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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).
February 1, 2006 Number 132
Content:
MONTHLY HEALTH TIP
How Does California Rate in Tobacco Control? Check out the American Lung Association’s State of Tobacco Control Report at http://californialung.org/press/060110TobaccoReport.html.
AMERICAN LUNG ASSOCIATION ANNOUNCES RESTRUCTURE IN CALIFORNIA
The American Lung Association, American Lung Association of California and the 11 local American Lung Association affiliates in California have announced an organizational restructuring in the state as part of the American Lung Association’s efforts to streamline nationwide operations.
Under the restructuring, there will no longer be independently incorporated local offices; instead all operations will be conducted by the American Lung Association of California through local offices serving the entire state.
Five of the separate local associations are continuing their missions independently of the reorganized American Lung Association of California and will operate under new names in their present territories. The five territories previously served by the five new independent organizations are the Central Coast, Los Angeles County, Sacramento-Emigrant Trails, San Francisco and San Mateo Counties, and Santa Clara-San Benito Counties.
The American Lung Association will continue to provide services throughout California, including the five territories listed above. By calling 800.LUNG.USA, callers will continue to be connected to their local American Lung Association.
For the related news release, visit http://www.californialung.org/press/060131Restructuring.html or for more information, contact Laura Keegan Boudreau, 510.638.5864, lkeegan [at] alac [dot] org.
AIR BOARD IDENTIFIES SECONDHAND SMOKE AS TOXIC AIR CONTAMINANT
The California Air Resources Board (CARB) on Thursday unanimously voted to identify secondhand tobacco smoke as a "toxic air contaminant" after a comprehensive report linked it with a number of adverse health effects, including asthma in children and breast cancer in non-smoking pre-menopausal women. With this action, California becomes the first state in the nation to call secondhand smoke air pollution. CARB will now be required to produce a public exposure risk reduction plan for secondhand smoke.
The American Lung Association of California actively supported the action, providing testimony at the CARB hearing. Association advocate Paul Knepprath was quoted in a variety of media outlets, including The Associated Press, Los Angeles Daily News, KFI News Radio in Los Angeles, KABC Radio in Los Angeles, Sacramento Bee, and the New York Times.
Identifying secondhand smoke as a toxic air contaminant emphasizes the need for the association to continue its efforts to protect children and adults from the deadly pollutant.
For more information, contact Paul Knepprath at 916.442.4446 or pknepprath [at] alac [dot] org.
CONFERENCE FOCUSES ON ASTHMA IMPACTS OF AIR POLLUTIONS
South Coast Air Quality Management District will hold its Asthma Impacts of Air Pollution Conference on Friday, February 17, at the Millenium Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles. The conference will bring together experts from healthcare, the public and private sectors, and environmental and community-based organizations to explore solutions to the challenges posed by asthma and air pollution.
American Lung Association of California air quality advocate Bonnie Holmes-Gen will serve on the panel and American Lung Association of the Inland Counties’ youth Asthma Ambassador Jonah Ramirez will speak at the event.
For more information, visit: http://www.aqmd.gov/calendar/events/asthma_conference.htm or contact event organizers at asthmaconference [at] aqmd [dot] gov or 909.396.2432.
HELP NEEDED TO GATHER SIGNATURES FOR NEW TOBACCO TAX INITIATIVE
The American Lung Association of California is recruiting volunteers across the state to gather signatures to qualify a tobacco tax initiative for the November 2006 ballot. Signature-gathering is scheduled to begin February 18. Visit http://californialung.org/ALAC/tobaccotaxvol.html to join this exciting effort.
The proposed initiative would increase California’s tobacco tax by $2.60 per pack from its current embarrassingly low 87 cents per pack. California has fallen behind because 41 states have increased tobacco taxes since 2002, raising billions in new state revenue while helping to significantly reduce smoking and save lives. California last increased its cigarette tax in 1999.
Beyond funding the state's tobacco prevention and cessation program, the tobacco tax revenue would also fund a statewide asthma program, a new Lung Cancer and Lung Disease Research Program, emergency room care, children's healthcare insurance, nursing education and anti-smuggling/law enforcement programs.
For more information, contact Paul Knepprath at 916.442.4446 or pknepprath [at] alac [dot] org, or Renee Sankus at 916.442.4446 or rsankus [at] alac [dot] org.
CONTRA COSTA SUPERVISORS VOTE TO REDUCE SECONDHAND SMOKE
The Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors unanimously voted to develop a plan to reduce the public’s exposure to secondhand smoke, which could include a smoking ban in some outdoor areas, including picnic grounds and restaurant patios, and multiunit housing complexes. The American Lung Association of the East Bay’s Serena Chen testified in favor of the resolution to protect residents from secondhand smoke.
The association is part of the Contra Costa Tobacco Control Coalition, which has been working to reduce the negative health consequences of secondhand smoke. The resolution directs the county health department to research the issue and develop options for an ordinance to reduce secondhand smoke exposure within 90 days.
For more information, contact Serena Chen at 510.893.5474 or schen [at] alaebay [dot] org.
PREPARATORY COURSES OFFERED FOR ASTHMA EDUCATOR CERTIFICATION
Two courses are being offered to help prepare asthma educators who are planning to take the National Asthma Educator Certification Board Examination offered next year. The course is designed for licensed healthcare providers, physicians, nurses, respiratory therapists, pharmacists, health educators and social workers.
The first course will be held in San Diego, February 24-25, at the Marina Village Conference Center. For more information contact the American Lung Association of San Diego and Imperial Counties’ Luis Lechuga at 619.297.3901 or luis [at] lungsandiego [dot] org.
The second course is scheduled for March 3-4 in Santa Barbara. The course will be held at Schott’s Center at Santa Barbara City College. For more information, contact the American Lung Association of Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties’ Donna Beal at 805.963.1426 or donna [at] lungsbvc [dot] org.
SANTA BARBARA DISTRIBUTES FREE RADON TEST KITS WITH EPA GRANT
The American Lung Association of Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties launched a public information campaign to raise awareness about radon thanks to a grant from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the nationwide American Lung Association through its Health House program. The association is distributing free radon detection kits to the community.
Radon is a colorless, odorless gas that causes an estimated 21,000 lung cancer deaths each year. The association promoted the campaign through news alerts and public service announcements.
For more information, contact Donna Beal at 805.963.1426 or donna [at] lungsbvc [dot] org.
THOMAS E. ADDISON NAMED OUTSTANDING CLINICIAN
Longtime lung health advocate Thomas E. Addison, MD, was recently recognized by the California Thoracic Society as Outstanding Clinician. Dr. Addison will be honored at the upcoming ATS International Conference in San Diego.
He was the unanimous choice of the CTS Executive Committee due to his dedication and service to patients. Dr. Addison is a respected clinician, teacher and advocate for better access and care of people with lung disease. As the CTS delegate to the California Medical Association House of Delegates, he has left a lasting legacy in California by encouraging his colleagues to support important policies to protect lung health.
Dr. Addison currently serves as staff pulmonologist at the Permanente Medical Group in San Francisco and clinical professor of medicine at the University of California, San Francisco.
For more information, contact Colleen Richardson at 714.730.1944 or ctslung [at] aol [dot] com.
RESEARCHER HOPES TO REDUCE LUNG INFECTION IN HOSPITAL PATIENTS
Deadly infections can sometimes occur in patients who have been hospitalized for some other disease, resulting in numerous death and millions of dollars in medical care each year. Temitayo Ajayi, MD, is hoping to change that by discovering better tools for identifying P. aeruginosa pneumonia, which more often affects those on mechanical ventilation, so that doctors can diagnose and treat it faster to reduce mortality rates.
Dr. Ajayi’s study at the University of California, San Francisco, was one of 17 research projects funded by the American Lung Association of California in 2005-2006. For more information about other funded projects, visit http://californialung.org/research/research.html.
LOVE DONATIONS
Let your loved ones know how much you care this Valentine’s Day by making a donation in their honor at http://californialung.org/donate/donate.html.
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