Doctors Medical Center, Emanuel Medical Center and Doctors Hospital of Manteca launched a local campaign that outfits newborns delivered at the hospitals with little red hats 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. As part of the program, all babies born at the participating hospitals during the month of August will receive a knitted or crocheted red baby hat, while supplies last.

Doctors Medical Center, Emanuel Medical Center and Doctors Hospital of Manteca are the local Healthy For Good cause sponsors for the American Heart Association and has launched this initiative as part of their efforts to raise awareness about being heart-healthy and encourage the local community to get “healthy for good.” The hats were knitted and crocheted by local volunteers including the senior class from a local high school who took it on as part of their senior project.

“We want to thank these hospitals for helping us make a huge impact in the local community,” said Katie Malone, executive director for the American Heart Association’s Stockton/Modesto division. “We’d also like to thank the supporters who put the red hats together. Without you, none of this would be possible.”

Heart disease is the number one killer of Americans and the number one killer worldwide, while stroke is the number five killer in the U.S., Cardiovascular disease, listed as the underlying cause of death, accounts for nearly 801,000 deaths in the US. That’s about 1 of every 3 deaths in the US. About 2,200 Americans die of cardiovascular disease each day, an average of 1 death every 40 seconds. In addition, eight out of every 1,000 babies will be born with some form of congenital heart defect.

The hats will be given out on a first-come, first-serve basis during the month of August to help raise awareness and draw attention to these devastating diseases.

These local hospitals will continue their efforts to improve the health of the community by participating in the 2017 Stanislaus Heart & Stroke Walk taking place Saturday, September 16 at California State University, Stanislaus.