American Heart Association Launches ‘Hard Hats with Heart’ in Charleston

The American Heart Association, together with fourteen Charleston-area construction and design firms, has started the “Hard Hats with Heart” campaign to improve cardiovascular health and CPR readiness among construction workers in South Carolina’s Lowcountry. The initiative responds to data showing that roughly one in 25 U.S. construction workers has been diagnosed with heart disease, driven by long hours, high stress, poor nutrition and tobacco use.

The campaign promotes workplace wellness through healthier food options, physical‑activity breaks, stress‑reduction programs, education on heart‑disease warning signs and CPR training. Keith Horton, project director of Frampton Construction, serves as campaign chair, leading the coalition of firms such as Banks Construction, Young Office, Trident Construction, Landmark Construction, C. Herman Construction, Terracon, Mashburn Construction, SteelFab, Seamon Whiteside, Choate Construction, HITT and Gray.

Organizers hope that by embedding health‑promotion practices into daily operations, construction sites will become safer and workers more equipped to respond to emergencies, ultimately saving lives.