On Wednesday, September 11, 2024, the American Heart Association (AHA) announced that Horry County was the #1 lifesaving district in South Carolina and the #13 lifesaving district nationally.
In the past year, 37 elementary and middle schools in Horry County participated in programs aimed to educate students and their families about heart-related health topics such as how to identify a stroke, the dangers of vaping, how to give CPR, and the importance of both mental and physical well-being. AHA reported that over 28,400 Horry County families received heart-healthy information that can help create lifelong healthy habits.
Of the participating Horry County schools, several schools earned a special mention: Forestbrook Elementary was the #1 school in the state of South Carolina, Carolina Forest Elementary was #4 in the state, and Ocean Drive Elementary was #5 in the state.
Participating schools receive a contribution based on the total amount of money they raised for the AHA over the year. This year, schools in Horry County earned a combined total of $28,030 that can be used to purchase PE or playground equipment.
