Calling all knitters! The American Heart Association/American Stroke Association (AHA/ASA) needs your help to celebrate American Heart Month in a special way.
The AHA/ASA is collecting red hats knitted and crocheted by volunteers to distribute to local hospitals this February through the Little Hats, Big Hearts program. The red hats will be given to babies born during American Heart Month, along with important heart health information for parents. The hats serve as a reminder that heart disease is the number one killer of Americans. Congenital heart defects are the most common type of birth defect in the country.
Thanks to the advocacy efforts of dedicated AHA/ASA volunteers, all newborns in New York State receive pulse oximetry testing to help detect congenital heart defects before they leave the hospital.
Volunteers interested in knitting or crocheting hats can contact the AHA/ASA at (315) 728-7544 or visit the local Little Hats, Big Hearts website for more information. Patterns for several different hats, as well as yarn requirements and other instructions, are available online.
Hats must be received by January 15, 2016 to be delivered to participating hospitals.