Staying Alive, Staying Alive

I bet you didn’t know that June 1st through June 7th is CPR/AED Awareness Week. As we all know, knowing how to properly conduct CPR can be vital! Each year CPR saves thousands of lives. Every year, EMS teams treat nearly 300,000 cases of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. But anyone can learn CPR, not just EMS professionals. Knowing CPR can help you save a life…which in turn, sort of makes you a super hero! It only takes 22 minutes and all this week AHA and the Mayor’s office is providing free training and nifty take home kits.

The AHA recommends that CPR training should be required for graduation from secondary school and, specifically, that such training should include skills practice that will reinforce recognition of a possible cardiac arrest. Training should also include, at least, an awareness of the purpose of an AED, a device designed for use by non-medical bystanders that can restore a normal heart rhythm in many situations. For instance, wouldn’t you be able to breathe easier knowing that your child can provide CPR if ever needed?

If you’re in Houston join us at one of four locations to become CPR certified free of charge!!

June 1, 2011: Sunnyside MSC* 4607 Wilmington Street* Houston, TX* 9-5pm
June 2, 2011: Magnolia MSC* 7037 Capitol Street* Houston, TX* 9-5pm
June 3, 2011: The Southwest MSC* 6400 High Star* Houston, TX* 9-5pm
June 4, 2011: George R. Brown Convention Center* 1001 Avenida De Las Americas* 10-2pm


For more information click on the link below:
https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=132958380113622#!/event.php?eid=132958380113622

Not Butts About It…Almost!

In just a few short days The 82nd Texas Legislative Session will come to close. Champion law makers, AHA supporters and staff and You’re the Cure advocates have been hard at work for the past five months working ever so diligently to pass a statewide law to make the great state of Texas Smoke- Free. If the law is passed there would be a complete ban on smoking in the workplaces that means places where you take your family like restaurants, bowling allies and movie theaters. It will save the state over $400 million in health care cost, $30 million in Medicaid care cost, but breathing clean air: PRICELESS!


As it stands, SB 1811 (the smoke-free amendment) is making strides in the legislature. Time is running out, but you can still make all the difference. Please click here to thank House members that voted YES and urge Senate members to do the same. We also want to thank Rep. Myra Crownover for her tireless work and dedication on this issue. All Texas have a right to breathe clean air as long as the stars at night are big and bright!

Ways you can help by simply using your smart phone:

1. Take action: Put that data plan to work by clicking here: http://bit.ly/kf37yQ Don’t forget to download the banner.
2. Go Viral: You have over 500 contacts in your open, 800 followers on Twitter and 3,000 friends on Facebook. Spread the word to your network by forwarding the message on to other potential advocates. Together you’re the cure.
3. Use those day time minutes: We know your plan has unlimited minutes and the fastest 4G network, so why not give your law makers a call and tell them to support SB1811.

Here is a list of people you can give a shout to:

o Dan Patrick, District 7 ( I-10 West between 610 and Bltwy 8 including Bunkers Hill, Piney Point and Hunters Creek, Katy and Tomball/Northwest Harris County out to Waller) (512) 463-0107 For map of Dan’s district and email information: http://www.senate.state.tx.us/75r/Senate/members/dist7/dist7.htm#District

o Tommy Williams, District 4 (Woodlands/Montgomery County, Liberty and Chamber Counties out to Beaumont) (512) 463-0104 For map of Tommy’s district and email information:
http://www.senate.state.tx.us/75r/Senate/members/dist4/dist4.htm

o Rob Duncan, District 28 (Lubbock area) (512) 463-0128

o Bob Deuell, District 2 (Greenville area) (512) 463-0102

o Royce West, District 23 (Dallas) (214) 467-0123

Knock, Knock! Who’s There? Strawberry!!

This weekend, try this delicious Strawberry-Basil Iced Green Tea recipe provided by the Food Trust. How can you not love a fruit brave enough to wear its seeds on the outside?

Strawberry-Basil Iced Green Tea
4-6 green tea teabags
2 big handfuls of fresh strawberries, half or quartered
1 small bunch of fresh basil leaves, torn
Local honey to taste (optional)

Divide the tea bags between two heatproof jars. In a tea kettle or small saucepan bring 3 cups of water almost to a boil then, divide the heated water evenly between the jars. Let steep for about 10 minutes, then pull out the tea bags and throw away. Stir in honey to taste if you like. Serve with strawberries and basil and then top off with ice. It’s refreshing and VERY low in calories especially when compared to sodas and sugary soft drinks.

Five Fun Facts About Strawberries
1. Strawberries, as part of a 5 a day fruit & veggie diet, can help reduce the risk of cancer & heart attacks.
2. Strawberries are low fat, low calorie; high in vitamin C, fiber, folic acid, potassium.
3. Strawberries are a member of the rose family. Eat a bouquet today!
4. Eating strawberries, which are rich in nitrate, can increase the flow of blood & oxygen to the muscles by 7%. This prevents muscle fatigue, making it easier to get your 30 minutes of exercise each day.
5. Americans eat 3.4 pounds of fresh strawberries each year plus another 1.8 pounds frozen per capita.

The Skinny at the State Capitol

After over five months of legislative bickering and banter, in about two weeks the session will come to a close. Thanks to AMAZING advocates and volunteers who all possess hearts of gold, the American Heart Association was able to make great progress on many of our priority issues that affect heat disease and stroke. These last days are extremely significant and we STILL need your assistance to help all Texans enjoy healthier lives free of cardiovascular disease and stroke. Here’s a rundown:

1. PE and Health: The largest single threat to PE and Health standards was defeated last night. HB 400 died when the clock struck midnight but efforts to weaken PE requirements in other bills are still a real possibility. You helped by making hundreds of calls and sending emails over the last week. Your efforts helped stall this legislation and preserve meaningful physical education in Texas schools.

2. Smoke-Free Texas: The smoke-free workplace bill was not voted on last night but bill author Myra Crownover has indicated she will try to amend another bill to include smoke-free workplaces. Some-free workplaces will make sure all family friendly establishments have clean, breathable air, free of second-hand carcinogens. If you haven’t had the chance, click here to support Smoke-Free Texas.

3. Heart and Stroke Funding: AHA has worked hard to keep important prevention funding in the state’s budget. Right now a select few lawmakers are making final determinations on what to include in the budget, and what to cut. We know that heart diseases and stroke funding is extremely important to you and people in your family, but legislators need to hear from you! Click here to take action and tell them to preserve heart and stroke prevention funding.

4. Trans-Fats in Schools: A bill that would remove trans-fats from school cafeterias has been passed by the Texas Senate and is awaiting approval in a House committee!! You can click here to thank Senators and ask House members to support trans-fat free lunches at school. It’s small steps like this that will make our state healthier.

An Amendment to Be…That Can End Texas PE?? Yikes!

At the Texas Capitol, House Bill 400 is being considered for vote. The bill aims to revise parts of the Education code; specifically the structure of Coordinated School Health Programs and the Fitnessgram. This affects P.E. standards in schools for the worse... it removed the standards completely. Students currently receive far less physical education than is necessary to reduce the statewide obesity rate.

To make matters worse, House Bill 400 has little to do with Physical Education or Health in the Education Code. Amendments to this bill could TOTALLY ELIMINATE Coordinated School Health Programs and the Fitnessgram from Texas Schools.

• As it stands 16% of all U.S. kids between the ages of 2-19 are obese according to a 2009 IOM report




• The state demographer ranks, Texas #14 in the nation in obesity rates




• The prevalence of obesity is so great that I can potentially reduce life expectancy and today’s generation.




• Amending HB 400, removing coordinated School Health Programs and Fitnessgram from Texas Schools will contribute to the problem.

If eliminating physical education from schools sound utterly crazy to you,
Call your State Representative and let them know that any amendments offered to House Bill 400 around the elimination of Coordinated School Health Programs or the Fitnessgram should not be supported under any circumstances.

Not sure who to call? Click on the links, enter your zip code, and make the call!!
http://www.fyi.legis.state.tx.us/
http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/Members/Members.aspx?Chamber=H

Obesity Ads in Georgia…Too Far or Truth?

Two months ago the state of Georgia Children’s Health Alliance created obesity prevention ads that they deemed “necessary to jar parents of obese kids out of a state of denial that their children had a problem won some enthusiastic praise for their attention-grabbing tactics ". The ads featured several children from different ethnic groups describing their current situation as it relates to obesity. While the ads suggest in your face obesity issues many parents and activities were outraged to say the least.

According to a Huffington Post article, (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/05/02/georgia-child-obesity-ads_n_856255.html) "Billboards depicting fat kids are extraordinarily harmful to the very kids they are supposedly trying to help," said the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance, which called for the billboards' removal.

Research shows that trends in obesity have increased significantly over the past decade. More families are eating out for meals, less kids are participating in physical activity, more snacks are readily available than fruits and vegetables.

Based on current U.S. trends in obesity do you think Georgia’s ads were too extreme? Or was it a hard truth pill for us to swallow?

Send us your feedback on our Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/thelunchtray?sk=wall#!/ahahouston

Meanwhile, check out some of the ads.
Bobby’s Story: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3OZB6qKKzE8&feature=related
Tamika’s Story: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BnLGtbXPSt4&feature=related
Kevin’s Story: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M-07bWzvMUs&feature=related