On Tuesday, February 28, 2023, Houston Healthcare’s Community Education Department (EduCare) hosted its annual “Red Luncheon” to raise awareness of cardiovascular disease. Over 150 community members gathered in the Cary W. Martin Conference Center to enjoy a healthy meal and hear guest speaker Cynthia Malone, co-founder of Chip’n Away @ Heart Disease, share her husband’s inspiring story of detecting and battling heart disease. Other speakers included Houston Healthcare President and CEO, Charles Briscoe, who spoke about the services available through the Houston Heart Institute, and Sheldon Mattox, director of Houston Healthcare’s EduCare Department, who stressed the importance of knowing Hands-Only CPR.

Cardiovascular disease is the number one single cause of death for both women and men in Houston County, according to Houston Healthcare’s 2020 Community Needs Assessment. “Houston Healthcare is committed to improving the heart health of our community through events such as the Red Luncheon where people can come together, learn and be challenged,” says Sheldon Mattox, director of Houston Healthcare’s EduCare Department.

The event concluded with the opportunity for attendees to practice Hands-Only CPR and a challenge for everyone in attendance to invite the Houston Heart Institute to teach Hands-Only CPR at their place of business, church, or club, free of charge. The goal is to increase the number of individuals who can initiate life saving measures until emergency services arrive.