RAMP Digest – April 17

The Collaborative for High Performance Schools (CHPS) is hosting a free on-line seminar on Healthy Schools Day 2009. Professor Vivian Loftness of Carnegie Mellon University will deliver a one-hour CHPS webinar on the 2006 National Research Council report Green Schools: Attributes for Health and Learning, which examines the potential of green school design for improving education. Professor Loftness is an internationally renowned researcher, author and educator with over thirty years of focus on environmental design and sustainability, advanced building systems and systems integration, climate and regionalism in architecture, as well as design for performance in the workplace of the future. An assessment of the complex connection between overall building conditions and student achievement will be included in the discussion, as well as a question-and-answer session. The webinar is on April 27th from 9 – 10am (Pacific Time). To register, visit //chps.net/events/NHSD2009.htm.

2) Event: AASA Webinar on Avoiding Sick School Liability, April 27th

The American Association of School Administrators (AASA) is hosting a webinar in conjunction with National Healthy Schools Day on April 27th from 10 – 11:30am (Pacific Time). The presentation will be on the topic of avoiding “sick school” liability and will be delivered by Mark C. Metzger, JD. Participants should be superintendents, facilities managers, school health programmers and other district staffers wanting to know more about what causes indoor air quality problems, solving building management issues, and what to do to avoid legal battles. Register for the webinar online at https:65.209.224.65/www.eventbuilder.com/event_desc.asp?p_event=j5h89i3w.

3) Event: ALA Teleconference on Student Achievement and Indoor Air Quality, April 30th

The American Lung Association is hosting a one-hour informational call to school principals, teachers, and administrators called Student Achievement and Indoor Air Quality. Participants on this call will learn techniques to improve indoor air quality and how doing so can raise test scores and students’ ability to learn. There will be an opportunity to listen and learn from experts at the Environmental Protection Agency and hear about success stories from local schools. The call will be held Thursday, April 30th from 2 – 3pm. To register, visit //www.mrsnv.com/evt/home.jsp?id=2417 or e-mail mgonsalves@alac.org for more information.

4) Event: National Healthy Housing Policy Summit in Washington, DC, May 7th

The National Center for Healthy Housing and the Alliance for Healthy Homes are hosting the National Healthy Housing Policy Summit to be held in Washington, DC on May 7th. The Summit will bring together a roundtable of organizations and experts in: housing public health and environmental policy; housing finance, construction, codes, rehabilitation, management; green building, energy efficiency, indoor air quality, and environmental health; and tenant rights, homeownership, and community organizing. For more information and to register, visit //www.blsmeetings.net/3416/. The registration deadline is April 24th.

5) Study: Efficacy of Prescription Heartburn Medication (Esomeprazole) for Treatment of Poorly Controlled Asthma

In a study published in the April 9th edition of the New England Journal of Medicine, researchers examined whether prescribing heartburn medication for asthma patients who do not exhibit symptoms associated with gastric reflux is an effective way of improving asthma control. The study followed over 400 asthmatics with inadequate asthma control and absent or minimal gastric reflux symptoms. Participants were randomly assigned to either take esomeprazole (Nexium, a heartburn medication) or a placebo and were followed for 24 weeks with daily asthma diaries, spirometry, and asthma symptom questionnaires. The results showed that episodes of poor asthma control occurred with similar frequency in the placebo and the esomeprazole treatment groups. There was also no difference among the groups with respect to pulmonary function, airway reactivity, asthma control, symptom scores, or quality of life. The authors concluded that despite a high prevalence of gastric reflux in patients with poorly controlled asthma, treatment with esomeprazole does not improve control. To view the abstract of this study, visit //content.nejm.org/cgi/content/abstract/360/15/1487.

6) Study: Omega-3 Fatty Acids, Vitamin C, and Zinc May Improve Childhood Asthma Control

In a study published in the April edition of the journal Acta Paediatrica, researchers evaluated the role of omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin C, and Zinc in children with moderately persistent asthma. Sixty children with moderate persistent asthma completed the study and were randomly assigned to alternative phases of supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin C, or Zinc. Childhood asthma control tests, pulmonary function test, and sputum inflammatory markers were evaluated at the beginning of the study and at the end of each supplementation phase. The results showed that there was a significant improvement in the childhood asthma control tests, pulmonary function tests, and sputum inflammatory markers with supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin C, and Zinc. There was also significant improvement with the combined use of all three supplements. To view the abstract of this study, visit //www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/121644801/abstract.

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

7) Events: BAAQMD Clean Air Plan and CEQA Guidelines Update Public Workshops

The Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) is hosting workshops to present and seek input on the Bay Area 2009 Clean Air Plan and the CEQA Guidelines Update. The workshops will take place on April 27th in Redwood City, April 29th in Oakland, and April 30th in Petaluma. For more information, visit //www.calasthma.org/news/show_story/642/ and click on the link for the flyer.

8) Event: CLCV Environmental Leadership Forum in Oakland, May 1st

The California League of Conservation Voters (CLCV) is hosting an Environmental Leadership Forum and reception about air quality and health issues surrounding the Port of Oakland on May 1st from 4 – 6pm. Featured speakers include: Dr. Anthony Iton, Director of the Alameda County Department of Public Health and County Health Officer; Margaret Gordon, Board of Commissioners for the Port of Oakland; Doug Bloch, Director, Coalition for Clean and Safe Ports; and Aditi Vaidya, Port Program Director, East Bay Alliance for a Sustainable Economy. The event will take place at the Alameda County Health Department in the 3rd Floor Conference Room at 1000 Broadway, Oakland. Seats are limited. To RSVP, visit //www.ecovote.org/elf/rsvp.html or contact Lindsay Bubar at lbubar@ecovite.org or 323-939-6790 x. 405.

9) Event: San Francisco DPH Health Impact Assessment Training Course in Oakland, June 23rd

Registration is now open for the San Francisco Department of Public Health’s annual health impact assessment (HIA) practitioners summer training course. The overall goal of the course is to provide current and future practitioners of HIA with experience using available procedures, regulations, and tools to implement HIA. The course will take place from June 23rd through June 26th in Oakland and attendance at all four days of the training is required. The cost is $960 and registration is due by May 29th. For more information about the course and to access the registration form, visit //www.calasthma.org/calendar/view_event/1526/ and click on the links. For questions, contact hiacourse.dph@sfdph.org or call 415-252-3988.

10) Job Opportunity: Sierra Club California seeks Deputy Director

Sierra Club California is seeking a Deputy Director for their Sacramento office to build the organization through fundraising, outreach and communications, and to manage internal operations. Job duties include: designing, developing, and implementing a fundraising program; communicating with the general public, media, and Sierra Club membership about major state legislative, regulatory, and electoral issues; supervising, directing, developing, and providing guidance to administrative staffers; managing internal office, financial management and budgeting for all Sierra Club California funds; and coordinating outreach and interaction with the 13 California chapters and with the national Sierra Club. To view the complete position description, visit //www.sierraclubcalifornia.org/careers.html.

CENTRAL CALIFORNIA

11) Event: Golden Valley Health Centers Earth Day Event in Merced, April 22nd

Golden Valley Health Centers will be celebrating Earth Day from 11:00am-4:00pm on April 22nd on its main campus at 737 W. Childs Ave in Merced. The event will include activities for children, including crafts and games, and information for families about how to incorporate environmentally sustainable habits in our everyday lives, including tips on air quality, recycling, water conservation, organic foods and more. Contact Mary-Michal Rawling at the Merced/Mariposa County Asthma Coalition office for more details at 209-385-5490.

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

12) Event: AAFA Summer Asthma Camp – 2 sessions in July

The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of American (AAFA) is hosting their annual summer asthma camp, Camp Nomowheezin, during two sessions: July 13-17 for Los Angeles and Orange County Residents and July 20-24 for San Bernardino and Riverside County Residents. Children ages 8 to 14 with moderate to severe asthma are eligible. The camp is no-cost except for a $5.00 non-refundable application fee. The deadline to apply is May 22nd. For more information, visit //www.aafa-ca.org/asthmacamp.php or contact Rosemarie Yu at 323-937-7859 or via e-mail at ryu@aafa-ca.org.

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RAMP Digest – April 17

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