Health & Wellness
Healthbeat
NSF grant for WSSU
Winston-Salem State University (WSSU) has won
a $298 JiJfl -.jjrant ?Jrom the NationaL Science
FoundUffi^ttfevelop andSdS^tyii*
laboratories.
"Theimpact about /Modems joy
ing in nelas 01 scienci such as biopnysicT, opucs and
renewable energy, but in paiticyW those students
enrolled in die physics minor
program," said Dr. Jafar
Gharavi-Naeini, associate pro
fessor of physics and principal
investigator responsible for the
grant. "By improving the infra
structure for physics education
we will also be ahmq integrate
interdisciplinary research into
our efforts. The improved labs
for physics education and
research will play a major role
in preparing our undergraduate
students to move on to graduate studies or join the
STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathemat
ics) workforce. Also, the grant will help us strengthen
the physics minor program, which will support the
development of a physics major program within the
next five years.
Gharavi-Naeini added that the grant is significant
because it comes at a time when many HBCUs
(Historically Black Colleges and Universities) are los
ing their physics programs.
"We will certainly disseminate the results of our
activities to the broader physics community through
presentations at meetings of professional physics edu
cators," he said.
Money to fight drunk-driving
U.S. Senator Kay Hagan has announced a $3.7
million Department of Transportation (DOT) grant for
the North Carolina Governor's
Gharavi-Natini
Highway Safety Program to
implement and enforce pro
grams that combat impaired
driving.
"It is unacceptable that
thousands of North
Carolinians are injured or
killed each year by drunk driv
ers," Hagan said. "I'm
pleased to announce this grant
that will help make North
Carolina's roads safer for our
Hagan I
children, our families and our
loved ones." '
In 2011, more than 8,500 people in North Carolina
were injured in alcohol-impaired driving crashes.
Furthermore, 392 of those crashes were fatal.
Awarded through the National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration (NHTSA) Alcohol Impaired
Driving Countermeasures Incentive Grant Program,
the funding will allow the Governor's Highway
Safety Program to implement and enforce specific
programs to prevent or deter impaired driving.
Guilford Go Red effort begins
The American Heart Association's Guilford Go
Red For Women campaign kicked off its second year
late last year at Fink's Jewelers in Greensboro, offi
cially announcing Joanne Allen, president of
Kemersville Medical Center Hospital, as the chair of
the campaign for 2014.
Robin Hager, chief administrative officer and sen
ior executive vice president of NewBridge Bank, is
the 2013 chair. Kemersville Medical Center Hospital
is partnering with the American Heart Association's
Go Red For Women program, joining NewBridge
Bank as the Guilford County sponsors for Go Red For
Women.
"In Kemersville and throughout Guilford County,
it is critical to our mission to
help women make their heart
health a top priority. By arm
ing women with the risk fac
tors and warning signs related
to heart disease in women?
and by teaching them fcow to
prevent heart -diseW?
can have a tremendous impact
on our communities," says
Joanne Allen, president of
Kemersville Medical Center
Hospital. "I am proud to
Allen
accept this leadership role as
we help save Guilford County women from this large
ly preventable killer."
As president of Kernersville Medical Center,
Allen has solidified this new facility's role in its first
18 months of serving the area, especially by providing
emergency room services and in- and out-patient radi
ology and surgery as well as the hospital's SO beds.
Allen leads multiple teams in the Triad's newest
hospital, including the 22 Novant Medical Group
physician practices in the area. Allen graduated from
St. Vincent Hospital School of Nursing, received her
bachelors in nursing at Winston-Salem State
University and her Masters in Healthcare
Administration at Pfeiffer University.
Heart disease is the No. 1 killer of women in the
United States, taking the lives of one in every three
women. However, 80 percent of heart disease in
women can be prevented. Go Red For Women is a
year-round campaign that improves awareness of
heart disease in women, educates women on heart dis
ease prevention and raises vital funds to aid in the
fight against heart disease in women.
For more information, or to sponsor, donate or
volunteer for the Go Red For Women campaign in
Guilford County, visit www.heart.org/guilfordnc
goredluncheon.
NWCDC grant to make kids healthier
CHRONICLE STAFF REPORT
Northwest Child
Development Centers
(NWCDC), Inc. is launching a
, program. tpjncraasf healthy
" rating !md -pfiyllcht' activity
among the Center's kids and
'?kid. Eal
Smart Move More program
was jumpstarted by a $10,000
grant from the Department of
Health and Human Services.
NWCDC has partnered
with Gramercy Research
Groups -Winston-Salem State
University, the Gateway
YWCA and a Lowes Foods
corporate nutritionist to imple
ment the program, which
includes:
? "Movin' and Groovin"'
at NWCDC's MudPies, a pro
gram to increase daily physi
cal activity;
? "Party in my Tummy!,"
to introduce children, staff and
families to healthy eating; and
? "Making it Stick," a for
mal policy adoption process to
reinforce the Center's imple
mentation.
"This award attests to
Northwest Child Development
Center's commitment to our
children's well-being and
development," said Dr. Tony
Burton, CEO of NWCDC.
"But the impact of this inter
vention program is far reach
ing beyond these children.
Their families, our staff, our
business partners will benefit
from this award. And these
children's future will forever
be changed by what they learn
through this program."
N W C IJl,
is a non-prof
it organiza
tion that was
founded in
1970 to sup
port families
by helping
them meet
the develop
mental needs
Burton
of their children from infancy
through school-age. It is gov
erned by a voluntary Board of
Directors that consists of pri
vate and public citizens, and
parents of Forsyth, Davie and
Stokes counties. NWCDC has
the capacity to service 700
children and families in'com
munity child care centers.
SIDS: Sudden Infant
Death Syndrome
It is a disturbing fact that African
American children die from Sudden Infant
Death Syndrome, or SIDS, at a rate more
than twice that of white children. SIDS
involves the death of a baby younger than
one year old without a known cause. We
owe it to our families and our communities
to educate ourselves on how to reduce the
risk of SIDS.
What is SIDS?
SIDS is the diagnosis given for the sud
den death of a baby less than one year of
age that remains unexplained after a com
plete investigation, including an autopsy,
examination of the scene and review of the
health of the baby prior to dying and any
other pertinent medical and family history.
\i t: il _ a ? i
wiui a typical case
of SIDS, a parent or
other caregiver puts
a healthy baby
down to sleep and
returns later to find
that the baby has
died.
SIDS is still the
leading cause of
H? I^iMm QM> *r Mm* ?**
death for babies one month to one year of
age, claiming more than 2,300 lives each
year. Other major causes of infant death
are prematurity (being born too soon and
too small) and birth defects (the most com
mon form of which are associated with the
formation of the brain and spinal cord).
Sadly, SIDS can neither be predicted nor
completely prevented. But there are things
parents, grandparents and other caregivers
can do to reduce a baby's risk of SIDS
death.
What are some risks for SIDS?
As a parent or caregiver, you have an
important job in choosing where and how
your baby will sleep at night and naptime.
Your baby's sleep safety is essential to help
keep the baby healthy and alive. A number
of things may put your baby at risk while
sleeping.
- Sleeping on their tummies puts babies
at risk for SIDS. The number of babies
dying of SIDS has become much lower
since more parents and caregivers began
placing babies on their backs to sleep.
- Another risk for babies is suffocation
in soft bedding. Soft bedding includes pil
lows, quilts, comforters, sheepskins, pil
low-like stuffed toys, and other soft prod
ucts that may keep the baby from breathing
easily. These items should be removed
from the place in which a baby is sleeping.
Keep your baby's head uncovered during
sleep.
"- Co-sleeping and letting a baby sleep
in an adult bed can also put your baby at
risk for suffocation and S1DS. This risk
includes having the baby sleeping in an
adult bed with any adult or child. It is als<?
important to know that SIDS or 'crib
death' is not caused simply by sleeping in
a crib.
Quick Tips for a Healthy Baby:
- Before the Baby is born: Quit smok
ing and avoid secondhand smoke; avoid
alcohol and drugs; early and good prenatal
care can help prevent a baby from develop
ing an abnormality that could put him or
her at risk for sudden death; and prepare a
safe sleep place for baby.
- Naptime and Bedtime tips when Baby
comes home: Always put baby on her back
to sleep. Allow baby to play on her stom
ach when awake.
- Check on sleeping babies frequently.
- Baby should only sleep in a safety
approved crib with a firm mattress that fits
snuggly and is covered with only a tight
fitting crib sheet. Play yard style cribs are
also a good choice.
- Do not use loose blankets in a baby's
crib. Layer clothing or use a wearable
blanket or other type sleeper (such as a
swaddle) to keep baby warm AND safe
during sleep.
See SIDS on A7
Photo courtesy of the 113th Sustainmeot Brigade
Members of the Greensboro-based 113th Sustainment Brigade prepare to run a
Martin Luther King Jr. 5K in January.
Soldiers in Kuwait to take part in
Greensboro run
SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE
The 20th Women's Only 5K Walk and
Run has added a new course - in Kuwait.
Members of the 113th Sustainment Brigade
will run a shadow SK at their base in Camp
Arifjan. The 113th is a Greensboro-based
Army National Guard unit supporting
Operation Enduring Freedom.
"This is a terrific way to plug in on
some of the things going on back home,"
says LTC Miriam Gray, LG, deputy com
mander of the 113th Sustainment Brigade.
"But it's really an event that's become per
sonal. One of our soldiers was just diag
nosed with breast cancer and has returned
to the US. for care and treatment. So, we'd
really like to hold this shadow run in her
honor to let her know that we are all fight
ing with her and standing with her during
this time."
The Women's Only is the largest
fundraiser for the Mammography
Scholarship Fund at Women's Hospital.
^uwiml 3-jQO women are expected to take
part in the Greensboro event. While the
Women's Hospital event begins at 8 am. on
Oct. 6, the shadow run will be held on the
evening of Oct 5?when temperatures cool
into the 90s.
"We are thrilled, delighted and honored
that these women are joining us in promot
ing the importance of mammography and
in remembering the many mothers, wives,
sisters and friends touched by breast can
cer," says Cindy Farrand, president of
Women's Hospital of Greensboro.
Cone Health is providing race medals
and 100 special edition "camo-pink" T
shirts for the event. The 113th shadow
event features a Zumba warm up, health
and nutritional advice and medical profes
sionals discussing breast self-exams and
reminding participants of the importance of
mammograms.
The registration is $40. Girls' Only reg
istration is $10. Women can register by
going to womensonlyrun.com.
Builders
Clients and volunteers -
(bottom left, counter clock
wise) John, Theresa,
William, Chelsea, George,
Sophia and Tony - work on
the 'Lean on Me' book
shelves project at
Greensboro's ACE at
Bardolph, a non- profit that
serves frail and impaired
adults. The finished project
will be 18 hand-built, paint
ed and finished individual
bookshelves. Learn more
about the agency at
wwwMcecare.org.
Officials offer tips to handle kudzu bug epidemic
SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE
A small brown bug is making its way
_ .... _ _ ?
across tne state ana
is becoming a nui
sance for many
homes and busi
nesses.
The kudzu bug,
which was first
discovered in
North Carolina in
2010, is native to
Asia. It has been
spotted in nearly
all counties in the
state.
"Like all pests,
kudzu bugs are in search of food. After
kudzu plants and soybean crops begin to
die in the fall, kudzu bugs move to find
new food sources, which means that peo
pie may notice the pests in or around
their homes and yards as the fall months
get closer," said Lee Smith, a North
Carolina Pest
Management
Association board
member. "The kudzu
bug is becoming a real
nuisance for our state's
farmers and homeown
ers.
Although kudzu
bugs primarily damage
plants and soybean
crops, they can also
leave a chemical sub
stance behind which
has been known to
cause minor skin reactions in humans.
"These bugs are still a new pest for
our state, but the NCPMA member com
See Kadza on A7