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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1984-11-21, Page 30PAGE 12A—GODERICH SIGSTA 1 WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 21,1984 HEALTW Just for the health of it Dangers of smoking even more extensivthan originally believed WARNING: The Surgeon General has determined that cigarette smoking is dangerous to your health. There are no "ifs, buts or maybes" to qualify this familiar statement which ap- pears on cigarette packs, magazine adver- tising and billboards. Since the first Surgeon General's report in 1964, new research has shown that the dangers of smoking are even more extensive than originally believed. Smokers have a 14 times greater risk of dying from lung cancer than nonsmokers, and a 70 per cent higher death rate from cor- onary heart disease. Smoking is now con- sidered the chief' preventable cause of death in Canada. According to recent findings, smoking holds special risks for women, particularly those who take oral contraceptives, are pregnant, or past menopause. Smokers who limit themselves to pipes, cigars, and who do not inhale, have a longer life span than cigarette smokers, but tend to develop diseases such as cancer of the lip, throat, voice box and stomach. A summary of facts on smoking and health reveals the following: 1), Death rates from lung cancer are ten times greater in smokers than non-smokers. 2) Smokers have twice the risk of develop- ing heart disease. Women who smoke and use the "pill" increase their risk of heart di'..; . se by six times. 3 okers' death rates from chronic bron- c is and emphysema are up to 25 times greater than non-smokers. 4) Smokers' risk of cancers of the mouth and esophagus is up to 10 times greater than non-smokers. 5) Smokers have an increased risk of cancers of the blafider-end pancreas. 6) Pefitic ulcers occur t smokers. 7) Smoking increases ice as frequently in e risk of miscar- riages, still -births, low birth -weight babies and health problems in the newborn --- 8) Workers who smoke are at increased risk of certain work-related respiratory diseases. Perhaps the most disturbing of all is the discovery that the health of non-smokers is threatened by the "secondhand smoke" of others. There is no longer any doubt that smoking is dangerous, not only to oneself but—as new research shows—quite possibly to one's family, co-workers and friends! In recent years, smokers have been swit- ching to lower -tar and lower -nicotine cigarettes. This may lessen the risk of lung cancer but not, apparently, of heart disease. To date, THERE IS NO SAFE CIGARE'rrI ! - Fortunately, it's never too late to quit. A recent study indicated that no matter how old the smoker or how long they had smok- ed, people who quit live longer than those who continue to smoke. HOW TO QUIT To date, more than two million Canadians have stopped smoking. For those • needing help, do-it-yourself booklets are available locally. A Do -It -Yourself Quit Smoking book (44 pages) is available from the Ontario Heart and Stroke Foundation by calling 524-4440. "Freedom from Smoking" manuals ($5) are available from the Huron -Perth Lung Association by calling 1-271-7500. Smoking cessation programs will be con- ducted twice annually by the Huron County Health Unit. For information on the next course, call 524-8301. Most of the a�vnases associated with of it!It paysto beanonem e�'. the dishes with of it! It to be a non-smoker. smoking are reversible over a period of years once the smoking stops. It can be dif- ficult to quit but the benefits are worth it. Why not "butt" the hahit-inst for the health (Prepared and distributed by Health Education Services, Huron County Health Unit ) THE DOLLARS AND SENSE OF NON-SMOKING SAVINGS FROM CIGARETTES PER 1 PACK 1% PACKS 2 PACKS Day 2.25 3.37 4.50 Month 67.50 101.10 135.00 Year 821.25 1,230.05 1,642.50 10 Years 8,212.50 _ 12,300.50 16,425.00 20 Years 16,425.00 24,601.00 32,850.00 ( *Based on $2.25 per pack) November is Epilepsy Month More than any other disorder, epilepsy has been surrounded by misunderstanding, prejudice, and even fear - attitudes which block the hopes and aspirations of more than 400,000 Canadians who have epilepsy. (This is more people than have cancer, tuberculosis, multiple sclerosis and SOUTHWESTERN ONTARIO Hydro Transmission Studies Continue Bruce NPD Lake Huron Georgian Bay Lake Simcoe n Lake Ontario .074 Strathroy tJ She Peters Corners iddlep6rt Nanticoke GS Lake Erre New Study Areas Previous Study Areas Information Centres Transformer Station (TS (,rrifr,riinri St,ition(GS) Areas of New Route and Site Studies Information Centre Locations: WINGHAM Canadian Legion Hall Monday November 26 RIPLEY Huron Community Centre Tuesday, November 27 PARIS 3 Main Street South Tuesday, November 27 CLINTON Community Centre and Arena Wednesday, November 28 PETER'S CORNERS Beverley Community Centre Wednesday, November 28 EXETER South Huron Recreation Centre Thursday, November 29 Ontario Hydro is continuing efforts to find acceptable routes for new transmission facilities within the shaded areas shown on the map, and has scheduled a series of information centres to bring local residents up to date on the studies. The need to expand the electrical power system in south- western Ontario remains crucial: • to provide adequate facilities to deliver power from the Bruce Nuclear Power Development (BNPD) to Ontario consumers; • to meet the growing electrical demand in southwestern Ontario to the year 2000; and • to maintain an adequate interchange of power between Ontario Hydro and electrical utilities in Michigan. Background In 1981, Ontario Hydro conducted extensive studies of alternative, system plans for the expansion of the electric power system in southwestern Ontario. An environmental assessment was prepared and submitted to the Ontario government in October, X981., Public hearings were held under the Consolidated Hearings Act early in 1982 and a plan was approved for more detailed investigafipn,,, However, on June 25, 1984, a decision by the Divisional Court of Ontario invalidated the findings of the 1982 public hearing. As a result Hydro staff are carrying out additional route and site selection studies in the areas shown on the map. This information will enable detailed comparison of a number of possible route and site locations and the sub- mission of a new environmental assessment. The facilities being studied for these new areas are: • a single -circuit, a double -circuit or two single -circuit 500 -kilovolt (kV) transmission lines from Bruce NPD to a new Transformer Station (TS) near London; • a 500/230 kV transformer or switching station in the London area; • a single -circuit 500 -kV line from the London area TS to the Aberfoyle area (the corrido studied last year and centered on Highway 401 has beenidened, generally between Cambridge and Brantford); and • 230 -kV transmission lines to connect the new London area TS with Hydro's existing 230 -kV system. Approval of Facilities Hydro plans to identify possible routes and transformer station sites early in 1985. This information will then be con- sidered in comparison with the routes and sites identified in other areas of southwestern Ontario over the past two years. An environmental assessment submission and public hearings are expected to follow. An important component to these studies is the information provided by the public. Local residents and other groups or individuals interested in the study are encouraged to participate and make their views known. Information Centres Hydro staff will be available at the following information centres'to discuss the studies, answer questions and receive comments. Detailed maps and charts will also be available. Members of the public are invited to attend one of the centres, opetr-from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. in the afternoon, and 7:00, p.m. to 9:00 p.m. in the evening. OXFORD CENTRE Community Hall Thursday, November 29 ILDERTON Community Centre Monday, Der.ember 3 Open to the public 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Further Information For more information please contact: Mrs. Laura Formusa Community Relations Department H8 -F5 Ontario Hydro 700 University Avenue Toronto, Ontario M5G 1X6 or call collect (416) 592-2016. STRATHROY West Middlesex Memorial Centre Auditorium Tuesday, December 4 SHEDDEN Odd Fellows Hall Thursday, December 6 fria "c4•Qt, cerebral palsy combined! ) NOVEMBER 1984 is Canada's first Na- tional Epilepsy Month during which Epilep- sy Canada and its 32 affiliates are launching a Nationwide public awareness campaign to begin to educate Canadians about some basic facts. * Epilepsy is not a disease and is not con- tagious. It is a disorder of the brain caused by a temporary generation of excess elec- trochemical energy inside brain cells. * There is no single cause of epilepsy. Epilepsy can be caused by a number of events, such as birth trauma or a severe head injury, of the aftermath of serious in- fection such as meningitis or encephalitis. * For most people with epilepsy, seizures are infrequent and brief. Between seizures, most people with epilepsy are perfectly nor- mal and healthy. * There are different kinds of epilepsy rang- ing from convulsive seizures to brief periods when the person loses consciousness briefly and appears to daydream. * For 80 per cent of people withepilepsy, medication can control their seizures. Because most people with epilepsy can control their seizures with medication, it is people's reaction to epilepsy - not epilepsy itself - which is the major problem. When you think about it, Epilepsy is not what you think ! For more information, contact Epilepsy Canada, P.O. Box 1560, Station C, Montreal, Quebec, H2L 41(8. 514-876-7455 or contact the Huron Chapter' - 482-9489. P.O. Box 1058, Clinton, Ontario, NOM 1LO. Epilepsy is not what you think Would you know what to do if you came upon someone having an epilepsy seizure? Unfortunately, most people don't. And for the more than 400,000 Canadians with epilepsy, this lack of first-aid knowledge could be harmful — not so much because people don't know the right response, but because so many of them would try to do the wrong things. For example, a basic rule to remember is NEVER FORCE ANY OBJECT BETWEEN THE TEETH of a person having an epilepsy seizure. But the rule is often broken with harmful results. "Many people think it's necessary to force something between the teeth to prevent the person from swallowing the tongue. But swallowing it is impossible because the tongue is attached to the bottom of the mouth. In fact, all you'd succeed in doing is chipping a few teeth or even choking the person having the seizure." Holding so- meone down during a seizure is another favorite response — and it's wrong too. "There's just no reason to do so. Muscle con- tractions cause the movements which ac- company a seizure, and they will stop naturally." However, there are some helpful steps a person can take to aid someone having this type of seizure. These are: * Stay calm and do not try to restrain movements. * Move sharp objects out of the way. Try to move the person only if there is a dangerous object nearby that cannot iself be moved. * Turn the person gently on the side and place a soft, flat object, such a a folded jacket, under the head. * Do not splash water or otherwise try to revive the person. Let the seizure run its course. * Artificial respiration is not necessary, ex- cept in the unlikely event that breathing does not start again when the seizure ends. A brief suspension of breathing is normal during a seizure. * When the person regains consciousness, help him or her become reoriented to the surroundings. Let the person rest a few minutes and then, if needed, call a taxi or a relative to get him home. * Summon emergency medical, help if the seizure lasts longer than a few minutes or if an other seizure starts immediately after the first one. "When a person recovers from a seizure, he or she is usually greeted by a crowd of gaping onlookers. It would be nice if there was someone there who can be reassuring and helpful. Basically, that's the best first- aid you render". When you think about it, Epilepsy is not what you think! For more information, contact Epilepsy Canada, P.O. Box 1560, Station C, Montreal, Quebec, H2L 41(8 (514)876-7455 or contact the Huron Chapter, 482-9489. LET'S SEE YOU DO IT,.. OUTDOORS! 4 p11 ��o