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UPTON – On Friday, Feb. 3, faculty, staff, and students at Blackstone Valley Tech donned red attire to raise awareness and inspire action as part of 9th Annual National Go Red for Women Day. An initiative of the American Heart Association, Go Red for Women Day raises awareness about heart disease, which kills more women each year than all forms of cancer combined.
The effort was coordinated by the School Based Health Center (SBHC), the Health Services program, and the Practical Nursing program led by school nutrition educator, Martha Leary Pellegrino, RD, LDN, Kathy Ashe, MSN, RN, CNE, Practical Nursing Director, and Michele Dafonte, School Based Health Center office coordinator. The School Based Health Center at Valley Tech is a program of Milford Regional Medical Center (MRMC). It is a collaborative effort between the school and MRMC supporting existing school services to provide convenient and easily accessible school based health care for students.
The event took place during lunch periods and all staff was invited. Attendees were encouraged to make healthy choices in their lives. A heart healthy dessert was given to everyone in attendance and everyone wearing red was given a free “Go Red” dress pin. Practical Nursing students and instructors conducted blood pressure screenings, and there were raffles for prizes including a gym membership, pedometers, and more. Health Service students were on hand to discuss the risks of heart disease and Milford Regional Medical Center donated free giveaways. The Culinary Arts program offered heart healthy lunch menu options in the Three Seasons restaurant in support of the event including lime seared fish tacos, turkey chili, and blackened salmon with pineapple salsa.
“Symptoms of a heart attack are much milder in women,” stated Martha Pellegrino. “A woman could be having a heart attack, and simply feel shortness of breath and no other symptoms. Awareness about heart disease can help women take action to lower their risk.”
Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical High School serves the towns of Bellingham, Blackstone, Douglas, Grafton, Hopedale, Mendon, Milford, Millbury, Millville, Northbridge, Sutton, Upton and Uxbridge. Located in the heart of the Blackstone Valley, Blackstone Valley Tech creates a positive learning community that prepares students for personal and professional success in an internationally competitive society through a fusion of rigorous vocational, technical, and academic skills.
The school’s website is www.valleytech.k12.ma.us.
