J une 9, 1993 • T he P ortland O bserver
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Tips For Having Healthy Children
Free Program Provides Watchful Eye
For Homebound Adults
For senior citizens and other
homebound adults in Multnomah
C ounty there's an extra measure of
security available from people who
still make house call And they do it
for free
Ev cry day but Sundays, thousands
of letter earners fan out across every
street in America, part of the rhy thm
of daily neighborhood life Every once
in a awhile, they notice mail backing
up in residential mailboxes. When it s
a homebound resident, that may be a
sign of trouble.
Through an innovative commu­
nity program, homebound adults in
Multnomah County can alert their
postal carrier that, when mail isn ,
picked up. something’s wrong.
Called "CamerLink, the program
is geared toward the 30,000 seniors
and other homebound adults living
alone in Multnomah County It oper­
ates on a simple premise: Unless
they 're away from home, people pick
up their mail And while it's not a
pleasant thought, something as simple
as a fall can put an older adult 's life in
danger.
T hat's w here CamerLink comes
in Participating members give the
names offriendsorfamily members to
the CamerLink office at Legacy Health
System's Good Samaritan Hospital
and Medical Center, where a member
database is maintained
If mail backs up. even for one day,
the letter carriers know to contact
Good S a m a rita n , w here the
Cam erLink staff immediately con­
tacts family members or friends to
check in. That extra measure of secu­
rity has meant prompt attention for
mans Multnomah County residents
w ho needed medical help over the past
four years.
M ay
1993
m arked
the
CarrierLink program’s fourth anni-
(Eight Helpful Hints For Expectant Mothers)
We once thought that a child in
the womb was in a world of its own,
completely oblivious to the outside
world But more and more, today’s
research shows that an unborn child
becomes accustomed to its mother s
voice, reacts to the music playing
around it, and even feels the effects of
its m other’s anxiety. What you do,
and sometimes even what you say,
during this cnicial period of your
baby’s life can make a difference.
The Hubbard Dianctics Founda­
tion has established a hot-line to an­
swer questions about prenatal life and
care. And here are some tips they’ll be
giv ¡ng expectant mothers who call in:
• Get early medical care. Seeing a
doctor early in your pregnancy, or
even while you are only planning to
get pregnant, can predict problems
before they come up and help you to
ensure proper nutrition and care
for your child from the beginning
• Don’t ’ smoke. Among other things,
versary. For the several hundred par­
ticipants in the program, their postal
carrier has become more than just a
mail carrier-he or she becomes a link
to the outside world. And with the
ability to call one phone number, let­
ter earners throughout the county hav e
formalized a caring tradition that al­
ways existed
It’s free, it’s easy to sign up, and
it's one more sign that a lot of people
are still ready and willing to look out
for others As public funding for com­
munity programs gets squeezed harder
and harder. CarrierLink pros ides one
example of how public and private
organizations can find ways to serve
their communities at no extra expense.
CarrierLink is a cooperative ef­
fort of Legacy Health System. Mult­
nomah County Aging Services Divi­
sion, the U S. Postal Service and the
National Association of Letter Carri­
ers.
Reversing Heart Disease:
A Call To Action
BY DONALD E. WESSON, M.D.
The time to improve the health
among African-Americans is now.
Contrary to the diseases most of­
ten given press coverage in the Afri­
can-American Community, the chief
cause of death is heart disease, the
number one killer of Americans in
general Studies have shown, how­
ever, that in concentrated urban envi­
ronm ents, A frican-A m ericans are
more likely to suffer the devastating
effects of this common disorder.
A study in the Harlem Commu­
nity revealed that death rates of people
living in Central Harlem -- 96 percent
of whom are African-American and
41 percent in poverty -- are nearly
three times as likely to die before age
65 as are whites.
Heart disease includes a number
of conditions but heart attack (when a
part of the heart muscle dies due to
lack of blood flow) and heart failure
(when the heart muscle fails to pump
the amount ofblood to serve the body s
needs) make up most of these prob­
lems.
All Americans are at risk to get
heart disease but some people are at
higher risk than others. Heart disease
runs in families so your risk is in­
creased if you have relatives with heart
disease.
People with diabetes and/or high
blood pressure (hypertension) are at
increased risk. African-Americans
have higher rates of both diseases.
Other risk factors include smoking,
being overweight, lack of regular ex­
ercise, chronic stress, high blood cho­
lesterol levels, and unhealthy diets.
Every one should learn how to reduce
their risk of getting heart disease and
then take the necessary steps to in­
crease their chances to live a long,
healthy life.
Until recently, the primary ap­
proach of the medical profession to­
ward heart disease was to treat the
problem once it appeared. Fortunately,
prevention is gaining in importance
as doctors learn more about the causes
of heart disease.
More importantly, medical sci­
ence has taught us that people can be
empowered to lower their risks for
heartdisease. Those with diabetes and
hypertension should be under a
doctor’s care and follow his or her
advice to control these diseases.
All people, regardless of their
individual risk, can increase their
chances of liv ing without heart dis­
ease bv leading healthier lifestyles.
Those who smoke should stop and
ov ervveight persons should reduce their
weight.
Important, too. is regular excr-
rise--even ifit is w alking--w hich not
to ta l nutrition
Telling it like it is.
only reduces y our risk for heart dis­
ease but also makes
for better control of diabetes and
hypertension.
A "heart-friendly’' diet low in
saturated fats, cholesterol and salt is
recommended But it may not be easy.
A recent study at Baylor College of
M edicine's Nutrition Research Cen­
ter revealed that African-Americans -
- particularly women -- may have a
more difficult time in losing weight.
Traditional foods and lifestyle
problems can interfere w ith following
a w eight loss program. The study w as
one of four pilot studies for a proposed
five-year Black American Lifestyle
Intervention (Bali) Study to look at
long-term outcome of obesity control
among minority women. Stay tuned.
Exercise and dietary changes tra­
ditionally have been recommended
for people with heart disease and to
those who have been identified to be at
high risk. Since leading a healthier
lifestyle is beneficial for everyone re­
gardless of risk for heart disease, these
lifestyle changes arc useful for the
community as a whole. This is par­
ticularly important for the African
American Community consideri ng the
devastating toll heart disease lias taken.
Community efforts to support a
healthy lifestyle can increase your
chances to live without heart disease
Informational Picketing At
OHSU By Registered Nurses
Registered Nurses at Oregon
H ealth Sciences U n iversity and
Doembccher Hospitals conducted an
informational picketing on June 3rd.
The picketers were on the upper Sam
Jackson Park Road near University
Hospital South and in front of Casey
Eye Institute
The nurses, who are represented
by Oregon Nurses Association, have
been in contract negotiations since
January. The State of Oregon has re­
mained unyielding in its stance to
freeze wages and cut bcnefits.and has
abruptly cut off negotiations.
With the State’s rigid proposal,
an individual nurse faces a loss of 9%
to 12% in wages and benefits. This
impasse comes on the heels of back­
vide the quality care patients expect
an d d eserve at OH SU and
Doernbecher. This has led to increased
use of overtime and temporary nurses,
etimes doubling inc cost oi care
sometimes doubling the cost of care
Decreased com pensation will
advcrsclv affect OHSU,Docrnbccher's
abd.tv to attract and retain exemplary
breaking staffing cuts, which have
sorely taxed nurses’ abilities to pro-
nUrSNursesareOregonta.xpayers.too
Portland Saturday Market
Celebrates 20th Season June 26th
With Free Entertainment, Food And
Demonstrations
Saturday, June 26, Portland Sat- and a Memorabilia Exhibit will dis-
urday Market will celebrate its twen- play posters and photos of the Market
tieth season of selling handmade arts over the past two decades.
Portland Saturday Market is the
and crafts in Old Town with special
entertainment, free cake, and craft country’s largest open-air crafts mar­
ket in continuous operation. It origi­
demonstrations
The Mud Bay Jugglers, a high- nally opened in the parking lot near
energy theatrical juggling troupe from Import Plaza and moved to its current
Seattle, will perform at 11a.m., 1 p m. location under the Burnside Bridge
and 3 p m next to the Skidmore Foun­ two years later. Fourteen of the origi­
tain. Balafon Marimba Ensemble will nal 35 vendors still sell at the Market
lend i ts dancablc Canbbean beat to the which now involves up to 800 artists
festivities with 12 and 2 p m. shows. each year An estimated 750,000
Seven demonstration tents along people visit Portland Saturday Market
Ankeny Street, between Front and annually.
The 20th Season Celebration co­
First, will showcase artists and their
incides
with the nationally proclaimed
techniques throughout the day The
Year
of
the American Craft
craftsmen and women will share their
Admission
is free The 20th Sea­
secrets to wood carving, lost wax cast­
son
Celebration
hours arc the regular
ing, tole painting, and weaving, as
Saturday
hours
of
10 a m. to 5 pm .
well as making masks, ceramics,
The
Market
is
also
open Sundays 11
stained glass, and baskets
A Hands-On Crafts tent will fea­ a m to 4:30 p m Take MAX to
ture painting and clay crafts for adults Skidmore Fountain Station, a free ride
and children to try on site There will from downtown. Parking validated
also be pottery wheel demonstrations from Old Town Garage on Front and
Free cake for the first 5,000 visi­ Davis with a $ 15 purchase from Port­
tors will be served in the food court land Saturday Market vendors
They understand the State's financial
situation.
f
I—
L ig h t. Low. R educed. F ree.
T h e se e a s y - to - c o n f u s e te r m s
have been d efined, th a n k s to the
new n u tr itio n la b e lin g r e g u la ­
tio n s from th e Food an d D rug
A d m in istra tio n (FDAl and the
U .S. D e p a rtm e n t of A g ric u ltu re
(U SD A ), s a y s K a re n W ild e r,
r e g is te re d d ie titia n a n d s ta ff
n u tr itio n is t for T o tal cereal.
C alled n u tr ie n t d e sc rip to rs, or
n u tr ie n t c o n te n t claim s, th e se
te rm s d e sc rib e th e level of a
n u tr ie n t in a food.
No d e sc rip to rs of n u tr ie n t con­
te n t o th e r th a n a specified list
of te rm s , or th e ir a u th o riz e d
synonym s, will be allow ed on
th e new food la b e ls. A lso, if a
d e sc rip to r h a s not been defined
by th e g o v e rn m e n t, it ca n n o t be
used on th e package. For ex ­
a m p le, “low ” is on th e list of
d e sc rip to rs, b u t it h a s not been
d efin ed in re la tio n to su g a r. So,
“low in s u g a r ” can n o t a p p e a r on
food p a c k a g e s. H ow ever, “r e ­
duced s u g a r ” h a s been defined,
alo n g w ith its ap proved syno­
nym s, in clu d in g “less su g ar" and
“lo w e r in s u g a r .” T h e re fo re ,
th e s e te rm s can be u sed on food
lab els.
child.
smoking can lower you child’s in­
take of the oxy gen that is vital for • Be quiet if injured. If you know that
your child is under physical stress
his survival and formation.
or possibly injured, stay quiet. Ac­
Don’t drink Medical studies show
cording to Dianctics, when under
(hat alcohol can possibly affect the
physical stress, a fetus not only
formation of the child’s central
hears the sounds outside the womb,
nervous system (brain and spinal
but makes a detailed recording of
chord) and contribute to birth de­
them. The words you say may have
fects.
an unconscious influence on the
Avoid drugs. Many drugs will stay
child later in life.
in your child’s body long after they
•
Stay calm. The unborn child, par­
are gone from yours, and adversely
ticularly
in later stages of preg­
affect your child’s growth. Even if
nancy,
is
aware of the sound and
it comes from your doctor, find out
rhythms of its mother’svoice. If the
first if they are stimulants or de­
mother is under stress or upset,
pressants and what affect they could
fetus’s have been know n to respond
hav e on the fetus before you take
to it. Provide your child with a safe,
them.
calm environment as much as pos­
Be careful with your movements. A
sible.
child is more easily injured than
More information and a free book­
you may think. Be aware o f your
let
on
Silent Dianetics Births can be
mov ements; picking up heavy ob­
obtained
by calling the Dianetics
jects and even bending over can
Hotline
at
1-800-FOR-TRUTH or 1-
affect your child. Have someone
help you to avoid stress on the 800-367-8788.
Kaiser Permanent© Signs
Contracts With Two Employee
Groups, Receives Strike Notice
From A Third
About 100 dental hygienists and
200 technical employees with Kaiser
Permanentc ratified their first union
contract in votes held June 2 and 3.
The nearly two-y ear contracts call for
a 3% wage increase this year and a 2%
increase next year, along with im ­
provements to short-term disability
pay.
A t the sam e tim e , K a ise r
Permanentc received a 10-day notice
of intent to strike from the Service
E m p lo y ees In te rn a tio n a l U nion
(SEIU), Local 49. The union has been
negotiating since late last year with
Kaiser Permanentc on behalf o f some
200 surgery scheduling clerks, outpa­
tient telephone operators and medical
records staff. Those contract talks have
been stalled for several weeks; spo­
radic informational picketing has been
occurring during that time. The 10-
day notice permits a strike starting
Monday, June 14, at noon.
A m eetin g b e tw e e n K aiser
Permanentc andSEIU ’sL ocal49 was
scheduled before the strike date by a
federal mediator. That meeting was
set for Tuesday, June 8.
The Oregon Federation of N urses
and Health Professionals (OFNHP)
represents Kaiser Permanente’s den­
tal hygienists and technical employ­
ees, as well as some 800 o f the
program’s 1,300 unionized registered
nurses.
“The two new contracts reflect
Kaiser Permanente’s commitment to
competitive wage levels. They will
help us become more affordable for
our customers,” says Barbe West, a
Kaiser Permanente VicePresidentand
Regional Medical Services Adminis­
trator. She adds that the organization
is hopeful a settlement will be reached
with SEIU.
“W e’re focusing on how best to
continue meeting ourcustomcrs’ needs
now and in the event of a strike, ’ West
says.
Kaiser Permanentc is a group
practice health maintenance organi­
zation providing medical care to about
375,000 people in Northwest Oregon
and Southwest Washington, and den­
tal care to more than 135,000 people.
Salem Public Employee Rally Saturday
To Oppose PERS, Health Cuts
Legislative session that has seen at­
tempts to undermine collective bar­
gaining rights and reduce retirement
benefits.
Recently, however, a study con­
ducted by the respected Economic
Policy Institute of W ashington, D C.,
points out public employees are not
overpaid when their jobs are com­
pared, job-for-job, with comparable
jobs in the private sector
‘The attacks on public workers’
pay and benefits seriously distort the
truth about compensation receiv ed by
the state and local government work­
ers in Oregon,” Morgan said, “espe­
SEIU Local 503 President Dawn i or- cially when compared to workers in
comparable private sector jobs.”
gan' ,
.
„
, ,
Under the banner of “Oregon
The march rally came amidst a
Hundreds of public employ ees in
state and local government from
throughout Oregon marched Satur­
day, June 5. and held a rally at the
Capitol to show our pride and dedica­
tion in the work we do for Oregonians-
and their opposition to threats to col­
lective bargaining rights and retire­
ment cut proposals in the Legislature.
"We want to tell the Legislature
anc* Pc®Plc °* Oregon that vve are
proud of our contributions to the qual-
lf> of >*= O ^gon and orcom m it-
ment to family-wagejobs. good hcrith
insurance, and livable retirement ben-
efits for all Oregonians.’' said OPEU/
g e n try
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Works Because We Do,” public em­
ployees from all across Oregon will
participate in Saturday’s march and
rally. The rally is sponsored by' the
Oregon Public Employees Union/
SEKIU Local 503. the Oregon Fed­
eration o f T eachers/Education &
Health Professionals, the Oregon State
Firefighters Council, the Oregon
School Employees, the Lane County
Labor Council, the Association of
E ngineering Employees, Oregon
AFSCME Council 75, and Oregon
AFL-CIO.
For more information, please con­
tact Bentley Gilbert, OPEU/SEIU
Local 503 Public Relations Director,
at 581-1505 (Salem).
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