Senator Parker Recognizes February 7th as 'National Wear Red Day'

  (Brooklyn, NY) - Senator Kevin Parker (D-Brooklyn) today urged New Yorkers to celebrate National Wear Red Day this Friday, February 7^th.

 “Heart disease is the number one cause of death for men and women in the United States,” Senator Parker said. “By most accounts, it is a preventable disease, and by increasing awareness and availability of quality health care we can continue to save lives and reduce the cost of essential public healthcare and emergency programs.”

Heart disease kills one in four Americans, and many cases can be prevented through consistent exercise, healthy diet, and eliminating risk factors like smoking, stress, uncontrolled diabetes, and excessive alcohol consumption. Established by President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964, American Heart Month is renewed yearly by presidential proclamation. This month is the 50^th Anniversary of American Heart Month, and President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama urge Americans to participate in National Wear Red Day on Friday, February 7^th in a show of solidarity in the fight against heart disease.

“I urge all New Yorkers to join our state and national leaders in wearing red this Friday to show our support for heart health awareness,” Senator Parker concluded. “Together we can ensure that all of us have the tools and knowledge we need to make healthy choices for generations to come.”

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About Senator Kevin Parker

Senator Kevin S. Parker is intimately familiar with the needs of his ethnically diverse Brooklyn community that consists of 318,000 constituents in Flatbush, East Flatbush, Midwood, Ditmas Park, Kensington, Windsor Terrace, and Park Slope.  He is the Ranking Member of the Senate Energy and Telecommunications Committee and Committee on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse, Assistant Democratic Leader for Intergovernmental Affairs, and Chair of the Democratic Task Force on New Americans.