CHD Awareness Week 2021
What is CHD?
A congenital heart defect occurs when the heart or blood vessels attached to the heart don’t develop normally before birth. Common heart defects include aortic stenosis, atrial septal defect (ASD), coarctation of the aorta (COA), Ebstein anomaly, patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), tetralogy of Fallot (TOF), truncus arteriosus and ventricular septal defect (VSD). All have varying degrees of severity, oftentimes requiring at least one if not multiple surgeries.
Why CHD Awareness Week?
Congenital Heart Disease (CHD) Awareness Week is celebrated annually from February 7th - 14th and aims to encourage people to learn about CHDs. This week also serves to honour those born with heart defects while also recognising the health care workers who care for them.
How to Celebrate CHD Awareness Week
Here are some suggestions for how you can help to raise awareness about CHD:
- Help support children and adults with CHD by sharing facts through your social media platforms
- Print out flyers and post them on your local community bulletin boards.
- If you are personally affected by CHD, consider sharing your story on social media or in your local newspaper.
- Take the time to participate in research by filling out surveys and working with your local organisations.
- Create a fundraiser for a heart association, like Brave Little Hearts SA, to raise money for awareness.
- Use the hashtag #CHDAwareness to help engage your friends and family in the conversation about CHD.
Lastly, remember to wear red this CHD awareness week!