TULLAHOMA, TN (February 24, 2020) - Tennova Healthcare – Harton has partnered once again with the American Heart Association (AHA) in their Babies Go Red promotion. During February, American Heart Month, babies born in the Women’s Center at Harton go home in red booties. These booties are provided by volunteers all across the nation who donate their talents and time crocheting or knitting them. The red booties as well as the crocheted red hats – hats are only to be worn outdoors - symbolize the shared mission of heart-healthy lives for everyone and raise awareness of Congenital Heart Defects.

The AHA reports nearly 40,000 infants are born with congenital heart defects each year in the United States. In 2013, to help catch congenital heart defects early, the state of Tennessee passed a law that made it mandatory for hospitals to begin screening babies before they leave the hospital.

Screening for critical congenital heart defects, according to the CDC, can help identify some babies before they go home from the birth hospital. If a critical CHD is diagnosed before a baby leaves the hospital, doctors can provide care and treatment that may prevent later health problems. Promoting heart health to the community, this American Heart Month Babies Go Red promotion at Tennova Healthcare – Harton is in addition to the Go Red for Women luncheon sponsored on National Go Red Day and the upcoming educational luncheon entitled “Carotid Artery Stenosis & Heart Healthy Diet.”