“Cha-may weeya”
Siletz
Health
Clinic
Medicine Talk
Community
Teach Them Before They Teach Themselves
by Danelle Zosel-Sanderson, Tobacco Prevention Coordinator
Did You Know?
Joe Camel is as familiar to 6-year-olds as Mickey Mouse.
Since 1990, marijuana use has tripled among Oregon eighth-graders.
Forty-three percent of teen-agers who began drinking before age 14 later
became alcoholics.
▲ Start talking with your young child about the dangers of alcohol, tobacco,
and other drugs.
▲ Listen to your children and try to understand their concerns.
▲ Know that children are never too big for a hug, even when they are grown.
▲ Get involved and take the time to attend and help with school and after
school activities.
▲ Establish clear family boundaries and expectations.
Lung Cancer and Smoking Among American Indians
Cancer is the second most common cause of death among American Indians
and Alaska Native people, causing one in six deaths. Of these cancers, lung cancer
is responsible for one-quarter of all cancer deaths each year.
American Indian and Alaska Natives’ lung cancer rates have steadily increased
since the 1960s. Lung cancer is almost always fatal because it spreads so rapidly
through the lungs and there is no good screening test to detect it before it spreads.
But there is good news for American Indians and Alaska Natives. Current
research shows that 90 percent of lung cancer can be prevented by not smoking.
Heavy smokers not only risk getting lung cancer, but also cancer of the bladder,
kidney, pancreas, esophagus, mouth, and larynx, not to mention the risk of heart
disease, emphysema, and bronchitis.
When you quit smoking, you immediately reduce your risk. If Indian people
had continued to use tobacco the way it was intended, only for traditional and
ceremonial purposes, we would have seen, at most, 35 lung cancer deaths in 1996
instead of 350.
(See Teach on page 21)
Nutrition for Kids
The WIC program is sponsoring
cheese as a way to use up leftovers.
nutrition classes for kids! Classes are
held from noon to 1 p.m. on the first
Both were affordable, nutritious and
delicious!
Tuesday of each month. Amber Lacy, a
nutritionist at the Lincoln County
Another dish Lacy demonstrated
was beef Stroganoff. She invites parents
Extension office, teaches the classes.
into the kitchen to help prepare the food
During the first class, Lacy used
commodity and WIC foods to make
delicious dishes. She taught parents to
for a fun, hands-on activity. Samples are
served, of course, after the preparation.
Erin Kirk
Eric Kirk Leads Medical
Support Staff
Erin Kirk works at the Siletz
Community Health Clinic as the medical
support supervisor. She graduated on
May 1,1999, from Concordia University
in Portland with a bachelor’s degree in
health care administration.
Kirk started her job at the clinic
on May 19 and says it was a dream come
true for her to start such a wonderful job
right after graduating from college. She
has always wanted to work in community
health and is excited to be working at
an Indian health clinic.
Kirk enjoys working closely with
patients and with her co-workers. When
not at work, she likes to make jewelry
and looks forward to learning how to
bead. She also likes to camp, walk on
the beach and play tennis. Erin
especially likes living in Newport and
being near the beach. She resides with
her husband, Kent, her cat named Kitten,
and two dogs, Angus and Red Dog.
Mobile Flu Shots
The next class is scheduled for
make crepe blintzes with two different
Jan. 4. These classes work as class
Do you know someone who needs
fillings. One blintz had a cheese-type
credit for those on the WIC program.
a flu shot but would have trouble getting
filling topped with fruit for a quick but
Everyone is welcome. Bring the kids
to the clinic? A nurse can come to their
fancy breakfast or lunch. Another was
and join us!
home! Call the clinic for more information
filled with Spanish rice and Cheddar
20
-444-1030.