Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Christmas Seals Help Fight Lung Disease

You've heard of Christmas Seals. You even decorate your holiday cards and packages with them. But do you know the many ways your Christmas Seals donations are used to help fight lung disease and prevent children from smoking?

October has been declared Healthy Lungs Month in Arkansas. During this time, volunteers will visit local classrooms around the state to give no-smoking presentations to students. This year's program will target first, fourth and seventh grades and will include a video, educational handouts and stickers, all provided free of charge through your Christmas Seals donations.

The local volunteers increase the students' awareness of the harmful effects of smoking and discuss ways for them to handle peer pressure. Volunteer presenters include local respiratory therapists, community leaders and health educators. Last year more than 16,000 Arkansas students benefited from these presentations. This year's goal is to reach 20,000 students in 22 counties around the state.

For more information on Healthy Lungs Month or to receive your 1996 Christmas Seals, call the American Lung Association of Arkansas toll free at 1-800-586-4872 or 224-5864 in Pulaski County. When you can't breathe, nothing else matters!