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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 , 2005 Number 128
Content:
MONTHLY HEALTH TIP
Find your nearest Flu Shot Clinic for free by visiting www.californialung.org and entering your ZIP code on the right side of the homepage under the words: “Enter your ZIP code to find a flu clinic near you.”
ASSOCIATION AWARDS $1 MILLION TO LUNG RESEARCH; 17 PROJECTS IN STATE
The American Lung Association of California granted nearly $1 million to lung disease research in 2005-2006, funding 17 scientists in California who are conducting basic research into the mechanisms of disease and 20 Asthma Clinical Research Centers across the country.
The association awarded nearly $600,000 through its peer-reviewed scientific research program, including two Pulmonary Nurse Scholarships. Every year the American Lung Association of California grants up to $50,000 to research projects that meet its guidelines and up to $6,000 to master’s level nursing students who are pursuing careers in pulmonary care.
More than $383,000 went to support the American Lung Association’s nationwide network of Asthma Clinical Research Centers, including one at the University of California, San Diego.
For more information and a list of funded research projects, visit http://www.californialung.org/press/050927LungDisease.html
ORANGE COUNTY FUNDED FOR MULTI-LANGUAGE TOBACCO CESSATION
The American Lung Association of Orange County recently received a $148,000 grant from the Orange County Healthcare Agency to provide smoking cessation services in four languages including English, Spanish, Vietnamese and Korean. The multi-language program is part of the county’s Four-Language Tobacco-Free Communities Project.
The association will offer smoking cessation services to teens and adults through a five-session quit-smoking class as well as telephone consultations, individual counseling, seminars and support groups. The three-year project is aimed at reducing smoking rates in Orange County.
For more information, contact Faith Reyes at 714.835.5864 or freyes [at] oclung [dot] org.
NEW TOOLS PROMOTE SMOKE-FREE MULTI-UNIT HOUSING
The American Lung Association of California’s Center for Tobacco Policy and Organizing (the Center) and the Technical Assistance Legal Center recently released three new tools to promote smoke-free multi-unit housing including a Sample California Ordinance Regulating Smoking in Multi-Unit Residences, Summary of Sample Ordinance, and Matrix of Smoke-Free Housing Policy and Enforcement Options. The documents are available at www.californialung.org/thecenter/HousingMaterials2005.htm.
The sample ordinance provides a comprehensive approach to regulate smoking in multi-unit housing and offers a variety of approaches for limiting exposure to secondhand smoke-from restricting smoking in common areas to prohibiting smoking in individual units.
The Center’s matrix examines the sample ordinance provisions from a strategic campaign perspective and analyzes the potential level of support for each policy option. The matrix outlines five different policy options and three enforcement options that communities may adopt to help residents of multi-unit housing reduce or eliminate their exposure to secondhand smoke.
For more information, contact Kimberly Weich Reusche at 916.442.4446 or kwreusche [at] alac [dot] org.
SAN DIEGO JOINS EFFORT TO CELEBRATE PETROLEUM SAVINGS
The American Lung Association of San Diego and Imperial Counties is joining with the San Diego Regional Clean Cities Coalition on October 14 to celebrate the displacement of more than a billion gallons of gasoline. The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that one billion gallons of petroleum have been saved due to the use of cleaner-fueled vehicles, increased use of transit like buses and trains as well as carpooling, and other creative transportation alternatives. When less petroleum is burned, fewer pollutants enter our air.
The association will join the coalition for a news conference and celebration at a new compressed natural gas (CNG) fueling station. The event will showcase a variety of cleaner vehicles.
To find out more about the nationwide Beyond a Billion campaign, visit http://www.eere.energy.gov/cleancities/beyond.html
For more information, contact Ross Porter at 619.297.3901 or ross [at] lungsandiego [dot] org.
MILL VALLEY ADOPTS TOUGH WOOD SMOKE ORDINANCE
Thanks in part to the work of the American Lung Association of California, Redwood Empire Branch, the city of Mill Valley has adopted one of the toughest wood smoke ordinances in the Bay Area, the first to prohibit the burning of green wood (wood with a moisture content of greater than 20 percent).
The ordinance also sets a sunset clause for use of non-EPA approved wood-burning appliances and establishes a mandatory no-burn night when the air district calls a Spare the Air night.
The Redwood Empire Branch actively supported the ordinance, writing letters, testifying at council meetings, and activating local advocates as well as Better Breathers Club members to mobilize around the issue. The association also purchased a $385 device that measures the moisture content of green wood and is donating it to the city of Mill Valley thanks to a $5,000 gift the association received from a Mill Valley resident to support wood smoke education.
For more information, contact Jenny Bard at 707.527.5864 or jbard [at] alac [dot] org.
ENERGY FOUNDATION FUNDS CLEAN TRANSPORTATION CAMPAIGN
The American Lung Association of California received a $90,000 grant from the Energy Foundation to fund its clean transportation programs through June 30, 2006. The grant will fund the association’s participation in an issue-based advocacy campaign to support the reduction of petroleum use, to continue to represent public health interests in support of the state's first-ever regulation to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from motor vehicles, and to participate in a campaign to preserve California's groundbreaking zero-emission vehicles program.
The funds will also be used to build the association’s successful Health Network for Clean Air program and hire a medical affairs consultant to raise the visibility of the Network and its membership and to develop air pollution and health materials.
For more information, contact Vandana Bali at 415.775.1065 or vbali [at] alac [dot] org.
ANNUAL CONFERENCE FOCUSES FORWARD; BANQUET DRAWS CROWD
The American Lung Association of California’s Annual Conference was a great success thanks to volunteers and staff from around the state who participated in the event. The conference was also made possible thanks to the generous support of sponsors, including the Tobacco-Related Disease Research Program, Genetech, California Air Resources Board, Steve Klosterman/Halbert Hargrove, and GetActive Software.
The annual conference provided participants with the opportunity to focus forward and start planning for the second century. Participants attended an excellent research session on secondhand smoke, a session about the American Lung Association’s Lung Disease Data in Culturally Diverse Communities report, and a number of other informative sessions.
The Awards Banquet drew the largest crowd in four years, with 140 people attending the Friday night celebration, and the closing session drew tears as three people told inspiring stories about how their lives have been touched by the work of the American Lung Association.
For more information, contact Lynn Devine at 619.269.8148 or ldevine [at] alac [dot] org.
RESEARCH PROJECT STUDIES ROLE OF INFECTION IN ASTHMA
A researcher at Stanford University is investigating asthma and the role of influenza A virus infection. Asthma is linked to exposure to allergens in the environment and to respiratory viral infections in early childhood, with the timing appearing to play a critical role in either worsening or suppressing asthma.
Husein Hadeiba, Ph.D., is studying the immune response, which could have future implications for a virus-based vaccine.
The study is one of 17 research projects funded by the American Lung Association of California in FY 2005-2006.
For more information about the association’s research program, visit http://www.californialung.org/research/fund.html
IS YOUR ASTHMA WALK TEAM READY?
It’s not too late to get your company or personal team together for local Asthma Walks in September and October. To automatically reach your local American Lung Association for details, call 800.LUNG.USA or visit http://www.californialung.org/press/030925asthma.html
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