Highline Public Schools press release:

Highline High School (HHS) will turn red on Dec. 14 when Pirate fans hold their first “Red Out” in the spirit of raising awareness about heart disease, our nation’s No. 1 killer, and raising donations for the American Heart Association (AHA).

The Red Out will be held during the Quad basketball games versus Renton High School from 3:30 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. at the HHS Main Gym.

Leadership Class students at Highline have organized and are leading this event.

“Heart disease is a growing issue that almost no one hears about,” said senior Austin Sita, ASB treasurer and organizer of Red Out. “The Red Out gives us a chance to raise awareness among students and our community about heart disease.”

Students, players, cheerleaders, and fans will all wear red for the game.

The Burien/Normandy Park Fire Department will offer free blood pressure checks from 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. The AHA will bring dummies so that attendees can practice hands-only CPR, and two Highline staff members will speak at half-time about their experiences with heart disease.

During the game students will collect donations for the AHA and will share information about heart disease prevention and warning signs. Game attendees are encouraged to participate by purchasing a red T-shirt, which will be available for a $10 donation to the AHA. The shirts are available for pre-order and also available for purchase on the evening of the game.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are the leading killer of Americans, leading to one death every 39 seconds. That’s 2,200 women, men, and children per day. Research funded by the AHA has yielded major advances, such as the heart-lung machine, CPR/ AED, life-extending drugs, pacemakers, bypass surgery, and surgical techniques to repair heart defects and save lives.

Currently the heart association has $4.9 million invested in research projects throughout the state of Washington. The AHA is also dedicated to heart disease and stroke prevention by teaching all Americans the value of healthy lifestyles and providing them with tools to make positive lifestyle changes.

To learn more about, visit www.heart.org/pugetsound or call (206) 632-6881.