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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.LUNG.USA (800.586.4872).
November 30, 2004 Number 118
Content:
FREE KITS FOR PEOPLE WITH COPD Lung function tests and the support of family and friends are crucial for people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) to receive an early diagnosis. Visit http://californialung.org/press/041117COPD.html for more information and a free COPD care package.
ASSOCIATION SETS STATEWIDE PUBLIC POLICY PRIORITIES
The American Lung Association of California's Board of Directors approved the following statewide public policy priorities for fiscal year 2004-2005:
- Asthma Funding:Sponsor legislation and seek funding through the budget process for asthma programs in California as well as continue to raise awareness in the Legislature and the public of the tremendous need for resources.
- Indoor Air Quality In Schools:Pursue legislative approaches to improve indoor air quality in schools within existing budgetary constraints to help reduce asthma triggers in K-12 schools.
- Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction From Vehicles: Continue to support existing greenhouse gas regulations to address related global warming and health and coordinate advocacy efforts in the health community and local governments through the next legislative session.
- Reduce Diesel Pollution:Continue to pursue additional air quality funding through new fees and other sources to reduce diesel pollution. Advocate for strong new diesel pollution control regulations and programs through the California Air Resources Board's Diesel Risk Reduction Program and strong implementation of existing regulations at the state and local level.
- Tobacco Retailer Licensing:Sponsor or cosponsor legislation to address the linkage between illegal sales to minors and the suspension/revocation of a retailer's tobacco license under state law.
- Cigarette Butt Disposal Fee:Sponsor or co-sponsor legislation to require fees on cigarettes sold in California for the purposes of funding tobacco control and beach/litter clean-up programs.
- State Budget:Advocate on budget issues that protect Proposition 99 tobacco control programs, maintain tuberculosis control funding, increase funding for diesel pollution reduction programs, ensure state subvention funding for local public health and air pollution control districts and promote state asthma funding.
For more information, contact Paul Knepprath at 916.442.4446 or pknepprath [at] alac [dot] org.
WORLDWIDE IMPACT THROUGH EAST BAY ASTHMA AND TOBACCO WORK
The American Lung Association of the East Bay is reaching out across the world with its asthma and tobacco control programs and expertise.
In October, Asthma Program Director Adam Davis went to Oslo, Norway, to give an asthma presentation at the European Union Public Health Association's (EUPHA) annual conference, which this year focused on Urban Health. The presentation abstract also appeared in the latest EUPHA journal.
Staff from BREATH, the American Lung Association of the East Bay's statewide California Smoke-Free Bars, Workplaces and Communities Project, went to South Korea to participate in the 2004 Asian Pacific Conference on Tobacco or Health in September, where they presented California's incremental approach to the state's successful smoke-free workplace program.
Last spring, Asthma Educator Joan Edelstein, DrPH, RN, of the Oakland Kicks Asthma program, went to Dublin, Ireland, to present preliminary data from an asthma program, which indicated a significant reduction in both day and nighttime asthma symptoms three months after completing the program, at a nurses' conference.
For more information, contact Patrik Nylund at 510.893.5474 or pnylund [at] alaebay [dot] org.
OZONE STUDY HIGHLIGHTS NEED TO SUPPORT CLEAN AIR ACT
A landmark ozone study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that relatively low levels of ozone emissions caused cardiovascular and lung diseases responsible for thousands of deaths nationwide. The American Lung Association of California provided background information for related news stories.
The association has been working to reduce ozone air pollution in California, including advocating for cleaner alternatives to diesel fuel and tightening diesel standards on airplanes, trucks, boats, trains and port machinery, along with regular vehicles.
"Especially at the federal level, we think unfortunately there has been a tendency to talk about easing the burden on polluters and rolling back key provisions of the federal Clean Air Act. We are extremely concerned about that kind of discussion and the types of changes proposed by the Bush administration," said Bonnie Holmes-Gen, assistant vice president of government relations for the American Lung Association of California, in a November 17 Los Angeles Daily News article.
For more information, visit http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/health/111804_ozone_health.html or contact Bonnie Holmes-Gen at 916.442.4446 or bhgen [at] alac [dot] org.
REDWOOD EMPIRE RAISES AWARENESS ABOUT LUNG CANCER
The American Lung Association of California, Redwood Empire Branch, helped raise awareness about lung cancer during Lung Cancer Awareness Month by participating in a November 12 event titled "Shine a Light on Cancer" and an ad campaign.
The event was attended by Brett and Rich Fenske, who lost their parents to lung cancer and are establishing a memorial fund to benefit the association's fight against lung cancer. Their mother Betty taught the association's Freedom From Smoking classes for two years.
The association also worked with the Redwood Regional Medical Group to develop a radio and print ad campaign focused on lung cancer prevention. The ad encourages people to quit smoking and lists other lung cancer risks such as asbestos and diesel exhaust.
For more information, contact Jenny Bard at 707.527.5864 or jbard [at] alac [dot] org.
CAMPAIGN LAUNCHED TO REDUCE CIGARETTE BUTT LITTER FROM VEHICLES
Fed up with the fire danger caused by throwing cigarette butts out of moving vehicles, the Tobacco Control Coalition in San Diego, which includes the American Lung Association of San Diego and Imperial Counties, joined law enforcement and firefighters to launch a campaign aimed at reducing the illegal practice. Law enforcement officials vowed to vigorously enforce the law at a news conference last month and set up a hotline for area residents to call, which generated 1,400 calls the first month.
In the San Diego area, more than 350,000 smokers dispose of an estimated 1.8 billion cigarettes each year, or nearly 5 million a day.
For more information, contact Debbie Kelley at 619.297.3901 or debbie [at] lungsandiego [dot] org.
CENTRAL COAST RECEIVES FUNDS FOR SUCCESSFUL ASTHMA PROGRAM
The American Lung Association of the Central Coast recently received funding for its Proactive Families Against Asthma childhood asthma initiative, which will actually continue a successful asthma intervention effort started by the association three years ago. By the end of the program, area emergency room visits due to asthma had dropped by 38 percent.
The program serves children with asthma, as well as their families and caretakers, by providing asthma-management education and services, focusing on medically underserved populations in the Monterey County area. Contributors include the Harden Foundation, Monterey Peninsula Foundation, Catherine L. and Robert O. McMahan Foundation, First Five Monterey County, Children's Miracle Network, Lockheed Martin Employees' Foundation, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and California Wellness Foundation.
Visit http://www.montereyherald.com/mld/montereyherald/news/10664927.htm to view a Monterey County Herald article about the program.
For more information, contact Gabriella Tagliacozzo at 831.373.7306 or gabtag [at] alaccoast [dot] org.
GRANT FUNDS CONTINUED FOCUS ON LAND USE ISSUES IN SACRAMENTO
The American Lung Association of Sacramento-Emigrant Trails continues its outreach efforts on the connection between land use and air quality thanks to a generous three-year grant from the California Wellness Foundation. The $150,000 grant provides the necessary funding to continue working towards the 38 strategic action recommendations as outlined in the association's Clean Air Agenda.
Developed to improve air quality, the Clean Air Agenda emphasizes smarter land use and transportation planning by encouraging cleaner transportation choices and communities of mixed uses in order to reduce reliance on polluting automobiles.
For more information, contact Jennifer Finton at 916.444.5864 or jfinton [at] saclung [dot] org.
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