The Heart Dance, an event that started in 1950 in Emporia, is still touching lives by aiding in the purchase of cardiac equipment in Emporia.
The Heart Dance was started by Beta Sigma Phi. At that time a group of women wanted to do something for local heart care.
“Back in the 50s there really wasn’t much in the way of heart monitoring,” said Nancy LeClear, Newman Regional Health’s marketing and education director. “The earliest picture we’ve been able to track down was actually for the donation of an oxygen tent for Newman. It was funds provided by Beta Sigma Phi that purchased the first cardiac equipment in Emporia.”
Money raised from the Heart Dance is combined with the previous year’s funds from a memorial fund Beta Sigma Phi manages.
LeClear said equipment purchased in recent years with the funds includes defibrillators, treadmills, exercise bikes for the cardiac rehabilitation area, mannequins for CPR training, a Doppler machine to check circulation and pulses in extremities, an EKG machine and heart monitors. A couple of years ago, the funds helped to pay for an expansion of the hospital’s Cardiac Rehabilitation area.
LeClear said the goal this year is $3,300 to purchase equipment. The hospital wants to purchase three King of Hearts Cardiac Event Monitors. The heart monitor is about the size of a deck of cards. The monitor can be worn over a 30-day period and when the has a heart irregularities they can push a button to record their heart pattern and it can be transmitted over the phone. The other thing the hospital would like to purchase is an infant crisis mannequin, which will be used to train health care staff in critical care and resuscitation of infants.
“It’s an advanced mannequin,” LeClear said. “Where a CPR mannequin is just to practice CPR, this one has different features where you can do more advanced critical care skills and resuscitation techniques.”
This year’s Heart Dance will be from 8 to 11 p.m. Feb. 14 at the Granada Theatre. Music will be provided by the Tall Grass Big Band and DJ Aron Dody. A cash bar will be available. The dance is open to the public. Tickets are $15 each. Tickets can be purchased at the Emporia Area Chamber of Commerce office, the Emporia Arts Council and Sensei Salon.
Dress is 20s era clothing or semi-formal dress. This year’s theme is “Puttin’ on the Ritz.”