American Lung Association of Hawaii : Home : Executive Director's Message
December, 2009
Dear ALA Families and Friends:
Happy holidays! After a long hot summer that went well into fall, the cooler temperatures, wind and occasional rain feel like a welcome relief. Along with it, we’re into cold and flu season. We urge you to have your flu shot and if you and your healthcare provider agree, get your H1N1 vaccination, too.
Whether the 2009 H1N1 flu resurges with increased intensity, we all need to be smart. Especially with holiday shopping, parties and cultural events, you and your family may find yourself out in crowds more often. So please, practice good hygiene daily and teach children, too. Frequent hand washing; keeping hands away from mouth, nose and eyes; coughing or sneezing into a tissue (and then throwing it away!) or into your armpit - and staying home or keeping sick children at home when ill will go a long way in containing infections. Carrying a small bottle of alcohol-based antibacterial hand sanitizer can also be helpful for adults and children old enough to be able to use the product safely.
Another serious challenge we will continue to deal with at ALA in Hawaii is the reduced funds from the tobacco master settlement special fund following the 2009 Legislature’s raid on the fund. We now hear that in 2010, the Legislature may take the ENTIRE fund to help bridge the budget shortfall. As you may know, dollars from this fund pay for the school-based tobacco prevention and cessation programs for our children, teens and adults. We are deeply concerned that the teen smoking rate which went from 24.5% in 2000 to 9.7% as of 2007 will escalate as we reach fewer children and teens in the coming two years.
This brings me to an important point: Your Lung Association needs your continued support of time and yes, money, to keep ALA in Hawaii strong. Please make an end-of-the-year gift to ALA in Hawaii on this website (see the donate button on the homepage) and remember, The Breathe Concert with WILLIE K, MELVEEN LEED, THE HOTCLUB of HULAVILLE, cool couture by 2COUTURE and a cast of 150+ dancers, singers and performers is coming January 30, 2010. Tickets make a great holiday gift and will make your holidays last longer! Buy them now at the Hawaii Theatre box office, online or by phone.
Wishing you a 2010 filled with happiness and good health,
Jean
Summer 2009
Dear ALA Families and Friends:
Since we had our first cases of swine flu in Hawaii, we’ve learned that this flu is similar in virulence to seasonal flu. While that’s good news, epidemiologists are quick to point out that the strain may change as we move into fall and winter. As of this writing a flu vaccine has been developed, and those in at-risk populations, including pregnant women, seniors and health workers are encouraged to have the flu shot as soon as it becomes available.
Whether the 2009 H1N1 flu increases in prevalence or intensity, we all need to be smart. We all need to practice good hygiene daily and model this with our children. Whatever the cold and flu season brings, frequent hand washing; keeping hands away from mouth, nose and eyes; coughing or sneezing into a tissue (and then throwing it away!) or into the fabric of the shirt at the top of the arm (I have heard a lot of kitchen and food prep workers are taught to cough and sneeze into the armpit area); and staying home when ill or keeping sick children at home will go a long way in containing infections. Carrying a small bottle of alcohol-based antibacterial hand sanitizer can also be helpful for adults and children old enough to be able to use the product safely.
Another serious challenge we will continue to deal with at ALA in Hawaii is the reduced funds from the tobacco master settlement special fund following the 2009 Legislature’s raid on the fund. As you may know, dollars from this fund pay for the school-based tobacco prevention and cessation programs for our children, teens and adults. We are deeply concerned that the teen smoking rate which went from 24.5% in 2000 to 9.7% as of 2007 will escalate as we reach fewer children and teens in the coming two years.
This brings me to an important point: Your Lung Association needs your continued support of time and yes, money, to keep ALA in Hawaii strong. As we move into our 81st year of service to the people of Hawaii statewide, we all need to take responsibility for keeping Hawaii a clean air state for the 175,000 who have lung disease – and to maintain healthy lungs for all our residents and visitors.
Aloha,
Jean
Late Spring 2009
Dear ALA Families and Friends:
While we have yet to have a confirmed case of swine flu (2009 H1N1 flu) in Hawaii, the World Health Organization has raised the pandemic status alert to level 5. Now is the time to put additional personal hygiene skills into practice and model them with our children. We all need to remember that flu of whatever type is a lung disease and regardless of whether or not swine flu comes to our shores, we will certainly continue to see seasonal flu and colds. So at the very least, by adopting more vigilance with personal hygiene, we will all increase our ability to keep ourselves, families, friends, and coworkers healthy.
As with garden variety flu and colds, there are very simple things we can all do to keep from spreading germs. Frequent hand washing; keeping hands away from mouth, nose and eyes; coughing or sneezing into a tissue (and then throwing it away!) or into the fabric of the shirt at the top of the arm (I have heard a lot of kitchen and food prep workers are taught to cough and sneeze into the armpit area); and staying home when ill or keeping sick children at home will go a long way in containing infections. Carrying a small bottle of alcohol-based antibacterial hand sanitizer can also be helpful for adults and children old enough to be able to use the product safely.
Another good thing you can do is to stay well informed and make preparations in case you or family members must stay home. Information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is available at www.cdc.gov/swineflu. The Hawai'i State Department of Health (DOH) Swine Flu Information Line can be reached at (866)767-5044. You can call to get current facts 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. M-F and on weekends 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Trained professionals are available to answer questions. Recorded messages are updated daily at 7 a.m. and accessible 24/7.
We have already received calls asking about the use of commercial masks. ALA does not recommend them because particulate masks do not screen the virus and many folks with lung disease may find masks difficult and uncomfortable to use. Ask your doctor if you think there is a reason for you to use a mask.
Please do not stockpile anti-viral drugs. This actually could decrease the amount available to those who might most need them.
We all need to take responsibility for the simple things we can do and most of all, we need to stay calm. The American Lung Association in Hawaii urges you and your family to actively practice better personal hygiene habits and help increase everyone's chances of staying healthy.
Jean
Late winter 2009
Dear ALA in Hawaii Families and Friends:
The Legislature is now in full swing and we are tracking the fireworks bills that we believe will help ensure cleaner air for all and measures which will keep the master tobacco settlement intact. As a state we have seen the rate of high school teen smoking decrease from 21% in 2000 to 9.7% in 2008. Categorically, this shows efforts to educate our children about the dangers of tobacco use work! Let’s not stop now and see our teen smoking rate rise.
Thankfully, over the last few months we’ve had fewer calls about issues relating to vog and we’re pleased that study of the effects of vog will continue. While we can’t control the vog, we can control what we each choose to do. We hope you will choose to support the measures that will hold the lung health of everyone, not just some, in high regard.
With over 154,000 people in Hawaii with some form of lung disease, it’s likely that you know at least a couple of people who cannot count on each breath as a certainty. We hope you’ll help us to continue “fighting for air.”
Jean
Fall 2008
Dear ALA of Hawaii Families and Friends:
The weather is slowly changing and the angle of the sun lets us know fall has come to the islands. Thankfully, over the last few months, we’ve had fewer calls about issues relating to vog and we’re pleased that study of the effects of vog will continue.
With over 154,000 people in Hawaii who have some form of lung disease, it’s likely that you know at least a couple of people who cannot count on each breath as a certainty. If you’re planning outside gatherings or tailgate cookouts this fall, please consider using a gas grill, especially if you are planning to cook in heavily populated or communal housing areas.
As we move closer to the holidays, we know many will use fireworks as a way of celebrating. Please remember that it’s impossible to localize all the smoke they generate, and smoke drift can be a real irritant to most people and especially to those with lung disease. With cookouts and fireworks, both can add to pollution, so please think about the affects of both on your family, friends, and neighbors near and far.
With the passage of the economic bailout bill, those of you who had wanted to make a charitable gift of an IRA to the American Lung Association of Hawaii have another chance to do so. One of the provisions of the bill allows a donor age 70 ½ or older to make the gift for years 2008 and 2009, tax exempt. Please talk to your financial professional if you are considering making this kind of a gift.
We wish you and your family a happy, healthy fall and holiday season and remember, “When you can’t breathe, nothing else matters.”
Jean
Summer 2008
Dear ALA of Hawaii Families and Friends:
It’s summertime, and whether or not this means the livin’ is easy, with summer comes cookouts and fireworks – and for many with lung disease, these smoky outdoor activities can make living anything but easy. For ALA of Hawaii, this is a time of year when we receive many calls to help those with lung disease cope.
Over 154,000 people in Hawaii have some form of lung disease. You likely know at least a couple of people who cannot count on each breath as a certainty. If you’re planning outside gatherings this summer that include a fire pit or a cookout, please consider using a gas grill, especially if you are planning to cook in heavily populated or communal housing areas.
We know many fireworks will be used on Independence Day. With fireworks, too, it’s impossible to localize all the smoke they generate, and smoke drift can be a real irritant to those both at and near your gathering.
Summer weather is often variable and potentially voggy. This year, we have seen increased incidence of volcanic activity on the island of Hawaii and the resulting vog on other islands. Cookouts and fireworks can add to this pollution, so please think about the affects of both on your family, friends and neighbors near and far.
We wish you and your family a happy, healthy summer and remember, “When you can’t breathe, nothing else matters.”
Jean
February 8, 2008
As Hawaii residents enjoy a dinner out on the town this Valentine’s Day, the American Lung Association of Hawaii (ALA of Hawaii) asks you to think about something you take for granted – the air around you.
It wasn’t long ago that most restaurant air was polluted with cigarette smoke. Maybe you were used to it then, but now that it’s gone from our restaurants, bars and all other indoor public spaces, clean air adds to our enjoyment and improves our health.
When State legislators enacted the 2006 public places smoking ban, they did so knowing there is no risk-free level of exposure to secondhand smoke. Some businesses now claim they’ve been harmed by the law. Whether or not that’s true, the law’s overriding public benefit is that smoke no longer damages the health of employees and patrons alike.
The ALA of Hawaii strongly disagrees with those who say smoking licenses should be available to willing establishments and that prospective employees would be informed as a condition of employment that smoking is allowed.
As a society, we strive to improve working conditions and eliminate threats to health and safety. The no-smoking law has done that for all Hawaii residents and deserves our continued support.
Jean
Don't let pro-smoking lobby put Hawaii residents at risk
IT APPEARS some people would like lines to be drawn between smokers and nonsmokers in a very ugly fashion. I am dismayed that we soon might be engaged in a war within the Legislature in which lawmakers will be subjected to a lobbying assault motivated by self-interest to amend or repeal a law designed to protect all Hawaii residents from secondhand smoke in public spaces.
Secondhand smoke inhaled by children increases their risk of respiratory illnesses, middle ear infections and decreased lung function. The effects on the elderly are similar.
If someone in a family smokes, he or she might want to consider the effects of smoking on the unwitting victims who might be exposed to secondhand smoke in the car, at home or other places. Hawaii's current law to protect the breath of everyone, however, is not a matter of freedom of choice; it's the law and is meant to safeguard the lungs of all residents and our visitors.
Smoking is the leading preventable cause of premature death and disability and, according to the Centers for Disease Control, is responsible for approximately 2,304 deaths per year in Hawaii and 440,000 nationwide, with an approximate annual cost of $553,450,000. It greatly increases the risk of contracting asthma, cancer, heart disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Smoking leads to 66 percent more complicated births among women who smoke during pregnancy.
When a smoker decides to quit, we and other organizations are here to help. Smokers can call the American Lung Association's Quit Line from 3 a.m. to 3 p.m. Hawaii time at 800-LUNG-USA for advice, support and understanding from real people, most of whom are former smokers. The American Lung Association of Hawaii conducts Freedom from Smoking Clinics, a two-month program in the workplace to help smokers understand and move beyond their addiction.
We each need to remember, "When you can't breathe, nothing else matters."
Contact Jean Evans at jevans@ala-hawaii.org
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