Breath Matters Monthly e-NewsletterNovember 30, 2005 Number 130

Breath Matters Monthly e-Newsletter

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Current Issue:

Breath Matters
The American Lung Association of California's Monthly e-Newsletter
November 30, 2005 Number 130
http://www.californialung.org

Content:

COPD: Hungry for Air: Breathing Better Together
Shine a Little Light’ Focuses on Lung Cancer Awareness
Associations Advocate for Smoke-Free Parks
Open Airways Asthma Training Set for January
Sonoma County Sets Bold Emissions Reduction Goal
Dublin City Council Bans Hookah Bars
Researcher Studies Latino Genetic Factors in Asthma
Tell a Friend
Special Donation

MONTHLY HEALTH TIP

COPD: Hungry for Air: Breathing Better Together For free information about chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and your free copy of the “How We Are Breathing Better Together” booklet, visit http://www.lungusa.org/site/pp.asp?c=dvLUK9O0E&b=1145023.

SHINE A LITTLE LIGHT’ FOCUSES ON LUNG CANCER AWARENESS

Lung cancer kills more men and women than breast, prostate and colorectal cancers combined, yet it receives fewer research dollars than all other major cancers. The American Lung Association of California, Redwood Empire Branch, joined with local lung cancer awareness advocates for “Shine a Little Light on Lung Cancer.” More than 150 people attended the November 4 event.

Marcy Smothers, wife of comedienne Tommy Smothers, served as emcee for the evening and representatives from Lung Cancer Alliance told how the disease has impacted their lives. Participants entered the names of people who are battling lung cancer and those who lost their lives to the disease on scrolls and made scrapbook entries honoring loved ones, which will be delivered to elected officials. Resolutions were secured in 11 area cities and counties proclaiming November Lung Cancer Awareness Month.

For more information, contact Jenny Bard at 707.527.5864 or jbard@alac.org.

ASSOCIATIONS ADVOCATE FOR SMOKE-FREE PARKS

Associations around the state continue to advocate for smoke-free public places outdoors, including parks. In San Jose, the Tobacco-Free Collaborative, led by the American Lung Association of Santa Clara-San Benito Counties, pushed for all city parks to be smoke-free. Tobacco control advocates presented the issue to the San Jose Parks and Recreation Committee in April and secured an editorial in the San Jose Mercury News in August in support of a complete ban on smoking in city parks.

However, despite overwhelming public support for smoke-free parks, including an informal survey conducted by the city that showed support for the measure, the San Jose Parks and Recreation Committee failed to support the ban at its November 2 meeting.

In Mission Viejo, policymakers have also been slow to embrace the issue. The American Lung Association of Orange County has been working with a coalition of health advocates to make all city parks and trails smoke-free. While the coalition has enjoyed immense public support, policymakers have not yet passed a smoke-free parks ordinance.

For more information, contact Dennis Acha at 408.998.5864 or dennis@lungsrus.org, or Glenn Maddalon at 714.835.5864 or gmaddalon@oclung.org.

OPEN AIRWAYS ASTHMA TRAINING SCHEDULED FOR JANUARY

The American Lung Association of California is offering Open Airways For Schools training sessions on Monday, January 9, and Tuesday, January 10, at Enloe Medical Center in Chico.

Monday’s session will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and is for classroom instructors. Tuesday’s training is scheduled from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. and is for those who want to coordinate the program, mainly staff.

The cost for the training is $15 for the first day and $25 for both days. The kits cost $15.

For more information, contact Lynn Devine at 619.269.8148 or ldevine@alac.org.

SONOMA COUNTY SETS BOLD EMISSIONS REDUCTION GOAL

The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors passed the toughest greenhouse gas emissions reduction measure in the nation, voting to reduce the deadly emissions by 25 percent below 1990 levels by 2015. The American Lung Association of California, Redwood Empire Branch, joined forces with the Climate Protection Campaign and others to support the reduction goal and signed on to an ad endorsing the measure.

The association has been active in the campaign to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and in 2004 secured 16 resolutions from area cities and counties urging the California Air Resources Board to adopt strict greenhouse gas regulations.
For more information, visit http://www.skymetrics.us/news/news22.php or contact Jenny Bard at 707.527.5864 or jbard@alac.org.

DUBLIN CITY COUNCIL BANS HOOKAH BARS

Dublin City Council members recently banned hookah bars from setting up shop in the city thanks in part to efforts by the American Lung Association of the East Bay. Working with the Alameda Public Health Department, Dublin police and city staff, as well as local tobacco control advocates, the association encouraged policymakers to support the ban due to the serious health risks posed by the smoking lounges.

Hookah bars are growing in popularity and feature a Middle Eastern tradition of smoking flavored tobacco in water pipes. While state law prohibits smoking in most workplaces, it is allowed in retail or wholesale tobacco shops and private smoking lounges. The recently passed Dublin ordinance will eliminate this loophole.

For more information, contact Serena Chen at 510.893.5474 or schen@alaebay.org.

RESEARCHER STUDIES LATINO GENETIC FACTORS IN ASTHMA

Asthma prevalence, disease and death are highest among Puerto Ricans and lowest among Mexicans. A researcher at the University of California, San Francisco, is conducting a study to determine what role genetics play in asthma prevalence. Esteban Burchard, MD, is hoping the study will provide a way to identify which Latino Americans are at high risk for severe asthma.
The study is one of 17 research projects funded by the American Lung Association of California in FY 2005-2006. Visit http://www.californialung.org/press/050927LungDisease.html for information on other funded projects.

TELL A FRIEND Forward this e-newsletter to friends, family and business contacts. Encourage them to subscribe for free at http://www.californialung.org. Signing up is easy. Just enter your e-mail address at the upper left corner of the Web site homepage below the logo.

SPECIAL DONATIONS Let your family and friends know how much you appreciate them this holiday season by making a special donation in their honor at http://californialung.org/donate/donate.html.

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