campaign who lost two family members to cardiac hunting incidents. This support can be seen via video messages shared on the Association’s social media channels – @AHAWV on Facebook and @aha_wv on Twitter/X and Instagram. WDTV/Fox 10 in Clarksburg/Morgantown will also have special PSAs supporting the campaign throughout the month of November.
According to the West Virginia Department of Natural Resources, one in four calls they receive during the hunting season each year is related to cardiovascular incidents.
“This campaign is an extremely important one, as hunting is more than just a sport in West Virginia. It’s a cultural heritage that we see passed down through generations,” said Steven Eshenaur, D.O., M.B.A, health officer for the Kanawha-Charleston Health Department. “We want our hunters to practice heart-healthy hunting so they can get back home safely to their loved ones. We believe the best hunting seasons are the ones you haven’t even had yet.”
“We couldn’t do this alone and are so grateful for the support of the Kanawha-Charleston Heart Department and Delaney Roberts,” added Hanna. “They also see the importance of keeping our hunters safe as they head outdoors this season.”
The campaign will run from November 1 through November 30, 2026, and is the first of its kind in the nation for the American Heart Association.
