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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).
September 30, 2003 Number 104
Content:
CONFERENCE EXAMINES CONNECTION BETWEEN ASTHMA AND DIESEL
Join the Regional Asthma Management and Prevention Initiative (RAMP) and a panel of experts for a workshop on asthma and diesel from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on October 2 at the RAMP office, 1515 Clay Street, 2nd Floor, Room 11, in Oakland.
By the end of this workshop, participants will have a better understanding of the relationship between diesel and asthma and the pros and cons of various alternatives; know about different approaches to diesel reduction that could serve as models for activities in local areas; and start to connect with people who are working on diesel issues with the hopes of future partnerships. Participants will also work together to agree on some key messages about diesel and asthma that can be used in your work.
Linda Weiner from the American Lung Association of San Francisco & San Mateo Counties and Andy Weisser from the American Lung Association of California will discuss media advocacy and key messages. The American Lung Association of California's diesel ad campaign will be featured. Other speakers have been confirmed from the Natural Resources Defense Council, Coalition for Clean Air, and Union of Concerned Scientists.
For more information, call 510.622.4438.
POLL FINDS ASTHMA DISTRUPTS SCHOOLDAY; WALKS TO FIGHT EPIDEMIC
A new poll released by the American Lung Association shows that asthma is more disruptive of school routines than any other chronic condition, has a significant impact on absenteeism, and many school staff may lack awareness of the causes of an asthma attack. The poll was conducted with a national sample of members from the National Association of School Nurses in 2003.
An overwhelming majority (85 percent) of school nurses think there are students with undiagnosed asthma in their schools. More than half found asthma more disruptive to students1 routines than any other chronic health condition, with more than one-third having had to respond to an acute asthma attack or episode at least 11 times in the last school year. For a complete report, visit http://californialung.org/press/030909asthma.html.
Californians like Dana Ortega are helping to fight the asthma epidemic by participating in Blow the Whistle on Asthma Walks in communities across California. A Family Team Captain and strong supporter of the walk, Ortega has asthma and attended the American Lung Association of Orange County's SCAMP Camp when she was a child.
For more information about Asthma Walks in California, visit http://www.californialung.org/press/030925asthma.html or call your local American Lung Association at 1.800.LUNG.USA.
NEW LEGISLATION IMPROVES AIR QUALITY AND PROTECTS LUNG HEALTH
The American Lung Association of California supported several bills this year that will improve air quality and protect lung health if signed by Governor Gray Davis.
Starting June 1, 2004, Californians will be able to enter public buildings without having to breathe in secondhand smoke. Assembly Bill 846 (Vargas, D, San Diego) has already been signed by the governor and prohibits smoking within 20 feet of main exits, entrances and operable windows of public buildings, including buildings owned or leased by the state or any city and county. It also covers buildings on campuses in the state's California State University, University of California, and California Community Colleges systems.
Senate Bill 656 (Sher, D-Palo Alto) requires state and local air districts to make progress toward meeting air quality standards for particulate matter air pollution. Currently, the vast majority of California does not comply with the latest stringent standards for particulate matter.
Landmark clean air legislation will address the serious air pollution problems in the San Joaquin Valley. The cornerstone package, Senate Bill 700 (Florez, D-Shafter) requires agricultural operations to obtain state and federal air quality permits for the first time ever. Other key bills in the package include SB 704, which promotes alternatives to open field burning of agricultural waste; SB 705, which phases out open field burning of agricultural waste; and SB 709, which grants additional authority to the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District to reduce mobile air pollution sources.
Senate Bill 288 (Sher, D- Palo Alto) will keep existing federal "New Source Review" regulations in place under the Clean Air Act, which requires new or modified refineries, power plants and factories to install state-of-the-art pollution controls when they expand or upgrade. The Bush Administration is proposing major rollbacks to these regulations.
For more information, contact Paul Knepprath at 916.442.4446 or pknepprath [at] alac [dot] org.
REPORT FOCUSES ON NEGATIVE HEALTH IMPACT OF PORT POLLUTION
The American Lung Association of California participated in a news conference in Oakland to release an alarming report that highlights the need to reduce air pollution at our ports. “Paying With Our Health: The Real Cost of Freight Transport in California,” which analyzes the impacts of freight transport on environmental health and the billion-dollar industry that refuses to clean up, was issued by the Ditching Dirty Diesel Collaborative and authored by the Pacific Institute.
FMore than 40 percent of this country’s imports that arrive by container enter through the ports of Los Angeles, Long Beach and Oakland, often on ships using polluting diesel bunker fuel. These good are often moved by dirty cargo handling vehicles to be stored at the port, or driven relatively long distances on dirty diesel trucks to distribution centers.
To view the report, visit http://www.pacinst.org/reports/freight_transport/media/index.htm
For more information, contact Linda Weiner at 415.282.8871 or linwiner [at] earthlink [dot] net, or Bonnie Holmes-Gen at 916.442.4446 or bhgen [at] alac [dot] org
KERN COUNTY ADOPTS TOBACCO LICENSING ORDINANCE
The Kern County Board of Supervisors recently adopted an ordinance requiring tobacco retailers to be licensed. The American Lung Association of California worked with the Kern County Tobacco Coalition, county Health Department, American Cancer Society and others to encourage policymakers to require tobacco licenses.
The next goal is to require all tobacco retailers in the city of Bakersfield to be licensed. Supervisors are forwarding the county ordinance to Bakersfield city officials for their review.
For more information, contact Sharon Borradori at 661.847.4700 or sharon [at] kernlung [dot] org
ASSOCIATION HONORS LEADERS IN FIGHT AGAINST LUNG DISEASE
The American Lung Association of California honored leaders in the fight against lung disease at its annual awards ceremony in Sacramento, including State Assembly Member Wilma Chan (D-Oakland). Every year the association awards those who have made a significant contribution to our mission to prevent lung disease and promote lung health at the Annual Awards Banquet.
Along with Assembly Member Chan, who received the President's Award, those honored this year included: Donald P. Tashkin, MD, Distinguished Professor of Medicine and Acting Chief, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care, at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), School of Medicine; Barbara Cole, RN, MSN, PHN, Director of Disease Control for the Riverside County Public Health Department; and the American Lung Association of California, Redwood Empire Branch, in Santa Rosa.
Visit http://www.californialung.org/press/030921awards.html to view the entire news release.
For more information, contact Andy Weisser at 818.703.6444 or aweisser [at] earthlink [dot] net.
SUPERIOR BATTLE OF THE BANDS FOCUSES ON TOBACCO EDUCATION
The American Lung Association of California, Superior Branch, is countering the tobacco industry's campaign to target college students with its Battle of the Beats, part of its BEATs bar sponsorship program. BEATs stands for "BEware, we Are Tobacco's victims" and is a program to keep the tobacco industry out of Chico's college bars.
College students are the fastest growing group of tobacco users in the country and are targets of "extreme partying" campaigns sponsored by the tobacco industry all over the country, including Chico. Battle of the Beats is a free alternative, no-alcohol event for the 18- to 25-year-old crowd. One was held recently at the historic Senator Theatre in downtown Chico and featured eight live bands, a comedy improve troupe and plenty of tobacco education.
For more information, contact DeAnne Blankenship at 530.897.4140 or deanne [at] alacsb [dot] org.
SACRAMENTO HOLDS RECORD-SETTING BIKE TREK
The American Lung Association of Sacramento-Emigrant Trails enjoyed its most successful bike trek ever in September raising more than $300,000 to support its lung health programs. The winner's circle (those raising $1,000 or more) was the largest this year with 68 members.
While the number of trekkers was down by about 50 from last year, the total number of dollars raised was up by 10 percent. Before trekkers were even off of their bikes, they were signing up for next year's ride.
This year's 17th annual ride featured a new route, which challenged even experienced riders. Held in Northern California's Gold Country, bikers experienced steep climbs and thrilling downhill rides coupled with stunning scenery.
For more information, contact Scott Clark at 916.444.5864 or sclark [at] saclung [dot] org.
BICYCLISTS RAISE MONEY BY FACING MT. DIABLO CHALLENGE
The Mt. Diablo Challenge bicycle ride is set for October 5 and will raise much-needed funds for the American Lung Association of the East Bay. Event registration starts at 7 a.m. and the race begins at 8:30 a.m.
The ride challenges bicyclists to climb Mt. Diablo, the Bay Area's tallest peak. This is the one and only event wherein Mt. Diablo State Park is closed to accommodate the race, which means riders don1t have to contend with traffic. The 10.8-mile route is mostly uphill with a 3,500 feet climb in elevation.
For more information, contact Barry Tyler at 925.935.0473 or btyler [at] alaebay [dot] org.
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