What Does A Red Porch Light Mean?

Lights on the porch aren't just ornamental. Their presence more often than not signifies support to a particular movement throughout the U.S. For instance, a blue light on the porch means support for law enforcement personnel. Similarly, red lights grace the porch during Halloween, Christmas, Valentine's Day, and are sometimes used through the entire course of February to honor the American Heart Month. Since this month is dedicated to understanding heart disease, its commonality, and how to prevent such diseases through healthy practices, red lights grace the porch to spread awareness and show solidarity towards cardiovascular health.

Heart disease is one of the most common causes of death in the U.S., and the leading cause of death for women, according to the American Heart Association (AHA). Despite this, only 44% to 56% of women realize how great the risk of cardiovascular disease is. This is largely because heart disease is seen as a male disease and therefore often goes undiagnosed in women. So, to fill this gap, the AHA initiated the Go Red for Women (GRFW) movement.

AHA started with the vision of "saving, improving, and extending lives" by bringing attention to heart health. And to focus on the importance of women especially and gather insightful information, they launched the Women's Health Initiative in 1992. AHA's contribution to this cause led to the signing of a new law for women's health in 1998. Upon realizing that women are less aware and more dismissive of this disease (with the general notion being that heart issues crop up at an old age in men), AHA initiated the GRFW movement in 2004.

Initially, women were encouraged to wear red on the first Friday of February to spread awareness. But now, people have started dressing their porch in red during February to showcase their support. Simply remove the porch light cover to change the bulb to a red one. Another easy way to contribute is to put up posts through your social media handle. You can even host events or luncheons to tell people more about cardiovascular health and shed light on the hidden health hazards in your home. Additionally, you may learn CPR to lend a helping hand during an emergency.