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With heart attack responsible for one death every 51 minutes and over half of all heart attack deaths occurring before the person reaches the hospital, it’s an important health message and one the Heart Foundation is not taking lightly.

As part of the launch, the warning signs health marketing campaign will hit television screens in rural and remote Queensland from Tuesday 14 February to help Australians recognise the warning signs of heart attack and remind them of the importance of calling tripe zero – fast!

Heart Foundation Queensland Chief Executive Officer, Cameron Prout, said the campaign consisting of television, press and radio is designed to urge Australians to know the warning signs and be able to detect them early.

“Valentine’s Day is all about reminding the special someone in our lives that we love them and what better way to do that than with important heart health messages?” Mr Prout said.

“Delays can cost lives, and for heart attack survivors there is only a small window of opportunity to act before damage to the heart muscle occurs, resulting in permanent disability.

“Being aware of the warning signs and knowing what to do in the event of a heart attack could save your life or the life of a loved one. It really is the best gift you could give someone and can mean the difference between life and death.”

Australia’s largest rail freight operator, QR National, has demonstrated their commitment to the health and wellbeing of employees by announcing today it will become the organisation’s inaugural Foundation sponsor.

QR National Managing Director & CEO, Lance Hockridge says, heart health should be high on the agenda for all big companies, given cardiovascular disease (CVD) is Australia’s number one killer.

“We have nine thousand employees across Australia and we want to get the message through to each and every one of them that 2012 is the year to bite the bullet and make some healthy lifestyle changes,” he said.

QR National’s long-term sponsorship of the Heart Foundation will see the two organisations work together to provide health and wellbeing information to QR National work sites with active programs on the prevention of heart disease.

“Our workplaces are committed to workplace safety through ZeroHarm. It’s time to take it one step further and play a more active role in reducing the number of deaths from CVD.

“The three year partnership with the Heart Foundation will be more than just an internal campaign. You will also see QR National working with the Heart Foundation in communities across Australia where our employees and their families live and work."

With CVD proven to have a negative impact on employment, due to absenteeism and early retirement costing the economy close to $2.2 billion a year, Mr Hockridge said the commitment was a worthwhile investment.

“The health and wellbeing of our employees, their families and the communities in which they live is extremely important to us,” he said.

Mr Prout welcomes QR National’s support.

“We’re delighted to be in the company of an organisation that shares our goal to inform more Australian men and women about the importance of their heart health and help to raise awareness of heart disease as the number one killer of Australian men and women,” Mr Prout said.

Important information on recognising the warning signs of a heart attack and practical advice on ways to act quickly can be found at www.heartattackfacts.org.au. For information on how you can make a donation to the Heart Foundation please visit www.community.heartfoundation.org..au/valentinesday

Warning Signs of Heart Attack:

Heart attack symptoms may include pain, pressure heaviness or tightness in one or more parts of the upper body (chest, neck, jaw, arms(s), shoulder(s) or back) in combination with other symptoms of nausea, shortness of breath, dizziness or a cold sweat. People who have had a heart attack describe a feeling of being generally unwell or ‘not quite right’. Each can be a clear warning that the person is about to have a heart attack and needs to act fast.

About the Heart Foundation: Australia’s leading voice on heart health, the Heart Foundation saves lives and improves health by funding world-class cardiovascular research, developing guidelines for health professionals, informing the public and assisting people with cardiovascular disease. While the work over the past five decades has helped reduce the number of deaths, cardiovascular disease (heart, stroke and blood vessel disease) remains the number-one killer of Australians. As a charity, the Heart Foundation relies on donations and gifts in Wills to continue its lifesaving research, education and health promotion work. For further information visit www.heartfoundation.org.au or call 1300 36 27 87.

About QR National:

QR National is Australia's largest rail freight company with services operating across five states. In 2010/11, QR National transported more than 240 million tonnes of freight, including coal, iron ore, other minerals, agricultural products and general freight. It also operates and manages the 2300 kilometre Central Queensland coal network that links mines to coal ports at Bowen, Mackay and Gladstone.

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