Little Red Hats Make Big Impact in NJ

ROBBINSVILLE — The American Heart Association and The Children’s Heart Foundation have launched the third year of New Jersey’s Little Hats, Big Hearts initiative. The program gives new moms a free kit that includes a beautiful, handmade red hat, along with health information including tips on raising a healthy family, ways mom can take care of herself, heart-healthy recipes and information on children’s heart health. Babies born in Feb. will don knitted red caps to raise awareness of heart disease, the number one killer of Americans, and congenital heart defects, the most common type of birth defect in the country.
In New Jersey alone, over 3,600 kits will be handed out across the state during the month of Feb. This Feb., which is American Heart Month and also holds Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week, starting on Feb. 7, the American Heart Association will empower and educate moms on one of life’s most important journeys – parenthood.
Heart disease can affect anyone—including moms and babies. In fact, 90% of women have at least one risk factor for cardiovascular disease and congenital heart defects (CHD) are the #1 most frequent birth defect affecting about 8 out of 1000 infants born each year. Congenital heart defects are structural problems with the heart present at birth. According to the American Heart Association, it’s possible to fix most congenital heart defects and there are an estimated 2 million CHD survivors in the United States. The American Heart Association is working hard towards our goal to have more healthy babies and moms by raising awareness, advocating for change and funding cutting-edge cardiovascular research to save and improve lives.
“It may seem little, but Little Hats, Big Hearts helps New Jersey families realize that there is someone out there who cares about them and their children,” said Jill Place, Little Hats, Big Hearts knitter and American Heart Association volunteer, “34 years ago I gave birth to a baby boy with a congenital heart defect and he passed away a year later. I’ve learned a lot about the heart since then and truly believe everyone should be aware of how to take care of their hearts.”
This year, 35 New Jersey Hospitals will participate in Little Hats, Big Hearts. Out of the 35 hospitals, 6 South Jersey hospitals are a part of this amazing initiative including: Atlanticare Regional Medical Center, Cape Regional Medical Center, Inspira Health Network, Jefferson Health, Shore Medical Center, and Virtua.
The Little Hats, Big Hearts program started in Chicago in 2014 and has expanded to more than 40 states. Since 2016, nearly 5,800 hats have been distributed in the Garden State. For more information about the Little Hats, Big Heart program in NJ, please visit www.heart.org/littlehatsbighearts.