Heart Health luncheon on Feb. 20 Published Feb. 14, 2014 By Senior Airman John D. Partlow 47th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs LAUGHLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- Get Pumped Up, a heart health luncheon, is scheduled for Feb. 20 at 11:30 a.m. at Club XL for all Team XL members. The event's goal is to increase awareness of heart health during the month of February, National Heart Health Month. "There are so many awareness causes for various cancers that people sometimes forget about their heart health," said Rey Torres, 47th Medical Group Health and Wellness Center Health Promotion manager and exercise physiologist. "We want to remind people that taking care of their heart is important too." According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, heart disease is the leading cause of death in men and women, accounting for one out of every four deaths. "A common misconception people have is that heart health is an issue meant for older people," said Capt. Shanieka Gibson, 47th Medical Group Disease Management nurse and speaker at the luncheon. "It affects both genders, regardless of age, and we want to make people aware of those facts." The luncheon strays away from the classroom setting and focuses on a short presentation, along with a hands-on look at some heart health equipment the HAWC offers, such as a blood pressure station and a body fat composition machine. Experts at the luncheon also review life-saving skills such as CPR. "We're not necessarily teaching them how to saves lives, but we want them to be comfortable with CPR procedures," said Gibson. "If an emergency ever arises, we want people to at least understand life-saving skills at the basic level." No registration is required for the luncheon. For more information, call Ray Torres at 298-6464, or email him at reynaldo.torres@us.af.mil.