New Government Relations Director for Utah

By Marc Watterson on Thursday, June 6, 2013

SALT LAKE CITY, UT, June 5, 2013 – I am excited to announce that I have recently taken over for Scott Brown as the Government Relations Director for the American Heart Association|American Stroke Association here in Utah. Scott has been promoted within the AHA|ASA and now leads our Heart and Stroke Initiatives in the Western United States. I look forward to being a great asset to you as we discuss important issues here in the state related to cardiovascular diseases and stroke.

The work and research of the AHA|ASA have literally saved thousands of lives. It is my hope to partner with you in my new role to reach our 2020 goal of reducing deaths from cardiovascular disease and stroke by 20%.

We have made huge strides over the past decade to improve the health and patient outcomes of all Utahns. I hope to carry on this important work and ask for your support now and in the future as we seek to:

• Allocate a portion of Tobacco Tax Revenues to the DOH for Tobacco Prevention and Control Program
• Further CPR training in our schools by including CPR in core curriculum standards for instruction in health
• Prohibit the use of tobacco at all locations on college campuses

In conjunction with National CPR Week the AHA|ASA is working to create a generation of lifesavers by making sure students learn CPR before they graduate high school. This essential life skill will benefit countless individuals and families by increasing the number of Utah’s residents that know CPR. A bill that requires CPR training as a prerequisite to high school graduation is coming in the next session!

Please take a moment to let your legislators know the importance of teaching the next generation how to save lives through CPR. 

I look forward to working with you – taking proactive steps now – that will save lives and alleviate a potential financial burden to the state by promoting health and wellness. The great work that you engage in for our state will help contribute to our noble goal of saving lives! Together, we will make a difference in Utah.

CPR saves lives every day. Please take a moment to watch a news story from here in Utah where a coach used CPR to save the life of a high school athlete!