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CHICAGO - Dry Eye Syndrome, a painful condition that can impair vision and increase the risk of eye infection, affects millions of Americans. Dry Eye is actually a group of disorders caused by the inability to produce enough tears with sufficient lubrication. Symptoms can include burning or itchy eyes as well as increased eye mucus and a gritty or scratchy feeling on the eyes. Severe cases may even include corneal scarring or ulcers. Dry Eye is one of the leading causes of visits to eye care professionals. Treatment options vary from eye drops and ointments to some types of surgery. The risk of Dry Eye increases with age. Other risk factors include patients who have undergone refractive surgery (such as LASIK), have severe allergies, are on certain medications, or are contact lens wearers. Those with rheumatoid arthritis and other diseases are also at increased risk. Women are also more likely to develop Dry Eye. Approximately 6 million have moderate to severe symptoms of dry eye syndrome, as compared to 3 million men, according to the National Women’s Health Resource Center. Women who are pregnant, on certain types of birth control, or experiencing menopause have increased rates of Dry Eye. In fact, according to the National Eye Institute, women who are on hormone replacement therapy are also more likely to experience symptoms. Women taking only estrogen are 70 percent more likely to experience Dry Eye, and those taking estrogen and progesterone have a 30 percent increased risk of developing the condition. As part of April as Women’s Eye Health and Safety Awareness month, Prevent Blindness America offers the following tips on helping to avoid irritation from Dry Eye: use a humidifier to keep natural moisture in the air; avoid hair dryers, harsh winds, overly warm rooms and cigarette smoke; when outdoors, wear goggles or sunglasses that wrap around the eyes; use drops of artificial tears, if directed by your doctor, especially in climates with low humidity, in air conditioned environments, and in airplanes or cars when the heater or defroster is on; when using a computer, remember to blink often and give eyes a rest from staring at the screen; apply a warm washcloth to soothe irritated eyes; do not use harsh soaps or cleansers on around the eye area. “Not only do more women have Dry Eye, they are also more likely to develop eye diseases such as cataracts and glaucoma. And, because of increased longevity, women are more likely to develop macular degeneration,” said Lynn K Gordon, MD, PhD, president of the national organization, Women in Ophthalmology. “It is imperative that women of every age make an appointment with their eye doctor as soon as possible to ensure that they are protecting their vision for the future.” For more information on Dry Eye or other eye diseases or conditions with higher incidence rates in women, please contact Prevent Blindness America at (800) 331-2020 or visit preventblindness.org.
Over 100 people enjoyed an evening of family activities on St. Patrick’s Day in the Mountain View Elementary School. The event was organized by Karen Voigt, Director of Curriculum and Instruction and Federal Programs at Mountain View. The evening began with the families registering and walking while completing a scavenger hunt about healthy foods. Everyone received a pedometer which was funded by the PTO. Everyone who finished the scavenger hunt received a “gold” coin and they recorded their laps on sneaker cutouts which were posted in the lobby. Following the walk, everyone gathered in the library for a reading of “The Berenstein Bears and Too Much Junk Food” by Chef Swell, retired teacher Cindy Reynolds. They then made guesses as to how many cubes of sugar were in a variety of foods displayed on the tables. They confirmed their guesses with a bulletin board of the foods pictured with the amount of sugar in each food.
Pictured above, Bobbie Jo Kelsey, director of The Windwood Hill Dance Academy, leads the audience in some Celtic Dance steps. The highlight of the evening was the Celtic Dancers from the Windwood Hill Dance Academy in New Milford who performed two traditional dances, one soft shoe and one hard shoe dance. Following the performance, the dancers dispersed among the audience while the director, Bobbie Jo Kelsey guided everyone in some basic steps which were put to Irish music. The evening ended with everyone enjoying refreshments which were arranged on different tables according to the food groups. The display was provided by the Nutrition Group which is the food service in the school cafeteria. There were cookbooks, children’s books about food, puzzle activities, coloring sheets, and brochures about healthy living on display as well. A special thank you is extended to the PTO for the pedometers, the dance academy who volunteered their talent for the entertainment, and to Heather Fedoryk who furnished the wonderfully colorful variety of snacks.
Mountain View Garden Club Update The Mountain View Garden Club is sponsoring its 3rd Speaker's Luncheon on May 4 at Elkview Country Club at Crystal Lake. This year's speaker is Jerry Fritz, proprietor of Linden Hill Gardens and Jerry Fritz Garden Design in Ottsville, PA. Jerry is a graduate of Delaware Valley College of Science & Agriculture in Doylestown. He is a garden designer who loves sharing his passion for perennials with others. He has appeared on the Martha Stewart Show on numerous occasions. The luncheon will begin with a time of hospitality at 11:30 followed by lunch and the speaker. For more information, or to make reservations, contact JoAnn at 222-3591 or jodihall@nep.net, or Linda at 222-3377 or rlshuma@nep.net.
Help Children Become Active, Avid Readers (NewsUSA) - Most parents understand the value of sharing reading experiences with their child. However, not all realize that the way they read to their little one, and even how they interact with their child during playtime, can impact learning. Parents can help grow literacy skills while teaching their child to draw, play catch or count numbers. What's most important is making these experiences fun, engaging and memorable. "The more children interact with reading material, the more active and confident readers they become," says Dr. Carolyn Jaynes, literacy learning designer at LeapFrog, a developer of innovative, technology-based educational products. "Read with your child at an early age, and build fun daily routines that incorporate reading." Dr. Jaynes offers the following tips for parents who want to help their children become active, avid readers: Read often. Practice pays off. The more kids read, the more they grow skills. A nightly bedtime story is a good place to start. Make reading fun. The more engaging the reading experience, the more it benefits the child. Make story books come to life by giving characters different voices and adding drama to the narration; when a character acts surprised or sad, change your tone to express the emotion. You want your children to realize that, beneath the surface of the text, there is a great story filled with imagination. Help kids interact with the reading material. Asking questions will help your child remember the story. Talk with them about the narrative, and ask what they think of a character's decision. What would they do differently? What do they think will happen next? Encourage them to interrupt you if they don't understand a word. Point out the illustrations. Have your child demonstrate their comprehension of the narrative by pointing to story elements in the illustration. For example, ask questions like "Can you point to the bear that looks worried?" or "Where was the wolf hiding before he crossed the road?" For more information, visit www.leapfrog.com.
Liane and Mike Fabrizi, Jr. proudly announce the birth of their son, Jack Augustine Fabrizi. Jack was born on March 8, 2011 at 10:31 a.m. and weighed 7 lbs., 8 oz. He was 21 inches long. Maternal grandparents are Rich and Linda Norris of Susquehanna, PA. Paternal Grandparents are Charlene Rivera of Smithfield, NC and Mike Fabrizi, Sr. and Melodie Hall of Susquehanna, PA.
In May, Nancy Mess, formerly of Lanesboro, and graduate of the Susquehanna Community High School, will receive the Harriet Quimby Award from the Michigan Aviation Hall of Fame in Kalamazoo, Michigan, for the work she performed at writing her book, “Men, Wind and Courage, A Pioneer Aviation Story of O. E. Williams and His Associates.” In 1904, O. E. “Bert” Williams married Inez Blessing of Oak Hill, Oakland, PA and together they worked to design and develop aircraft in the Scranton, PA region until 1914 when they moved to Michigan. Inez was the older sister of Merle (Blessing) Mess, grandmother of Nancy Mess. Members of the Mess family continue to live on Oak Hill today.
Nancy (pictured above) has a natural talent to seek out historical details and obscure data, along with the unique tools to accurately determine fact from fiction. With research that spanned more than 16 years, she successfully pieced together a massive volume of data of men and women who shared a common passion for the adventure of flying during the pioneer days of aviation. Including references to local history events, her book primarily focuses on the characteristic spirit and accomplishments experienced by a number of pioneer aviators for man’s newest invention - the aeroplane. Mr. Williams, a highly ambitious man, with his progressive efforts and strong enthusiasm, along with others like him, are what transformed aviation from its infancy into its advanced science of today. The book describes Williams’ contributions to the science of aviation, including his aircraft, flight schools, manufacturing facilities, hangars, flight-speedometer and patents. It also focuses on the events and experiences of Elwood J. Junkin and Clayton J. Brukner who evolved the WACO airplanes. Men, Wind and Courage offers over 230 photos and 406 pages of text about the various Williams aircraft, flight schools, manufacturing facilities, hangars, flight-speedometer, patents, and the personal side of this remarkable man. Her book is available from the Susquehanna County Historical Society in Montrose, www.susqcohistsoc.org and by loan from the county library system. Nancy currently resides in Ithaca, New York, where she continues working on historical projects.
PGC Accepting DMAP Applications HARRISBURG - Landowners have until June 1 to enroll or renew their applications in the Pennsylvania Game Commission’s Deer Management Assistance Program (DMAP), which is designed to help landowners manage deer on their properties through hunting. This year, the deadline for receiving applications has been moved up to June 1 to ensure applications are processed in a timely manner. Applications will be accepted by U.S. mail only, must be postmarked by June 1, and mailed to the Game Commission Region Office that serves the county in which their property is situated. In addition, a map delineating the property boundaries must be enclosed with the application. Landowners may obtain DMAP applications from the Game Commission’s website (www.pgc.state.pa.us) by clicking on “DMAP” in the “Quick Clicks” box in the right-hand column of the homepage. Applications also can be obtained from any Game Commission Region Office or the Harrisburg headquarters. Eligible lands for DMAP are: public lands; private lands where no fee is charged for hunting; and hunting club lands owned in fee title so long as the club was established prior to Jan. 1, 2000, and it provides a club charter and list of current members to the agency. Coupons for DMAP antlerless deer harvest permits are issued to landowners at a rate of one coupon for every five acres in agricultural operations or one coupon for every 50 acres for all other land uses. Management plans are required of all public land applicants, for applications enrolling two or more areas within one air mile of each other, for applications that request more than the standard rate for issuance of DMAP harvest permits, and for applications where the property acreage falls below the minimum for the standard issuance rate. Landowners must designate their boundaries in a manner approved by the Game Commission. Landowners will be allotted one coupon for each DMAP permit allocated for their property, and they may provide up to two DMAP coupons per DMAP area to a licensed hunter. Landowners may not charge or accept any remuneration for a DMAP coupon. Once landowners are approved for enrollment in DMAP, hunters can purchase DMAP permits at any license issuing agent or through the Pennsylvania Automated License System (PALS), which is the agency’s point-of-sale electronic license system. Landowners have the option of receiving DMAP coupons and directly distributing them to hunters of their choice, or they can choose the “no coupon” option and allow any hunter to directly purchase a DMAP permit from the license issuing agent to hunt on their property. The first option on the landowner application is “Yes, I want to distribute coupons directly to hunters that I choose.” With this option, the landowner will receive the coupons and distribute them to specific hunters. The hunters will then take coupons to any license issuing agent or go on the PALs website to acquire the antlerless deer harvest permits. The second option on the landowner application is “No, any hunter can get a permit to hunt my property through the electronic licensing system without a coupon.” With this option, no coupons will be sent to the landowner. Any hunter will be able to go to any license issuing agent or the PALS website to get an antlerless deer permit for this DMAP property. If landowners choose this second option, they also will be asked whether they want to advertise the location of the property on the Game Commission’s website so that their DMAP information can be made available to the public. Hunters without access to the Internet can obtain listings of eligible DMAP properties by mailing a self-addressed, stamped envelope along with a letter indicating their county of interest, to the Game Commission Region Office responsible for that particular county. The Northeast Region Office, P.O. Box 220, Dallas, PA 18612, 570-675-1143, serves: Bradford, Carbon, Columbia, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Monroe, Montour, Northumberland, Pike, Sullivan, Susquehanna, Wayne and Wyoming counties.
RTII Program At Beta Rho Meeting A St Patrick’s Day theme created a festive holiday atmosphere at the First Presbyterian Church in Montrose for the March meeting of the Beta Rho Chapter of the Delta Kappa Gamma Society International. President Dr. Ann Way conducted the business meeting which began with her giving away two shamrock plants to keep with the theme. The business meeting included reports by committee chairs who were present. Carol Goodman, chairman of the conference bags for the Northeast Regional Conference (NERC) to be held in Hershey in July, reminded the membership of the need to collect amenity items for the 700 bags to be packed for the conference. All members were encouraged to make plans to attend the conference in order to get a perspective beyond the chapter level. Registration forms and a schedule appear in the present issue of the DKG News, the international newspaper and can be found on their website. To fulfill the message from the Alpha Alpha State president, Susan Stamm, “Feeding America - Body, Mind, and Soul,” members had brought non-perishable food items which were donated to a food pantry. Books will be purchased in memory of each of the deceased members Prudence Clark, Margaret Dickey, and Lucille Robson. The books will be donated to the library in their home area. A very informative program was then presented by Jill Yoniski, a Reading Specialist in the Evans Falls School in the Tunkhannock Area School District. She gave an overview of the Response to Instruction and Intervention (RTII) Model and the implementation process her school district has experienced. She explained that RTII is an early intervening strategy, one that is a comprehensive, three-tiered, standards aligned strategy to enable early identification and intervention for students who are academically or behavioral at risk. The model helps educators to identify and address student difficulties prior to student failure. With actual student graphs Jill illustrated how the monitoring of increasingly intense interventions not only prevents failure but also provides data that may guide eligibility decisions for learning disabilities. Research-based interventions are utilized and matched to the instructional need and level of the student. In summary, she explained that the core characteristics of RTII include the following: standards aligned instruction; universal screening; shared ownership by all staff; data-based analysis and decision making; tiered research-based interventions; and parental engagement. Jill’s presentation reflected her knowledge of and enthusiasm for the subject and evidence of the success her district has had as they move toward full implementation. She distributed handouts from the State Department of Education which clarified some of the questions teachers have and listed helpful websites on the topic. Kelly Jo Riker, a member of the Beta Rho Chapter in New York State, attended the meeting to hear the program presented by Jill. The Delta Kappa Gamma Society International is a professional honor society for women educators with more than 115, 000 members. Established in 16 member countries around the world, the Society defines its mission as promoting professional and personal growth of women educators and excellence in education. The Society offers more leadership training opportunities for women educators than any other professional organization. Beta Rho members will be joined by the Alpha Zeta and Phi Chapter members for a tri-chapter meeting on April 30 at The Pink Apple Restaurant in Tunkhannock.. State president Susan Stamm from Grove City will be the guest speaker. Members are reminded to bring personal care items which will be donated to the Women’s Resource Center. Other Society activities for 2011 include the State Convention June 10-12 at the Nittany Lion Inn, State College. In July, Pennsylvania will be hosting the Northeast Regional Conference in Hershey for an estimated 700 Delta Kappa Gamma members.
Sea Scout Bridge Of Honor The 69th Bridge of Honor was held by Sea Scout Ship North Star 90 aboard their landship at the Sea Scout Hall, New Milford, on March 5. After the port and starboard crews lay aboard, skipper Chuck Jaget was piped aboard and inspected the crews!
Pictured (l-r) above: seated - Brittany Birtch, Eric Potter, Trinity Spencer, David Stude, Destiny Sterling, skipper Chuck Jaget, first mate Helen Reed; standing - committee chairman Joe Stude, chairman emeritus Don Johnson, quartermasters Austin Chludzinski and Christian Chludzinski, commodore Ron Hall, Chris Powers, Tyler Chidester, Katelyn Grubb and Josh Warner. Sea Scout ranks, long cruise awards, silver anchor awards and Pennsylvania motor boating licenses were presented to the sea scouts. Of special note was the Honorable Order of the Monkey’s Fist to Nancy Chludzinski, President of the Sea Scout Association, the sponsor of sea scouting in New Milford; and the Venturing Leadership Award to the first mate Helen Reed. These awards were presented for outstanding support and leadership to Ship 90 sea scouts! Commodore Ron Hall presented Veteran Awards to skipper Chuck Jaget for 10 years; third mate David Navickas for 15 years; third mate Nate Seymour for 25 years; charter representative Sally Morgan for 30 years; third mate Tom Navickas for 45 years; and to the chairman emeritus Don Johnson for 73 years of service. After the bridge of honor, pizza and soda were enjoyed by the parents and sea scouts. Don Johnson presented a slide show of Ship 90 sailing on the 125 foot brig “Unicorn” in 1978 on the Atlantic Ocean off the cost of Florida. This summer the sea scouts may sail on board the 110 foot schooner “Mystic Whaler” out of Mystic, Connecticut. The sea scouts will also sail on two 30 foot sailboats on Delaware Bay and do a white water canoe trip on the Delaware River.
Sportsmen Welcome New Wildlife Conservation Officer At the March 2011 monthly meeting of Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs, Wildlife Conservation Officer (WCO) Mike Webb introduced Matt Chipego who will join him in law enforcement duties across the northern tier. WCO Chipego transferred from another area, and both officers are wildlife management professionals that dedicate their lives to protect Pennsylvania’s Natural Resources.
Pictured (l-r) above: WCO Mike Webb, Bob Tiffany, WCO Matt Chipego. With the increased activity in Susquehanna County, the officers have doubling capabilities to answer more calls and adjudicate violators of game laws. In addition, they will be more accessible serving the public, and meeting the growing demands of hunter- trapper education classes. President Bob Tiffany was pleased to hear about the new officer who will protect our shared resources and assist homeowners with wildlife concerns. He encourages everyone to support WCO’s by reporting poaching and other game law violations that threaten the survival of game animals. Please feel welcome to contact the Pennsylvania Game Commission Northeast Regional Office at (570) 675-1143.
Think Twice Before Tanning For Prom (New York, NY) - Despite a link between indoor tanning bed use and an increased risk of melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, 2.3 million teenagers visit tanning salons every year. In the spring, many tanning salon patrons are college students getting ready for spring formals, and high school students gearing up for prom season. So it’s no surprise that melanoma is now the most common form of cancer in young adults 25-29 years old, and the second most common form of cancer in adolescents and young adults ages 15-29. “The damage caused by the ultraviolet (UV) radiation from tanning beds and the sun is cumulative and often irreversible, and the earlier people start to tan, the higher their risk of developing skin cancer in their lifetimes,” said Perry Robins, MD, President, The Skin Cancer Foundation. “In fact, melanoma risk increases by 75 percent when indoor tanning begins before age 35.” If the threat of skin cancer isn’t enough to scare young people away from tanning salons, they should know that 90 percent of visible skin changes commonly attributed to aging are caused by exposure to UV radiation. Tanning accelerates the signs of aging, including wrinkles, leathering and fine lines, which can be seen as early as in one’s twenties. In addition to being dangerous and damaging to the skin, tanning is completely out of step with current fashion trends. The three leading ladies of the 2011 Oscars, Natalie Portman (Best Actress), Melissa Leo (Best Supporting Actress) and Anne Hathaway (co-host), led the way with beautiful, untanned skin. While the fashion reviews were mixed, all agree that healthy, luminous skin was the accessory of choice. Other Hollywood heavy hitters - including Nicole Kidman, Reese Witherspoon, Sandra Bullock, Scarlett Johansson, Annette Bening, and Jennifer Hudson - know that naturally radiant skin is what looks best on the red carpet. Cleary, the tanned look has lost its appeal. For more information, visit www.SkinCancer.org.
(NewsUSA) - School is never easy, but responsibilities like bills or a family can make the prospect of adding to the mix seem overwhelming. Despite these challenges, people from all different backgrounds are choosing to go back to school, seeing continued education as a way to improve their current job prospects or create future job security. Many choose to go back to school to complete degree programs they never finished or to enter a new career. Some find that an advanced degree is needed in order to get to that "next" position. However, in a lot of cases, these individuals worry it may be too late to go back to school. Annette R. Uncangco, MS, and regional director of career services at DeVry University, disagrees. "It is never too late to go back to school!" "Many of our students are adult learners, who have come back to continue their education. Our Career Services department partners with our graduates in their career search and provides them with lifetime assistance throughout their career." Whatever your situation, going back to school is a big decision. Consider the following when making such a choice: List Pros and Cons. Ask yourself, how much money does earning a degree cost versus the salary that it is likely to bring? What are the short-term and long-term impact on the family? What are the different jobs available to someone with this degree? Weighing the items that are most important will help you reach a conclusion. Research. Be proactive when it comes to selecting a school and degree program. Take a tour of campus, talk to the admissions officers, explore your financial aid options and make sure to talk to career services, too. Employability after graduation is one of the most important factors to consider when selecting an area of study. Create a Support Network. Talk to friends and family, and figure out how much support you can expect. This support could take the form of practical things such as preparing a week's worth of meals in advance or finding someone who will babysit one night a week to allow scheduled study time, or maybe it's time to enlist the kids' help with weekly chores. Clarify Priorities. Undertaking a big goal often necessitates giving up lesser priorities. Be realistic about what sacrifices pursuing a degree will require. This change in life may be a time to learn how to say no to some outside obligations. Going back to school can be a complicated choice that will likely require a lot of research and consideration. MSN Career Igniter, powered by DeVry University, is one of the many tools available to help make the proper preparations. It's a lot of hard work, but earning a college degree may well be more than worth the effort.
Making the right choice for your most important possession can be a difficult and sometimes scary process. As we celebrate “National Week of the Young Child” April 10-16, it is time to share things to consider when choosing childcare. The early learning program you choose should provide a safe, nurturing environment for your child. When deciding on childcare, ask yourself some of the following questions: Does the facility provide a safe and stimulating environment? Is there a written illness or emergency plan? Is the program registered or licensed through the Department of Public Welfare? Is it a Keystone STARS facility? In Pennsylvania, there are four basic types of child care. Many children in Susquehanna County spend time with a relative or neighbor provider. This unregulated type of care is provided by a relative or a neighbor and involves fewer than four children who are not related to the care giver. Families choose this type of care because they feel more comfortable leaving their child with someone they know. In Susquehanna County, several facilities fall under the “Family Provider” category. Family providers care for up to 6 children who are not related to them. They are registered with the Department of Public Welfare and often offer flexible schedules in a home-like setting. Another option for parents is a “Group Home Provider.” Group providers care for up to 12 children who are not related to them. They are certified and inspected by the Department of Public Welfare. Group care also offers a home-like setting. “Center Based” facilities can provide care for 7 or more children from infancy through school age. Centers are certified by the Department of Public Welfare and inspected annually. Centers are usually open year round and offer planned activities. Any Family, Group or Center may choose to participate in Pennsylvania’s quality early learning initiative Keystone STARS. The voluntary program gives “STAR” ratings to those child care providers who go beyond the regulations set by the Department of Public Welfare, reaching additional standards in areas ranging from education of staff to the environment for children. The higher the STAR rating, the more performance standards the program has reached. For more information on choosing the right care for your child, contact Susquehanna County CARES at (570) 465-5040 or stcares@epix.net. CARES’s mission is to enhance the quality of early care and education in Susquehanna County. The group supports Pennsylvania’s Promise for Children, because every child is Pennsylvania’s future.
Know The Risk Of Cockroach Allergens (NewsUSA) - For 23 million Americans - including 7 million children - spring showers bring more than rejuvenation. They bring sniffles, sneezes and wheezing that could only mean allergy season is around the corner. But before you run for cover indoors this spring, take heed - one of the most dangerous allergens may be crawling inside your home. Cockroaches spread nearly 33 different kinds of bacteria, six types of parasitic worms and seven kinds of human pathogens. And although this gross factor alone is huge, the biggest health threat comes from the skin and fecal droppings the critters leave behind. "Cockroach allergens accumulate as a result of droppings and shed skins, which can trigger asthma attacks in adults and children," says Missy Henriksen, vice president of public affairs for the National Pest Management Association (NPMA). The increased risk of an asthma attack is most pronounced in children. Recent medical studies have targeted cockroach allergens as the trigger for numerous allergic reactions and as the main cause of missed school days. If you do see a cockroach scuttling across your floor, Henriksen advises to watch for a larger problem. "Unfortunately, if you see one cockroach, there are sure to be many more. Proper control and removal is needed to prevent the build-up of cockroach allergens and the spread of bacteria." Cockroaches are most active when temperatures reach 70 degrees or above and thrive in warm, dark and moist places. NPMA offers these helpful tips for keeping cockroaches out of your home this spring: Vacuum. Early and often is best for reducing harmful cockroach allergens. Keep a spotless kitchen. To prevent infestations, keep all your food and garbage in sealed containers and dispose of regularly. Clean behind and under appliances regularly, as these are favorite hiding spots for cockroaches. Ventilate. Air out basements and crawl spaces to prevent moisture. Seal the entrances. Close off cracks and holes around utility pipes that provide easy access to your home. Act quickly. If you find evidence of an infestation, contact a licensed pest professional to inspect and treat the problem. To find one in your area, visit www.pestworld.org.
HARRISBURG, PA - With more than 8,000 people in the commonwealth awaiting an organ transplant, and thousands of others waiting for a tissue transplant, there is a critical need for Pennsylvanians to register as designated organ and tissue donors. “In April, during National Donate Life Month, we honor donors who have provided others with a second chance for a healthy life and encourage more Pennsylvanians to share this precious gift,” says Susan Stuart, President and CEO, Center for Organ Recovery & Education (CORE) based in Pittsburgh. “Although we know there is public support for organ and tissue donation, we need more individuals to take that next step and register to become a donor.” “By saying yes to organ and tissue donation, one person can save or enhance the lives of more than 50 people. Organ and tissue donation can free people from dialysis treatments, give the gift of sight, repair joints, save limbs or help burn victims heal,” says Howard Nathan, President and CEO, Gift of Life Donor Program. “Each day, 18 people on the national organ waiting list die because an appropriate match wasn’t found in time. The likelihood of finding a match increases with more registered donors.” Pennsylvania driver’s license and identification card holders can take action immediately by going to PennDOT’s Driver and Vehicle Services website and saying “yes” to organ donation. Individuals who register as donors will receive a designation card to carry with them until it’s time to renew their driver’s license or identification card. More than 4,000 Pennsylvanians have used the online registration service since its inception in 2006, but many more donors are needed. More than 85 percent of the American population supports organ donation but those numbers aren’t translating into action in Pennsylvania. In the commonwealth, which ranks 30 out of 50 states, fewer than 50 percent of eligible donors placed the organ donor designation on their driver’s license or state identification card. To see the statistics for Pennsylvania by county go to http://www.donatelife-pa.org/map.asp. Donor eligibility is not impacted by age or race. However, there are just a few health conditions, including HIV and fast-spreading cancers, which would make individuals ineligible to donate. The gift of organ donation is also supported by all major religions. Because some conditions and blood types are more common in certain ethnic and racial populations, the federal Department of Health and Human Services especially encourages minorities to consider donation. Pennsylvanians can register to become an organ and tissue donor by visiting www.donatelife-pa.org or by saying “YES” when renewing their driver’s license or state identification cards at any PennDOT Driver’s License and Photo Center.
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