Ready for School, Set for Life

In their homes, in their cars, and at the movies, Arizonans will now be reminded that kids who are ready for school are set for life.

First Things First was approved by Arizona voters in 2006 and is required, by law, to expand and enhance early education and health services for kids five and younger, including increasing public information on the critical importance of early childhood.

“The better start children get in life, the more likely they are to succeed in school, less likely to receive failing grades or be held back, more likely to advance into college and successful careers. They also tend to be healthier and require less from the public service system,” said Steven Lynn, chair of the First Things First Board. “As a community, we share the responsibility of giving children the tools they need to arrive at kindergarten healthy and ready to succeed.”

FTF has launched a series of materials – from fliers, posters and other educational materials aimed at parents to advertising aimed at more general audiences. The goal: to raise awareness of the importance of the early years and encourage all adults to find out more about what they can do to give Arizona kids a solid start in life and a foundation upon which they can build.

For additional early childhood information, visit ReadyAZKids.com; parent materials may be viewed here.

Outpatient program for Methamphetamine Affected Native American Women

NACA (Native Americans for Community Action) has started a 16 week Intensive Outpatient Program for Native American women who are using or abusing methamphetamines. This program is operating under a grant from Indian Health Services, and is offered at no cost to Native American women. Please contact Tamera Martens at (928) 526-2968 for further information.

Coconino County Parks Walk Series

Green buildings full of smoke

If it’s a “green” building, shouldn’t it – by definition – be smoke-free?

Green buildings are not just about reducing the carbon footprint. Green standards for building are promulgated by the International Code Council, which states as its vision: “Protecting the health, safety, and welfare of people by creating better buildings and safer communities.” The International Green Construction Code (IGCC) embraces the same vision.

And yet, smoking is somehow OK with green building design. Both IGCC and LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) Certification for buildings make allowances for indoor smoking.

In California and other progressive places that ban indoor smoking, this isn’t an issue. But in the rest of the world, we’re witnessing the irony of so-called green buildings filled with toxic smoke.

By now, everybody should know that second-hand smoke is dangerous and deadly. Residue from tobacco smoke — called third-hand smoke — is dangerous too. Basically, anything that smells like tobacco smoke is toxic.

In fact, there is no such thing as “safe” indoor smoking. The guidelines by IGCC and LEED for indoor smoking areas do not protect the health of people inside buildings – contrary to their vision statements claim.

According to the World Health Organization’s Tobacco Free Initiative, indoor designated smoking areas just don’t work. Heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems usually re-circulate air from smoking areas to non-smoking areas. When special ventilation and filtration systems are installed, the concentration of indoor smoke may be reduced, but never to a safe level. There is no such thing as a safe level of exposure to tobacco smoke. So any building that allows smoking cannot be considered green.

The IGCC is holding public comment hearings on building standards; comments can be emailed to igcc@iccsafe.org. When it comes to smoking, IGCC needs to hear it clearly: It can’t be a green building if indoor smoking is allowed.

Arizona Public Health Association's 2010 Annual Meeting & Fall Conference Registration

You are invited to the following event:

2010 Annual Meeting & Fall Conference Registration

Date:
Wednesday, September 15, 2010 at 8:00 AM
- to -
Friday, September 17, 2010 at 3:30 PM (MT)

Location:
Scottsdale Plaza Resort
7200 N. Scottsdale Rd.
Scottsdale, AZ 85253

To view the Agenda, click here.

Smoke-Free Apartments Available

Ann figured out why she coughed and had trouble breathing especially when she opened up her kitchen cabinets. Her apartment home was making her sick. She did not smoke, but her neighbors did and the smoke seeped into her apartment. Ann suffers from emphysema because of decades of Secondhand Smoke exposure in the workplace. She called Smoke-Free Arizona for help and was given information on disability rights and Fair Housing. Before she could file a claim, she got better—her neighbors had moved out and the new renters did not smoke inside their apartment.

The Coconino County Health Department (CCHD) announced that smoke-free apartments are available in Flagstaff and other areas of Coconino County.

After receiving complaints of smoke entering multi-unit housing rentals, CCHD compiled a list of smoke-free units to make it easy for renters to find smoke-free accommodations. The project helps both tenants and property owners with information about secondhand smoke. The list of smoke-free apartments available in Coconino County is available at www.coconino.us.gov/smokefreehousing.aspx.

“Smoke can seep into apartments from outside or from other apartments through spaces and cracks in walls, electrical outlets, or ventilation systems. According to the U.S. Surgeon General, there is no safe level of exposure to secondhand smoke,” said CCHD Chief Health Officer Barbara Worgess.

Secondhand smoke contains many chemicals that are known to cause cancer, lung and heart disease as well as birth defects and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). It is especially harmful for those with respiratory and/or heart problems, elderly, children and pets.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Department (HUD) recommends providing smoke-free rental units for public housing. This option is rapidly gaining popularity across the country. Apartment managers who have implemented smoke-free policies have also found it much easier to implement than they had imagined.

Smoke-free apartment rentals not only protect the health of the tenants, but also save money for apartment owners creating a win-win situation.

“The health of our residents comes first. It is a much more pleasant environment,” said Angie Ramirez, Forest Meadows Assistant Manager.

Visit www.coconino.az.gov/smokefreehousing.aspx for more information. Apartment owners interested in promoting their smoke-free apartment rentals through Arizona Smokefree Housing/Coconino should call the Coconino County Health Department at 928-679-7263.

New Website Warns Teen Athletes About Drinking

The New Mexico Department of Transportation has teamed up with a state school athletic group to launch an interactive alcohol education website aimed at high school athletes - but with a twist on typical teen anti-drinking messages.

LifeOfAnAthlete.com emphasizes the negative effects of alcohol on athletic performance, in addition to other dangers. For example, teens taking the online course learn that one night of getting drunk can undo two weeks of athletic conditioning.

"The key is to start speaking to kids in a way they've never been spoken to before," said New Mexico Activities Association associate director Robert Zayas at a press conference announcing the website, reported by the Albuquerque Journal.

The online program also features stories about New Mexico athletes who have learned the hard way about the harms of alcohol, including an interview with former football star Gabe Gurule, who was convicted of vehicular homicide after killing three people in an alcohol-fueled crash.

New Mexico ranks first in the nation in the percentage of kids who have their first drink prior to the age of 13. The new site received national publicity in USA Today last month.