Health briefs
Lementowski receives award Dentist attends conference
Red Cross anniversary
On Wednesday, the global Red Cross community celebrates the beginning of an inspiring humanitarian movement of which the American Red Cross has been part for more than 100 years. This International Red Cross movement brings emergency disaster relief to disaster victims and improves basic living conditions of those in chronically deprived areas of the world.
The vision of International Services of the American Red Cross is to provide high-impact relief and sustainable development services for the world’s vulnerable people. Priority areas include emergency response, food and water programs, primary health care, the dissemination of International Humanitarian Law, tracing and Red Cross messages and the strengthening of Red Cross societies in other countries.
Celebrate International Red Cross Day on Wednesday with your local Red Cross Chapter by living the vision of Clara Barton and Henri Dunant.
The American Red Cross provides an opportunity for ordinary Americans to make extraordinary contributions.
Just as American Red Cross chapters and stations send disaster workers to help victims of flood or fire nearby, so may relief workers assist victims of disasters overseas.
Caregivers to meet
Albert Gallatin Home Care & Hospice is sponsoring Caregivers Support Group Meetings that are designed to refresh, encourage, educate and offer emotional support to any individual who is providing care to another.
The meetings are free and open to the public and are held the second Tuesday of each month. Meeting times are from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. and are located in Albert Gallatin Home Care & Hospice’s second-floor conference room, 20 Highland Park Drive, Uniontown, near the Cherry Tree Alliance Church and the Cherry Tree Nursing Center. Anyone interested in attending is encouraged to call in advance to enroll.
The next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, May 14. The topic will be “Pain Control” and will be presented by Darla Dowling of Albert Gallatin Home Care & Hospice. Light refreshments will be served. For more information or to enroll, contact Rosemary Hardy, Albert Gallatin Home Care & Hospice, at 724-438-6660 ext. 1214.
AIDS event slated
AIDS Community Day will be held in Schenley Park in Oakland on Sunday, June 2, from 8 a.m to 2 p.m. to raise funds for people living with HIV/AIDS in southwestern Pennsylvania and for prevention efforts.
About 2,000 people are expected to participate in the day, which features the five-mile AIDS Walk, a one-mile Family Walk, health checks and activities for children.
“It’s more than a change in name,” said Bob Feikeman, executive director of the Pittsburgh AIDS Task Force, in explaining the reason for changing the annual AIDS Walk to AIDS Community Day. “When the first AIDS Walk began in 1995, people infected had little choice but to accept their impending death and withdrew from the community. While HIV remains a complex disease with life-threatening implications, due to medical advances, people are living longer, and many are able to take active roles in their communities. AIDS Community Day is a reflection of that change. We will commemorate those who have died but also celebrate life.”
AIDS Community Day is the largest annual fundraiser for the Pittsburgh AIDS Task Force (PATF), but it will also benefit other AIDS service organizations including the Beaver County AIDS Service Organization, the Seven Project and the Shepherd Wellness Community.
PATF is southwestern Pennsylvania’s largest non-profit AIDS service organization, dedicated to helping those living with HIV/AIDS and to providing HIV prevention and education to the community.
For more information, call Nancy Commella, communications director, at 412-242-2500 extension 123 or email commerlla@city-net.com.
Camp Breathe E-Z set
The American Respiratory Alliance of Western Pennsylvania will sponsor Camp Breathe E-Z at Connellsville Senior High School on Wednesday, June 12.
Camp hours are 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Parents are encouraged to register their children early because medication forms need to be completed before camp.
Camp Breathe E-Z is a free day of education and fun for children, ages 6 to 12, with mild to severe asthma. Young adults with asthma, ages 13 to 18, can register as junior counselors.
Medical volunteers from the Respiratory Alliance, VNA Family of Services, Butler Memorial Hospital and the community will staff the camp.
All children will participate in educational sessions that cover a variety of asthma self-management techniques.
Sessions are taught by using fun activities that will help develop a “good self-esteem.”
Children will learn how a peak flow meter can keep exercise safe. There will be relays and scavenger hunts that will help campers better understand triggers and medications. Parents and caregivers will also have an opportunity to attend separate sessions covering the care of a child with asthma at home and school. There will be swimming and a pizza party.
For registration information and questions, call the American Respiratory Alliance of Western Pennsylvania at 1-800-220-1990.