Breath Matters
The American Lung Association of California’s Monthly e-Newsletter
Improving Life, One Breath at a Time
To automatically connect with your nearest American Lung Association, or to speak with a nurse or respiratory therapist at our free HelpLine, call 800.586.4872.
December 22, 2008 Number 167
Happy holidays to volunteers, donors, staff, Action Network members and others who care about these issues. You can read more about some of the people involved with the American Lung Association of California in our 2007-2008 Annual Report/2009 Wall Calendar at http://www.californialung.org/
Content:
- Association Champions Key Public Health and Climate Victories
- New Home Oxygen Rules
- Well-Known Faces Join Flu Shot Campaign to Prevent Illness
- Association Reaches Out Through Social Networking Sites
- Hookah Article Includes Warning From Association Volunteer
- Kickin’ Asthma Study Featured in a Number of News Reports
- Air District Funds SCAMP Camps for Children With Asthma
- Asthma Research Summit Focuses on Cutting-Edge Basic Research
- Association Sponsors CALSTART Symposium on Cleaner Energy
- Researcher to Determine How Steroids Work on the Airways
- Celebrate the Season with a Donation to Christmas Seals®
- Tell a Friend
ASSOCIATION CHAMPIONS KEY PUBLIC HEALTH AND CLIMATE VICTORIES
The American Lung Association of California is celebrating the passage of key public health regulations it fought for that will cut toxic diesel emissions, improve air quality and reduce global warming. The California Air Resources Board (CARB) approved a statewide plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions as well as regulations that will reduce diesel soot.
The association urged CARB to adopt a strong plan, required under AB 32. To view a news release about the scoping plan to cut global warming, go to http://californialung.org/
On December 12, the air board approved both the Statewide Truck and Bus regulation and the Heavy Duty Vehicle Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction regulation in an 8-0 vote after two days of testimony. To view a related news release, go to http://californialung.org/
The association held a news conference featuring four physicians from its Health Network for Clean Air and association staffers Bonnie Holmes-Gen and Linda Weiner were quoted in a number of media reports about the new rules, which will save more than 9,400 lives over the next decade.
To view media coverage of the new rules, go to:
- http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/
article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/12/13/ MN8U14N2IV.DTL - http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_
11189829?nclick_check=1 - http://www.latimes.com/news/
local/la-me-diesel13- 2008dec13,0,872554.story - http://www.sacbee.com/
capitolandcalifornia/story/ 1470828.html - http://podcast.kcbs.com/kcbs/
1478896.mp3 - http://www.kpbs.org/news/
local;id=13439 - http://www.signonsandiego.com/
uniontrib/20081213/news_ 1n13trucks.html - http://cbs5.com/environment/
california.diesel.emissions.2. 885984.html - http://cbs5.com/localwire/22.
0.html?type=bcn&item=AB-32- bagm- - http://www.kqed.org/epArchive/
R812110900 - http://www3.signonsandiego.
com/stories/2008/dec/08/ 1n8trucks73134-state-air- monitors-gunning-diesel/? zIndex=20331
MONTHLY HEALTH TIP: New Home Oxygen Rules Changes in the law are requiring Medicare to change how it pays suppliers for oxygen equipment and supplies beginning January 1, 2009. Previously, the law stated that you would own the oxygen equipment after you rented it for 36 months. Under the new law, the rental payments will end after 36 months, but the supplier continues to own the equipment. To learn more, go to http://www.medicare.gov/
WELL-KNOWN FACES JOIN FLU SHOT CAMPAIGN TO PREVENT ILLNESS
The American Lung Association launched its Faces of Influenza campaign this fall to raise awareness about the need to get vaccinated against influenza, a respiratory disease that kills about 36,000 people in the U.S. every year. A number of well-known faces have joined the campaign because despite the warnings, too few people are being vaccinated.
On a national level, Olympic Gold Medal figure skater Kristi Yamaguchi, most recent "Dancing with the Stars" winner and a mother, is the spokesperson for the Faces of Influenza campaign. Other celebrity "faces" featured are: actor Dean Cain, who played Superman on ABC's “Lois and Clark”; Dr. Joyce Brothers, well-known psychologist and advice columnist; Joy Behar, comedian and co-host of ABC's “The View”; Olympic Gold Medalist Vonetta Flowers; and actor Peter Gallagher, who starred in FOX's “The OC”.
In California, Robin Shakely, Deputy District Attorney of Sacramento, and Dee Dee Abdur-Rahim, local mother of two and wife of former Sacramento Kings player Shareef Abdur-Rahim, have joined the American Lung Association of California’s Faces of Influenza campaign. To view articles about the campaign, go to http://www.marketwatch.com/
For more on the campaign, go to www.facesofinfluenza.org To find a flu shot clinic nearest you, visit the American Lung Association’s www.flucliniclocator.org and enter your zip code in the Flu Clinic Locator box.
ASSOCIATION REACHES OUT THROUGH SOCIAL NETWORKING SITES
The American Lung Association of California is reaching out to diverse audiences through its social networking sites.
The association’s My Space page at www.myspace.com/calung features information about the organization, upcoming events, and links to get involved. Its blog at http://alacsd.blogspot.com/ keeps users updated on recent news and upcoming events. To visit the association’s Facebook.com site, if you have an account (or after you create an account) search for the American Lung Association in California and click on “become a fan” to RSVP for events, send event information to your friends, and post comments. For more information, contact Lauren Dukar, ldukar [at] alac [dot] org, 213.384.5864.
HOOKAH ARTICLE INCLUDES WARNING FROM ASSOCIATION VOLUNTEER
A volunteer spokesperson for the American Lung Association of California was recently quoted in an Orange County Register article about the dangers of hookah lounges, where people smoke tobacco from water pipes. These smoking cafes are springing up across California.
"Whatever regular pipe smoking does, hookah smoking would do the same thing," Dr. Afif El-Hasan was quoted as saying. He is a pediatrician at Kaiser Permanente in Mission Viejo and a member of the association’s Leadership Council in Orange County.
To view the article, go to http://www.ocregister.com/
KICKIN’ ASTHMA STUDY FEATURED IN A NUMBER OF NEWS REPORTS
The American Lung Association of California’s successful Kickin’ Asthma program has been featured in a number of news reports recently, including U.S. News and World Report. The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation issued a release about a study that concluded the Kickin’ Asthma self-management program specifically designed for urban students was shown to reduce symptoms and increase the number of days children were able to attend school. To view the release, go to http://www.
The study evaluated the school-based asthma curriculum in Oakland, which teaches asthma physiology and self-management techniques, and found that Kickin’ Asthma helps to reduce symptoms, activity limitations, and health care utilization for intervention participants.
For more information, contact Adam Davis at 510.893.5474 or adavis [at] alac [dot] org
To view related articles, go to:
- http://health.usnews.com/
articles/health/healthday/ 2008/12/17/school-program- helps-cut-asthma-risks.html - http://www.medicalnewstoday.
com/articles/131824.php - http://medheadlines.com/2008/
12/08/students-successfully- kickin-asthma-in-oakland- schools/ - http://latimesblogs.latimes.
com/booster_shots/2008/12/ school-kids-ben.html - http://webclipper.handsnet.
org/2008/12/study-shows-sch. php
AIR DISTRICT FUNDS SCAMP CAMPS FOR CHILDREN WITH ASTHMA
Special thanks to the South Coast Air Quality Management District for supporting the American Lung Association of California’s SCAMP asthma camps in Southern California with a $170,000 grant.
Air pollution is a major contributor to asthma and the grant will support a special effort to recruit children with asthma who live in areas surrounding the BP refinery in Carson, a significant source of air pollution. The association’s SCAMP camps teach children how to better manage their asthma symptoms in a fun summer camp environment.
For more information, contact Natalie Martinez at 714.835.5864, ext. 105, or nmartinez [at] alac [dot] org
ASTHMA RESEARCH SUMMIT FOCUSES ON CUTTING-EDGE BASIC RESEARCH
The American Lung Association of California cosponsored the first-ever California Asthma Research Summit, held December 10-11 in San Francisco, featuring cutting-edge basic asthma research. Scientists presented a number of technical presentations in a wide range of areas that impact asthma, including genetics, air pollution, allergies, nutrition and prevention.
The summit was organized by the California Department of Public Health through its California Breathing program. For summit details, go to www.asthmaresearchsummit.org
For more information, contact Adam Davis at 510.893.5474 or adavis [at] alac [dot] org
ASSOCIATION SPONSORS CALSTART SYMPOSIUM ON CLEANER ENERGY
The American Lung Association of California is a supporting sponsor of CALSTART’s upcoming Target 2030: Solutions to Secure California’s Transportation Energy and Climate Future Conference, scheduled for January 14-15 at the Sacramento Hyatt. Policymakers and industry leaders will identify, outline and discuss innovative new solutions to address California’s transportation-related energy, climate and air quality challenges.
The symposium will provide the opportunity to meet with state leaders and explore new policies, technologies and partnerships that can address California’s transportation energy and climate needs. To view the agenda and registration details, go to www.calstart.org
For sponsorships, technology exhibits and ride and drive information, contact Debby DuBose at 626.744.5653 or ddubose [at] calstart [dot] org
RESEACHER TO DETERMINE HOW STERIODS WORK ON THE AIRWAYS
Steroids are commonly prescribed to people with asthma to reduce inflammation in the airways, but it is not fully understood how they work on the airway smooth muscle. Anthony Gerber, MD, a researcher at the University of California, San Francisco, is studying the effects of steroids on smooth muscle in the hopes of identifying new medications that will work with steroids.
He is one of 13 researchers funded by the American Lung Association of California in 2008-2009. To learn more about the research program and other funded projects, go to http://www.californialung.org/
CELEBRATE THE SEASON WITH A DONATION TO CHRISTMAS SEALS® While you enjoy special time with family and friends this holiday season, consider a donation to the American Lung Association’s Christmas Seal® campaign. To learn more, go to www.christmasseals.org You can also give to the American Lung Association by ordering your cards online at http://www.cardsdirect.com/
TELL A FRIEND Forward this e-newsletter to friends, family and business contacts. Encourage them to subscribe for free at www.californialung.org Signing up is easy. Just enter your e-mail address in the green box on the lower right corner of the homepage under the words “Get free monthly lung health news.”
