"Little Hats, Big Hearts" Campaign Visits Women & Babies Hospital to Kick Off Heart Month

The Lancaster division of the American Heart Association delivered more than 300 red baby caps to Lancaster General Health’s Women & Babies Hospital on Feb. 1.  

During the month of February, which is American Heart Month, each baby born at Women & Babies Hospital will receive a hand-knitted, red cap to keep warm and remind their families of the importance of heart health as well as to raise awareness of heart defects. The effort is part of the American Heart Association’s Little Hats, Big Hearts™ project.

The caps were made by 25 volunteer knitters across Pennsylvania. During the month of February the caps will be given to each newborn’s parents and sent home with families at discharge, along with some information from the American Heart Association. 

If they wish, families can post pictures of babies in their red caps using #LittleHatsBigHeartsLancaster.

This is the first year for the Little Hats, Big Hearts™ program in Lancaster County. The program started in February 2014 in Chicago and has now expanded to local projects in 29 states. 

Cardiovascular disease is the number one killer of all Americans, but it is estimated that 80 percent of cardiovascular events can be prevented with education and lifestyle change. Congenital heart defects are the most common type of birth defect in the country.