World Spirometry Day
14th October 2010
A worldwide first – free Spirometry checks as part of the
worldwide, 2010: The Year of the Lung on 14
October 2010. This first ever global lung function testing event is
being supported by the APSR and other members of the Federation of
International Respiratory Societies (FIRS), to encourage people to
get their lungs tested, and to raise awareness about lung
health.
Spirometry test
Take a breath
Look at your lungs
The European Lung Foundation (ELF) is coordinating the event and
offers material and support for local and national lung health
societies. They will also collect data of the number of tests
performed, which can be seen (real time) on the Year of the Lung
website.
http://www.apsresp.org/archive/yotl2010/spirometry2010.html
The question to ask your health department, what are you doing
14 October 2010 to test the lungs of the taxpayers in your town,
county or state? Ask your health department, as I will ask
mine, again.
Kitsap County Health District, what I can do to help you offer
free Spirometry to the public on 14 October 2010?
***
The AARC folks – respiratory people – are indispensable trained
folks for COPDers. They can be the patient’s new best friend,
they ARE the folks who give us the tests to let our doctor know how
we are doing. Pulmonary rehab is vital to the COPDers present and
future health.
For Kitsap County Harrison Medical Center, Erik Anderson is the
guy to talk to … what he doesn’t know respiratory testing usually
isn’t worth knowing. He also heads the too infrequent COPD Support
Group meetings. 360-792-6686
The American Association of Respiratory Care (AARC) is on the
March with an alternative way of alerting the public about early
detection for COPD.
I asked for and received AARC pamphlets and information to hand
out at local doctor offices and the Kitsap County Health
Department.
“3.86% of 239000 people in Kitsap county means 9 THOUSAND 2
Hundred people have lung disease. 9,200 are known and potentially
9,200 have some COPD and don’t even know it yet.
There are a lot of people that could benefit from
screening!”
Steven Nelson MS RRT FAARC
Associate Executive Director
American Association for Respiratory Care
nelson@aarc.org
+1.972.243.2272 Office
***
Kitsap County Health District: Will you give the citizens
of this county Spirometry testing for early detection COPD?
More later… Sharon O’Hara
Part 3 of 4
