CITY OF TRENTON, NEW JERSEY
Department of Health and Human Services
Division of Health
218 N. Broad St Street
Trenton, New Jersey 08608
Tony F. Mack, Mayor
James A. Brownlee, MPH Director/
Health Officer
March 2013 Healthy Tips
This month is a focus on The American Red Cross, National Colorectal Awareness, National
Kidney Month, National Youth Violence Prevention, and National Poison Prevention.
The American Red Cross
The American Red Cross is a charitable organization, not a government agency. It depends on
volunteers and the generosity of people like you to perform their missions. As one of the nation’s
premier humanitarian organizations, the American Red Cross is dedicated to helping people in need
throughout the United States and, in association with other Red Cross networks, throughout the world.
They depend on the many generous contributions of time, blood, and money from the American public
to support their lifesaving services and programs. Clara Barton and a circle of her acquaintances
founded the American Red Cross in Washington, D.C. on May 21, 1881. Today, the supporters,
volunteers and employees of the American Red Cross provide compassionate care in five critical areas:
* People affected by disasters in America
* Support for members of the military and their families
* Blood collection, processing and distribution
* Health and safety education and training
* International relief and development
If you are ever in need the chapter for our area is The American Red Cross of Central New Jersey, 707
Alexander Road, Suite 101, Princeton, NJ-Phone: (609) 951-8550. If you are unable to contact the Red
Cross, call the Trenton Health Department at 609-989-3242, ext. 115 and you will be directed to the
department you need to assist you. You can get further information on the Red Cross at
http://www.redcross.org
National Colorectal Awareness
As per the CDC; among cancers that affect both men and women, colorectal cancer (cancer of the
colon or rectum) is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States. Every year, more
than 140,000 Americans are diagnosed with colorectal cancer, and more than 50,000 people die from
it. The risk of getting colorectal cancer increases with age. More than 90% of cases occur in people
who are 50 years old or older. Colorectal cancer screening saves lives, but many people are not being
screened according to national guidelines. If you're 50 years old or older, getting a screening test for
colorectal cancer could save your life. Here's how— colorectal cancer screening tests can find
precancerous polyps so they can be removed before they turn into cancer. In this way, colorectal
cancer is prevented. Screening tests also can find colorectal cancer early, when treatment often leads
to a cure. Precancerous polyps and colorectal cancer don't always cause symptoms, especially at first.
You could have polyps or colorectal cancer and not know it. That is why having a screening test is so
important. Symptoms for colorectal cancer may include—
* Blood in or on the stool (bowel movement).
* Stomach pain, aches, or cramps that do not go away.
* Losing weight and you don't know why.
These symptoms may be caused by something other than cancer. If you're having any of these
symptoms, the only way to know what is causing them is to see your doctor. For more information on
colorectal cancers you can go to www.cdc.gov/features/colorectalawareness.
National Kidney Month
As per the CDC; March is designated National Kidney Month to raise awareness about kidney disease
prevention and early detection. In 2010, kidney disease was the eighth leading cause of death in the
United States. Approximately 20 million U.S. adults aged ≥20 years have chronic kidney disease
(CKD), and most of them are unaware of their condition. If left untreated, CKD can lead to kidney
failure, requiring dialysis or transplantation for survival. Among persons on hemodialysis because of
kidney failure, the leading causes of hospitalization are cardiovascular disease and infection. The CDC,
in collaboration with partner agencies and organizations, has created the National Chronic Kidney
Disease Fact Sheet 2010 and is establishing a national CKD surveillance system to document and
monitor the burden of CKD in the United States. Diabetes and high blood pressure are major risk
factors for CKD, but controlling diabetes and blood pressure can prevent or delay CKD and improve
health outcomes. Additional information about kidney disease prevention and control is available at
http://www.nkdep.nih.govExternal Web Site Icon. For information about CDC's Chronic Kidney
Disease Initiative is available at www.cdc.gov/diabetes/projects/kidney.htm.
National Youth Violence Prevention
Youth violence refers to harmful behaviors that can start early and continue into young adulthood. The
young person can be a victim, an offender, or a witness to the violence. Youth violence includes
various behaviors. Some violent acts—such as bullying, slapping, or hitting—can cause more
emotional harm than physical harm. Others, such as robbery and assault (with or without weapons) can
lead to serious injury or even death. The ultimate goal is to stop youth violence before it starts. Several
prevention strategies have been identified. Striving To Reduce Youth Violence Everywhere
(STRYVE) is a national initiative, led by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC),
which takes a public health approach to preventing youth violence before it starts. Youth violence is a
complex problem that requires coordinated efforts at all points along a continuum of action. Along this
continuum of action are: 1, Prevention strategies that stop youth violence before it happens, and 2,
Intervention and treatment strategies that respond to youth violence after it happens. Preventing
violence before it occurs requires a balanced effort that addresses the complex factors underlying
violence and builds on the assets of youth, families, and communities. A “public health approach to
preventing violence” is comprehensive and multidisciplinary in nature, and aims to minimize the
negative and maximize the positive. The public health approach to youth violence is similar to the
public health approach to all other injuries or health problems. It starts with finding the populations
and locations at greatest risk, uncovering risk and protective factors, and developing and using
evidence-based strategies and programs to address violence at the individual, family, community, and
societal levels. For more information you can go to www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/youthviolence.
National Poison Prevention
Since passage of the Poison Prevention Packaging Act in 1970, the child-resistant packaging required
on many medicines and toxic substances has saved hundreds of lives. Child poisoning, particularly
from medicines, remains a public health problem. Each year, approximately 60,000 emergency
department visits and half a million calls to poison control centers are made because young children
have gotten into medicines. A CDC-led public-private partnership, PROTECT, has developed the Up
and Away and Out of Sight program to remind a new generation of caregivers about the importance of
safe medicine storage. NPPW also serves to focus attention on the substantial increase in the number
of poisoning deaths among youths and adults during the past decade. In 2008, poisoning became the
leading cause of injury-related death in the United States. Nearly 90% of poisoning deaths involved
drugs, and approximately half of those involved prescription medications. Of the prescription
medication overdose deaths, 74% involved opioid analgesics. Additional information about carbon
monoxide poisoning, lead poisoning, and other unintentional poisonings is available from CDC at
http://www.cdc.gov/co/default.htm, http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/lead, and
http://www.cdc.gov/homeandrecreationalsafety/poisoning/index.html, respectively. Additional poison
prevention information is available at http://poisonhelp.hrsa.govExternal Web Site Icon. The national
Poison Help line can be reached toll-free by dialing 1-800-222-1222.
I want to include other health and wellness programs that are also observer this month and the internet
site address that you can go to go get additional information on the subject.
1. March 3-9 is National Collegiate Health & Wellness Week -www.bacchusnetwork.org
2. March 3-9 is National Problem Gambling Awareness Week-www.ncpgambling.org
3. March 4-8 is National School Breakfast Week-www.schoolnutrition.org
4. March 5-11 is National Sleep Awareness Week-www.sleepfoundation.org
5. March 13-19 is National Pulmonary Rehabilitation Week-www.aacvpr.org
6. March 26 is National Diabetes Alert Day –www.diabetes.org
If you need further information on any of the topics observed, please call the Trenton Health
Department at 609-989-3241 ext. 121, our Educational Department.
Live long and Health
Gwendolyn Carter MSN RN
Telephone Number (609) 989-3242 x115
FAX Number (609) 989-3242